Business
Versant to buy golf simulator company Full Swing for $530 million
Mark Lazarus, chief executive officer of Versant, at the Semafor World Economy Summit during the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Spring meetings in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
Aaron Schwartz | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Versant Media Group, the owner of cable networks including CNBC, MS Now and the Golf Channel, has agreed to acquire golf simulation company Full Swing from private equity firm Bruin Capital for about $530 million in cash.
The deal follows a template CEO Mark Lazarus has outlined to investors since Versant began trading as a public company in January following its spinout from Comcast.
Versant has been investing in non-traditional media businesses that broaden the scope of the brands it already owns. Earlier this year, the company acquired StockStory, an AI-powered tech platform that provides financial analysis, market insights, and stock recommendations, for CNBC.
The company’s golf business already owns digital media platform GolfPass and tee-time reservation company GolfNow.
In May, Versant reported that revenue for its platforms business, which includes GolfNow, Fandango and some recently launched direct-to-consumer units, was up 9.5% to $192 million. The company has called out its growth in its news and sports units. Executives have said they aim to rebalance Versant’s revenue mix so that eventually 50% of it is derived from digital, platform, subscription, ad-supported and transactional businesses.
“Full Swing is exactly the kind of strategic platform that reflects how we are building Versant:
investing in our core markets, extending the reach of our iconic brands and creating new ways to serve passionate audiences,” Lazarus said in a statement.
Full Swing develops and sells golf and baseball simulators for consumers, sporting goods stores and athletic training facilities. Both recreational and professional athletes use the technology. Bruin Capital purchased Full Swing in 2021 for $160 million, Sportico reported at the time.
“Joining Versant gives us the scale and distribution to bring our technology to even more golfers, athletes and fans,” Full Swing CEO Ryan Dotters said in the statement. Dotters will stay at Versant, and will report to Will McIntosh, president of digital platforms and ventures.
The transaction should close before Dec. 31, the companies said in a statement.
— CNBC’s Lillian Rizzo contributed to this article.
Business
Palantir’s CTO believes Chinese AI models could pose an economic threat to the US
Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar stated that China has advanced its artificial intelligence capabilities by developing new models through unauthorized means. This development signifies a significant escalation in global AI competition, highlighting concerns over intellectual property breaches and the potential impact on technological leadership. The move underscores the importance of safeguarding innovation in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Palantir’s CTO has expressed concerns that Chinese AI models could pose significant economic risks to the United States. As China accelerates its development of advanced artificial intelligence technologies, there is growing concern over the potential for these models to undermine American competitiveness. Chinese AI innovations are rapidly progressing, closing the innovation gap and creating new strategic advantages for China in the global economy.
The CTO highlighted that Chinese AI models could be used to enhance espionage, cybersecurity threats, and economic espionage, potentially compromising US businesses and government operations. This increased capability might lead to a loss of technological edge, threatening America’s leadership in key industries. The worry extends to the potential for China to leverage AI for economic dominance in sectors like finance, manufacturing, and defense.
To counter these risks, Palantir advocates for stronger investments in AI research and development within the US. Enhancing domestic AI capabilities and establishing robust regulatory frameworks are seen as essential steps to safeguard national security and maintain economic stability. The official emphasized that staying ahead in AI is vital to ensuring America’s technological and economic resilience amid global competition.
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Business
Thailand’s 2027 Action Plan Targets High-Value Tourism Growth
Thailand’s Tourism Minister introduced the 2027 Action Plan, emphasizing high-value tourism growth through innovation, data integration, and targeting premium markets, while promoting sustainability and year-round travel.
Key Points
- Overview of the Action Plan: Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul launched the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Action Plan 2027 in Bangkok on July 13, 2026, focusing on positioning Thailand as a high-value tourism destination. Key officials, including Permanent Secretary Natthriya Thaweevong and TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool, highlighted strategic marketing policies and tourism’s role in the economy.
- Strategic Guidelines: The action plan emphasizes four strategic guidelines: elevating Thailand as a high-value destination, enhancing competitiveness through market balance, advancing the industry via data and innovation, and developing a high-performance organization. Integration of data, technology, and AI is crucial for sustainable travel experiences.
- Focus on Transformation: The TAT identified 2027 as “The Year of Transformation,” shifting its focus from tourist volume to high-value travelers through targeted demographics, promoting secondary cities, and developing sustainable tourism. An upcoming Market Briefing on July 21, 2026, will connect local operators with global market opportunities, with detailed marketing directions to be announced in August 2026.
Tourism Minister Outlines 2027 Action Plan to Position Thailand as a High-Value Destination
Minister of Tourism and Sports Surasak Phancharoenworakul opened the Tourism Authority of Thailand Action Plan 2027 meeting in Bangkok on July 13, 2026. He was joined by Permanent Secretary and Board Chairwoman Natthriya Thaweevong and TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool to present strategic marketing policies to position Thailand as a high-value regional destination.
The minister emphasized tourism’s role as a primary economic driver and outlined four guidelines for quality, balanced, and sustainable growth: elevating Thailand as a high-value destination, increasing competitiveness through market balance, advancing the industry with data and innovation, and building a high-performance organization. Permanent Secretary Natthriya supported this vision, highlighting the importance of integrating data, technology, and artificial intelligence in planning to strengthen national competitiveness and provide sustainable travel experiences.
The TAT Governor announced 2027 as “The Year of Transformation” for the agency. The strategy shifts focus from tourist volume to high value through four pillars: targeting high-value demographic segments, promoting year-round travel and secondary cities with experience-based marketing, developing new growth engines such as creative culture and sustainable tourism, and transforming the agency into an agile, data-driven organization.
After internal planning, the TAT will host a Market Briefing and Tourism Clinic at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center on July 21, 2026. This event will enable local operators to connect with overseas directors, build networks, and explore global market opportunities. The official 2027 tourism marketing direction will be announced to industry partners and the public in August 2026.
Source : Tourism Minister Outlines 2027 Action Plan to Position Thailand as a High-Value Destination
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