Archive for year: 2025

Source: INDIGO ACQUISITION CORP

NEW YORK, July 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Indigo Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) announced today that it has consummated the sale of the full 1,500,000 units subject to the over-allotment option granted to the underwriters in connection with its initial public offering. The additional units were sold at $10.00 per unit, generating additional gross proceeds to the Company of $15,000,000.

The Company’s units are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”) and trade under the ticker symbol “INACU.” Each unit consists of one ordinary share and one right entitling its holder to receive one tenth of one ordinary share upon the Company’s completion of an initial business combination, subject to adjustment. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the ordinary shares and rights are expected to be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols “INAC” and “INACR,” respectively.

The Company is a Cayman exempt company, formed as a blank check company for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. The Company intends to focus on opportunities with established, profitable companies with attractive market positions and/or growth potential that can leverage our management team’s experience and expertise. The Company is led by its Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, James S. Cassel, and its Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Scott Salpeter.

EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. acted as the book-running manager for the offering and IB Capital acted as co-manager for the offering. The offering was made by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained from EarlyBirdCapital, Inc., 366 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10017, Attention: Syndicate Department, or (212) 661-0200.

A registration statement relating to these securities was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and was declared effective on June 30, 2025. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements.” No assurance can be given that the net proceeds of the offering will be used as indicated in the offering prospectus. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company’s registration statement and preliminary prospectus for the offering filed with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Contact:

James S. Cassel, CEO
jcassel@cs-ib.com
305-438-7700

Scott Salpeter, CFO
ssalpeter@cs-ib.com
305-438-7700

Click here to read the PDF.

Click here to read the full article.

Source: INDIGO ACQUISITION CORP

NEW YORK, July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Indigo Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) announced today that it closed its initial public offering of 10,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit. The offering resulted in gross proceeds to the Company of $100,000,000.

The Company’s units are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”) and trade under the ticker symbol “INACU.” Each unit consists of one ordinary share and one right entitling its holder to receive one tenth of one ordinary share upon the Company’s completion of an initial business combination, subject to adjustment. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the ordinary shares and rights are expected to be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols “INAC” and “INACR,” respectively.

The Company is a Cayman exempt company, formed as a blank check company for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. The Company intends to focus on opportunities with established, profitable companies with attractive market positions and/or growth potential that can leverage our management team’s experience and expertise. The Company is led by its Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, James S. Cassel, and its Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Scott Salpeter.

Of the proceeds received from the consummation of the initial public offering and a simultaneous private placement of units, $100,000,000 was placed in trust.

EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. acted as the book-running manager for the offering and IB Capital acted as co-manager for the offering. The Company has granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,500,000 units at the initial public offering price to cover over-allotments, if any. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained, when available, from EarlyBirdCapital, Inc., 366 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10017, Attention: Syndicate Department, or (212) 661-0200.

A registration statement relating to these securities was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and was declared effective on June 30, 2025. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements.” No assurance can be given that the net proceeds of the offering will be used as indicated in the offering prospectus. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company’s registration statement and preliminary prospectus for the offering filed with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Contact:

James S. Cassel, CEO
jcassel@cs-ib.com
305-438-7700

Scott Salpeter, CFO
ssalpeter@cs-ib.com
305-438-7700

Click here to read the PDF.

Click here to read the full article.

By GlobalData
June 25, 2025

Tariffs will cause a storm in aviation, but Joey Smith argues they are actually well-placed to navigate the ‘headwinds’ at play.

With the snap of a finger through Executive Orders, the US President imposed varying tariffs against the entire world. The healthy global aviation industry is suddenly under fire, writes Joey Smith of investment banking firm Cassel Salpeter.

The US aviation industry’s performance is approaching all-time highs in 2025, and revenues are projected to surpass $1 trillion for the first time, solidifying the industry’s strongest recovery post-COVID. The aviation industry’s total global economic impact, both direct and indirect, is estimated at more than $4 trillion, while supporting at least 11 million jobs directly and more than 86 million indirectly.

It would be a shame and reckless to impact this industry and its supply chain. Air transport provides significant economic and social benefits, as it facilitates tourism, trade, and connectivity and enables rapid disaster responses and a lifeline for remote communities worldwide.

The US aviation industry, a shining star and net exporter for the domestic economy, is receiving a raw deal with the Trump tariff agenda. It is a prime example of US manufacturing prowess, offering well-paying jobs and producing one of the largest trade surpluses of any industry for years.

The aircraft, engine, and parts manufacturing industry in the US is expected to export about $125 billion this year, second only to the oil and gas extraction industry, with Boeing being America’s biggest exporter of goods. Approximately 80% of Boeing’s planes are transported to overseas customers. The effects globally and in the US could be far-reaching, from manufacturers and their supply chains, all the way downstream to the flying public.

Introducing tariffs in the aviation sector is an unforced error and is likely to hurt the healthy domestic aviation ecosystem. President Trump’s newly introduced global tariffs represent a “black swan” event with potentially dramatic and unpredictable consequences for the aviation industry and complementary sectors, up and down the supply chain, in the U.S. and abroad.

Specifically, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement or USMCA, which replaced NAFTA, is on shaky ground, and new North American tariffs could take a significant toll on downstream companies operating within the complex aircraft components supply chain, which has struggled for years with material and labour shortages.

