Oldham firm takes majority stake in Yorkshire counterpart Custom Business Finance

Greater Manchester business broker PMD Business Finance has acquired a majority stake in Yorkshire counterpart Custom Business Finance as it bids to grow its operations across the UK.

Oldham’s PMD was founded in 2010 and says it has supported thousands of businesses with more than £1.5bn in funding. It has a team of 65.

Asset and commercial finance specialist Custom, based in Rotherham, will continue under its existing brand and will be led by its management team of Martin Taylor, Chris Mangle and Dave Catling. The business was founded a decade ago and has advised on over £250m in lending advances across more than 1,500 transactions in sectors including transport, manufacturing, healthcare and renewables.

Tom Brown, managing director of PMD Business Finance, said: “This is a really exciting strategic step forward for PMD and it will help us progress towards our goal of being the UK’s leading asset and commercial finance intermediary.

“It’s an acquisition that strengthens our long-term position in the market, providing a platform for significant growth and value-creation for everyone involved. The model that we’ve developed together with the team at Custom serves as a blueprint for additional future partnerships as we continue to scale.

“Custom has built a strong, credible reputation with clients nationwide, but particularly in the Yorkshire, Midlands, Humberside and Lincolnshire regions. The team brings a wealth of commercial finance experience and industry knowledge that perfectly complements our existing operations.”

Martin Taylor, director at Custom Business Finance, said: “We’re thrilled to be joining forces with PMD Business Finance. I worked with Tom earlier in our careers and the wider PMD board are known to us as well, so this has all felt very natural and the right strategic fit for Custom.

“There is real alignment between the two business as we both share the same values and business ethos, particularly in developing strong lender relationships and doing the right thing for customers for the long-term.”

PMD was advised on the legal aspects of the deal by the team at CG Professional led by Benjamin Dredge and Victoria Brown. Custom was represented by Amy Cusworth from Oxley & Coward Solicitors LLP.

Steven Crookes of Knowles Warwick Chartered Accountants, and Steve Watson and Andrew Wood of Harris and Co Accountants, also provided advice to Custom.

TUCSON, Ariz. — As the search for Nancy Guthrie enters its 83rd day, the 84-year-old mother of NBC’s “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie remains missing, with authorities treating the case as an active abduction amid scant new leads and growing questions about whether she will be located before the symbolic 100-day mark.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home in the Catalina Foothills area near Tucson on the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. She was reported missing Feb. 1 after failing to appear at church. Signs of a struggle, including drops of blood on the front porch, led investigators to conclude she was taken against her will. Surveillance footage released by authorities shows a masked, armed figure approaching her doorstep that night.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has described the abduction as targeted. No suspects have been named publicly, and the family has been cleared of involvement. A $1 million reward offered by the Guthrie family in late February has generated tips but no breakthrough. Additional rewards, including $100,000 from Crime Stoppers, remain active.

Recent weeks have brought mixed developments. In early April, TMZ reported receiving letters from an anonymous source claiming knowledge of the kidnappers and alleging they saw Nancy alive in Sonora, Mexico, though the writer also stated she is now dead. The source demanded Bitcoin for more information. Authorities have not confirmed the letters’ credibility.

DNA evidence, including samples from a hair and potential mixed profiles at the home, has been sent to the FBI lab for analysis. Officials emphasized this is not new evidence but ongoing work from material collected early in the investigation. Forensic testing continues, with experts noting DNA’s durability could still yield leads.

FBI and local task forces have pursued thousands of tips, reviewed extensive surveillance, and explored angles including possible contractors or day laborers with access to the neighborhood. A potential incident on Jan. 11 is also under review. Despite door-to-door efforts and aerial searches, no confirmed sightings or second location have emerged.

Savannah Guthrie returned to “Today” on April 6 after a two-month absence, delivering a poignant on-air statement. She has spoken publicly about believing the initial ransom notes were genuine and pleading for her mother’s safe return. The family maintains hope while cooperating fully with investigators.

Criminal profilers and former FBI agents offer varying theories. Some point to a possible ransom motive that went wrong, others to targeted retribution or a burglary that escalated. The masked suspect’s apparent preparedness suggests planning. With Nancy’s age and health considerations, the passage of time heightens concerns.

Day 100 — projected around May 11 — carries emotional weight for missing persons cases, often marking a shift in public and media attention. Experts say statistically, the chances of a safe recovery diminish significantly after the first 72 hours, yet high-profile cases with sustained resources can defy odds. No one involved has set a public deadline, but the question lingers in community discussions and online vigils.

The investigation has faced scrutiny. Early release of the home to family drew criticism, and some insiders noted initial inexperience in handling complex abduction-homicide probes. Sheriff Nanos has acknowledged challenges but stressed a full-time multi-agency task force remains dedicated. Recent rumors of a detained person of interest were swiftly denied with a blunt “Nope.”

Nancy Guthrie lived a quiet life in retirement after raising her family. Her husband, Charles, died in 1988. Beyond Savannah, she has other children who have largely stayed out of the spotlight. Friends describe her as warm, faithful and active in her church community. Her sudden disappearance from a seemingly safe neighborhood shocked the Tucson area and drew national fascination.

