DigitalBridge-Led Group Advances in Bid to Acquire WideOpenWest, Deal Expected Soon

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A group led by DigitalBridge and Crestview Partners is moving forward with negotiations to acquire WideOpenWest (WOW), a broadband and cable services provider, in a potential deal that could conclude a year-long effort to take the company private, according to sources familiar with the talks.

The discussions between the bidding group and WideOpenWest have intensified in recent weeks, and the deal could come together in the next few weeks unless there are any unforeseen complications. However, the parties are still working through some of the deal’s terms, and it remains uncertain whether an agreement will be finalized.

In May, WideOpenWest received a non-binding offer from the group, valued at approximately $406 million, representing a 32% premium over the company’s closing price at the time. The latest market price of the company’s shares is near the offer price.

WideOpenWest, headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, provides broadband and cable services to nearly 2 million customers across the Midwest and Southeast United States. The company has also made efforts to restructure its debt in recent months, raising about $200 million in October.

Meituan to Invest “Billions” in AI Chips, Joining China’s AI Spending Surge

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Meituan, China’s leading food delivery company, has announced plans to invest “billions” in chips for training artificial intelligence (AI) models, according to CEO Wang Xing during the company’s post-earnings call on Friday. This move aligns with the growing trend of significant AI investments by China’s tech giants.

The announcement comes as the company seeks to bolster its capabilities in AI, a sector rapidly gaining traction across industries. Meituan’s investment is part of a larger wave of funding within the tech sector, with companies like Alibaba also ramping up their AI-related expenditures. In February, Alibaba revealed plans to allocate at least 380 billion yuan toward cloud computing and AI infrastructure over the next three years.

These investments underscore the increasing competition in China’s tech industry as firms race to develop the next generation of AI technologies. Meituan’s focus on AI chip development signals its commitment to maintaining its leadership in food delivery and expanding into other AI-driven sectors.

U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Tornado Cash Amid Legal Challenges

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The U.S. Treasury Department announced on Friday that it has lifted sanctions on Tornado Cash, a cryptocurrency “mixer” accused of facilitating the laundering of more than $7 billion, including funds stolen by North Korean hackers. The decision follows legal challenges from six Tornado Cash users, who filed a lawsuit against the sanctions, supported by cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase.

In 2022, the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) blacklisted Tornado Cash, claiming the firm had been involved in laundering cybercrime proceeds, including $455 million stolen by the Lazarus Group, a North Korean-backed hacking organization. Tornado Cash is designed to obfuscate the origins and recipients of cryptocurrency transactions, making it a popular tool for illicit activities.

Despite the sanctions being lifted, the Treasury reaffirmed its concerns over North Korea’s state-sponsored cyber activities, particularly its use of stolen digital assets to fund government operations. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized the importance of protecting the digital asset industry from misuse by North Korea and other malicious actors.

The decision to lift the sanctions comes after a U.S. appeals court ruled in November that OFAC had overreached in its application of the sanctions. The Treasury indicated that the repeal followed a review of legal and policy issues, particularly in light of evolving technology and legal environments.

In 2023, two co-founders of Tornado Cash were charged with facilitating over $1 billion in money laundering, including laundering for the Lazarus Group. One of the co-founders, Roman Storm, is awaiting trial and has denied any wrongdoing. Additionally, Tornado Cash developer Alexey Pertsev was sentenced to five years and four months in prison in the Netherlands for his involvement in money laundering activities.