The North American aviation industry is highly interconnected, and the tariffs will impact industry participants both big and small. The notion that new tariffs will drive the movement of production to the United States may be a fallacy. Planes take years to design and manufacture and are typically used for decades; decisions to relocate operations or open new facilities are not made lightly. In addition to high upfront costs, companies looking to expand their US presence will continue to face a skilled worker shortage that has impacted the industry for years.

The dynamic nature of these policies, with exemptions granted and modifications made on short notice, creates substantial uncertainty that further complicates long-term planning. Aircraft transactions typically involve lengthy timelines, and the shifting tariff landscape means that deals struck before the new policies could face unexpected additional costs at closing.

This unpredictability will drive changes in new contract terms, with buyers and sellers needing to carefully allocate tariff risks and develop contingencies for policy changes.

The MRO sector faces new uncertainty, with additional guidance needed from trade officials in the U.S. and abroad. Historically, when US operators brought aircraft or parts to foreign jurisdictions for repairs, no new formal entry or duties were required upon return. However, given that this duty-free treatment was based on the Civil Aircraft Agreement, it is unclear whether such exemptions will continue under the new tariff regime.

Supply chain diversification could accelerate in response to the tariffs. Aviation businesses are reassessing their vendor networks and exploring alternatives in countries less affected by the new duties. This includes potential shifts in parts sourcing, maintenance, and servicing, and even aircraft selection, based on the country of manufacture.

The air cargo industry also faces new headwinds within an evolving tariff landscape. Policy uncertainty, tariff flip-flopping, and exemption jockeying cause distress within the market. Cargo airlines must now navigate a complex landscape of shifting trade flows as manufacturers and retailers modify their supply chains in response to tariff pressures. This will lead to changes in network planning, capacity deployment, and even aircraft acquisition strategies as carriers adapt to new trade routes and volumes.

These tariff challenges and the ripple economic effects are concerning, yet we believe that the US aviation industry and all its downstream sector participants are well-positioned to be proactive, both politically and operationally, to navigate the incoming tariff headwinds. We are hopeful that during these days of uncertainty, the US aviation sector, one of the strongest exporters and employers in the US, will not only weather the storm but emerge stronger and more resilient.

Click here to read the PDF.

Click here to read the full article.

By Angela Gabriel
May 9, 2025

In a recent BioSpace LinkedIn poll, nearly half of respondents predicted the job market won’t turn around until 2027 or later. It’s easy to see why people are skeptical, especially when you consider recent hiring activity and layoffs.

EDITORIAL
Biopharma professionals don’t have much hope for the biopharma job market turning around this year, based on a recent BioSpace LinkedIn poll. A whopping 74% of respondents predicted it won’t improve until 2026 or later, and 44% don’t expect a turnaround until at least 2027. It’s easy to understand the skepticism given that the positive signs people were looking for to spur hiring, including increased funding, haven’t materialized as layoffs continue.

Biopharma professional Pierre Michel Baez Ortiz is among those feeling pessimistic about the job market turning around anytime soon. In a poll comment, he noted that Maryland hasn’t recovered from the crash after the pandemic-era money infusion ran out.

“Over three years and the region is unstable as hell,” he wrote. “There’s zero job security and some people in my network have been unemployed for more than a year, a few for several years. And now we have more big companies leaving Montgomery County.”

If the industry recovers, he added, it wouldn’t be for maybe two more years.

Biopharma professional Ricardo Azedo took a more positive tone in the poll comments, writing, “I want to be hopeful, so I’d cast my vote to ‘as soon as possible.’”

That said, just 27% of voters predicted the job market will turn around by the end of this year.

Reasons for Skepticism Easy To Find

It’s not hard to spot what might be fueling people’s skepticism. In addition to factors such as venture capital funding dropping 20% year over year in the first quarter, massive Department of Health and Human Services layoffs and looming pharma tariffs, consider:

• Late last month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the number of job openings was little changed in March and dropped by 901,000 over the year.
• In April, job postings live on the BioSpace website were up just 1% month over month and down 8% year over year.
• Although the number of biopharma professionals laid off in April dropped 22% year over year, according to BioSpace tallies, the 1,357 people affected was the second-highest monthly total of 2025. (Note: Figures exclude contract development and manufacturing organizations, contract research organizations, tools and services businesses and medical device firms.)

In what’s sure to be unwelcome news, May’s layoffs have already surpassed April’s with Teva Pharmaceuticals cutting 2,893 employees worldwide. Add Bristol Myers Squibb’s layoffs of 516 people in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and you’re at about 3,400 people out of work between just two companies. That’s especially significant given that just over 4,000 biopharma employees were laid off over the entire first quarter.

Those layoff numbers likely wouldn’t surprise Ira Leiderman, healthcare managing director at investment banking firm Cassel Salpeter & Co. During an interview for a recent BioSpace article, he noted that companies are “leaning down.”

“People need to husband their cash, manage their expenditures, and unfortunately, it’s costing people their jobs and their livelihoods,” he said.

Leiderman doesn’t see hiring rising in the near term and theorized that mid-level and senior-level people could leave the country and head to Europe, leading to some brain drain. He also noted that biopharma professionals might change industries.

For those who need jobs now, and especially for those who’ve needed them for several months or longer, leaving the U.S. or biopharma itself to gain employment is understandable. As Leiderman said, “People have to pay their bills, right? They’ve got to make a mortgage payment. They’ve got to put food on the table for their kids. You’ve got to live the dream, but you’ve got to also be realistic at some point.”

Click here to read the PDF.

Click here to read the full article.