Broader context reveals the difficulty of such cases. Thousands of Americans go missing annually, with elderly victims sometimes receiving less initial attention unless high-profile connections exist. The Guthrie case benefits from celebrity visibility, federal resources and persistent media coverage, yet the desert terrain near the Mexican border complicates searches.

As April 23 passed with no resolution, online speculation surged — from unverified social media claims to conspiracy theories — prompting officials to urge reliance on verified information. Tips continue flowing into the FBI and sheriff’s hotlines, though volume has tapered from the initial surge.

Looking ahead, authorities say they will not give up. Advanced genetic genealogy, continued digital analysis and potential new tips could still break the case. The family’s public appeals emphasize Nancy’s humanity beyond headlines: a mother, grandmother and beloved community member deserving answers.

Whether Nancy Guthrie is found before day 100 remains uncertain. Optimists cling to rare stories of long-term recoveries, while realists prepare for prolonged uncertainty. For now, the search continues across borders, databases and leads — a family’s hope against the desert’s silence.

Community support has been strong, with vigils, billboards and social media campaigns keeping her photo visible. Law enforcement reminds the public that even small details — vehicles, sightings or unusual activity in early February — could prove pivotal. As the calendar inches toward the 100-day milestone, pressure mounts for a resolution in one of 2026’s most haunting mysteries.

A key reason for the layoffs is Meta’s increased spending in other areas of the company, including AI, for which it will this year spend $135bn (£100bn). This is roughly equal to the amount it has spent on AI in the previous three years combined, according to a person who viewed the memo.

“We are using the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri to pray to Lord Shiva to help him recover painlessly from his health problems,” Sourav Banerjee of Amitabh Bachchan Fans Association of Kolkata, told.

Dressed in traditional attires, hundreds of fans carrying the actor’s posters thronged the Ekdaliya Evergreen Park in the afternoon for the hour-long yagna.

Ever since the news of Big B’s health problems broke, his admirers here, who have also built a temple for him in south Kolkata, have been a worried lot.

“We have been praying for his health and well-being ever since and are constantly monitoring media reports on his health,” Banerjee said.

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Another of his fan blamed the actor’s “workaholic nature” for his medical condition.
“He has delivered hits after hits all his career and at this age of his life his body needs rest,” said 32-year-old Goutam Basak adding that they are planning a gala celebration when the superstar returns home from hospital. On February 11, 69-year-old Bachchan underwent an abdominal surgery but after he complained of acute pain, his stay at the hospital had to be extended.

Currently recuperating at the Seven Hills hospital, Big B’s health is now said to be improving.

The entire electricity needs of its Mountain Ash HQ will now be me by Hydro Wales

Medical devices firm Flexicare, which is headquartered in Mountain Ash, has struck a major new contract for green generated electricity from Hydro Wales.

The hydro electricity supplied through Hydro Wales is generated from restored sites originally built to power late-mining operations in north-west Wales. The schemes can export surplus renewable electricity into local networks, supporting Welsh businesses and communities.

The peer to peer agreement will provide all the electricity needs of Flexicare’s HQ. The £111m turnover business, which was established in 1989, employs 300 globally with 100 at Mountain Ash that provides well-paid R&D and manufacturing jobs as well as corporate head office function roles.

Flexicare supports clinicians through airway management and respiratory solutions. Its medical devices are sold to more than 100 countries.

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Its new energy supply agreement forms part of its evolving environmental, social and governance (ESG) agenda in reducing operational emissions and supporting its drive to net zeros.

By securing renewable electricity for its UK operations, Flexicare said it is taking an incremental approach to decarbonisation that balances environmental responsibility with operational resilience.

Marc Davies, chief operating officer at Flexicare, said: “As a business proudly headquartered in Wales, it matters to us how we operate and who we partner with. This agreement is a practical step that reflects our responsibility as a global medical device company, while reinforcing our longstanding connection to Wales.

“Choosing energy linked to local hydro generation supports how we make long-term decisions: measured, responsible, and grounded in doing what is right, not just what is required.”

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, came out full throttle against the Trump administration’s proposed plan to bail out Spirit Airlines on Wednesday.

Cruz responded to reports the administration’s plan would see the U.S. government own up to 90% of the airline. President Donald Trump first floated the idea of buying out the airline on Tuesday.

“This is an absolutely TERRIBLE idea,” Cruz wrote in a statement on X.

“The TARP corporate bailouts were a huge mistake & the government doesn’t know a damn thing about running a failed budget airline (that the Biden admin killed),” he added.

BIDEN-SCHUMER-PELOSI WOULD DO MORE DAMAGE IN 2 YEARS THAN OBAMA DID IN 8: TED CRUZ

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during a news conference. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Cruz was joined by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., in pushing back on the plan this week. Cotton argued it was “not the best use of taxpayer dollars.”

“If Spirit’s creditors or other potential investors don’t think they can run it profitably coming out of its second bankruptcy in under two years, I doubt the US Government can either,” Cotton wrote on X.

