business News

McCormick, a Maryland-based spice company, announced a merger with Unilever’s food division to create a new spice and sauce mega-company. This merger is notable as it involves a smaller company absorbing a larger one, which is uncommon in corporate mergers.

Banks and firms involved in SpaceX's IPO are mandated to buy subscriptions to Grok, Elon Musk's AI chatbot, as reported by The New York Times. Some banks have committed to spending tens of millions on Grok and are integrating it into their IT systems.

Maytag, known for its durable appliances, is currently offering significant discounts on various models, including closeout deals on last season's items. As of April 2026, a range with a built-in air fryer is available for $729, down from $1,300, and a top-load dryer is priced at $600, reduced from $1,000.

Fidji Simo, OpenAI's CEO of applications, is taking a medical leave due to a worsening neuroimmune condition. She informed staff that the past month has been 'particularly rough health-wise' and that she needs several weeks off to recover.

Meta has laid off 200 employees as part of its ongoing restructuring efforts, according to recent filings. This move is part of a broader trend within the tech industry, where companies are streamlining operations amid economic pressures.

Glen Anderson of Rainmaker Securities highlights a surge in demand for Anthropic shares, with investors reportedly ready to deploy $2 billion, while OpenAI struggles to find buyers for $600 million in shares. Anderson notes that Anthropic's public standoff with the Department of Defense has enhanced its appeal, contrasting with OpenAI's declining market vibrancy.

Lucid Group sold 3,093 vehicles in Q1 2026, marking a 42% decrease from the previous quarter and a slight decline from the same period last year. The company attributed this dip to a quality issue with its seat supplier, which disrupted deliveries of the Gravity SUV for 29 days and led to a recall of over 4,000 units.

In the fourth week of Live Nation's antitrust trial, defense witnesses defended Ticketmaster against accusations of monopolistic behavior. Laurie Jacoby, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, testified that issues with SeatGeek led to a return to Ticketmaster, stating, 'Ticketmaster was just the better ticketing option for the arena.' Jim Van Stone, president of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, praised Ticketmaster's professionalism, saying, 'Their professionalism and the way they treat partners is outstanding.' Live Nation also filed a motion for sanctions against AEG, alleging intimidation tactics to suppress a witness's testimony.

Starz CEO Jeffrey Hirsch's total compensation package reached $6.7 million, as disclosed in a securities filing on April 2, 2023. Alison Hoffman, president of content and revenue, earned $2.7 million, while CFO Scott Macdonald's pay totaled $2 million for fiscal year 2025.

OpenAI has acquired TBPN, a technology-focused talk show, for a deal reportedly in the low hundreds of millions of dollars. TBPN, launched in October 2024, has gained popularity among start-up founders and investors, featuring interviews with prominent figures like Meta's Mark Zuckerberg and OpenAI's Sam Altman.