Trump was interviewed on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” Tuesday and said, “I don’t mind mergers,” suggesting that could help resolve the issues Spirit faces.

GOP SENATORS EXPRESS ‘CONCERNS,’ ‘SKEPTICISM’ OVER TRUMP’S SPENDING BILL AFTER MUSK RANT

President Donald Trump walks toward reporters before answering questions prior to boarding Air Force One. (Win McNamee/Getty Images / Getty Images)

“You know, Spirit’s in trouble, and I’d love somebody to buy Spirit. It’s 14,000 jobs, and maybe the federal government should help that one out,” the president said.

He went on to draw a distinction between a merger involving Spirit and the reports of a possible merger between United Airlines and American Airlines, saying those companies are “doing very well. I don’t like having them merge.”

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy spoke Tuesday at an event on reforms to the nation’s Air Traffic Control system and acknowledged the president’s comments, adding he will look into the matter.

AMERICAN VICTIMS OF TERRORISM COULD SOON SUE INTERNATIONAL ORGS IF CRUZ’S BILL PASSES

Spirit Airlines filed for its second bankruptcy in August 2025 amid mounting losses and dwindling cash reserves. The low-cost carrier first filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2024 after unsuccessful merger talks with JetBlue and Frontier.

A JetBlue airliner lands past a Spirit Airlines jet on a taxiway at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images / Getty Images)

In late February, Spirit announced a deal that would allow it to exit bankruptcy proceedings by early summer after reaching an agreement with lenders.

The airline told a bankruptcy court the deal would allow it to emerge as a leaner carrier, focusing on routes and time periods with the strongest demand as well as cutting some of its high-cost aircraft leases and improving the utilization of its remaining fleet.

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It also planned to expand premium seating options and enhance its loyalty programs to drive repeat business and preserve its low-fare positioning.

Fox Business’ Eric Revell contributed to this report.

The economic impact of the cluster has been assessed in a new report from Cardiff University

The compound semiconductor cluster in South Wales, from early stage and academic research to commercial firms such as IQE and KLA, is targeting employing more than 6,000 by 2030 and generating combined revenues of £1bn.

The ambitious target for the cluster comes after new research shows its growing importance to the Welsh economy, with it last year supports 3,140 jobs and generating an economic gross value added of £436m.

An independent report, from the Welsh Economy Research Unit (WERU) at Cardiff University, shows that the cluster – known as CSconnected – last year directly employed 1,914 people, with a further 1,226 jobs supported across Wales through its wider economic indirect and induced impacts.

Total Welsh employment linked to the cluster increased from 2,748 in 2024 to 3,140 last year, a 14% year-on-year rise.

The sector generated £267m in direct GVA, with an additional £169m supported elsewhere in Wales, bringing total Welsh GVA impact to £436m, up 19% on 2024. This growth has been achieved during a period marked by global semiconductor volatility and continued pressure on UK manufacturing employment.

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Professor Max Munday of Cardiff University, lead author of the report, said: “The compound semiconductor cluster continues to show resilience and sustained growth. While other parts of manufacturing have faced considerable challenges, this sector has expanded employment, increased productivity and strengthened its wider economic contribution. The modelling shows both direct growth and a deepening of economic effects across Wales.”

Exports remain central to the cluster’s contribution. Last year companies operating in it, such as IQE and KLA, recorded £480m in exports – representing approximately 2.8% of total Welsh goods exports. Annual sales reached £531m.

Since 2020 the report shows that the cluster has:

• Seen average salaries remain high at approximately £66,000, well above the Welsh average, with more than 95% of employment full-time:
• Total Welsh jobs supported by the cluster rising from 2,085 to 3,140 ( up 51%); and
• Total Welsh GVA supported increasing from £172m to £436m ( up 153%).

While the cluster’s core footprint is in South Wales, its economic footprint extends across the UK. In 2025 activity linked to the cluster supported £567m of GVA across the UK economy, up from £434m in 2024 (+31%).Each direct job in the cluster now supports a further 1.29 jobs across the UK, contributing to a total of 4,392 jobs nationwide.

Last year marked the completion of the original UKRI Strength in Places funding period for CSconnected. Over five years, the £43m programme has strengthened collaboration between industry and academia, supported investment and accelerated cluster growth.

Professor Wyn Meredith, Chair of CSconnected and the SIPF programme, said “Five years on from the launch of the Strength in Places investment, the results are clear. Employment has grown, productivity has increased and the cluster’s economic impact has nearly doubled. We’ve built a stronger and more connected cluster, with real economic impact across Wales.”

Looking ahead CSconnected’s ambition to 2030 includes growing cluster revenues to £1bn, expanding skilled employment to 6,000 people, and capturing greater value across the regional supply chain.

Howard Rupprecht, managing director of CSconnected, said:“The progress we’ve seen over the past five years gives us a strong foundation for the next phase. Our focus now is on scaling capacity, strengthening regional supply chains and developing the skills needed to support long-term growth. The opportunity ahead is significant, and we want to ensure Wales captures as much of that value as possible.”