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Shaker, LG and the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) Sign an MOU to Explore Local Manufacturing of AC Compressors in Saudi Arabia

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Al Hassan Ghazi Ibrahim Shaker Co. (“Shaker Group”), Saudi Arabia’s leading importer, manufacturer and distributor of Air Conditioners and Home Appliances, has announced the signing of an MoU with LG Electronics (LG) and the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) to manufacture AC compressors in the Kingdom. This groundbreaking agreement is set to fortify the longstanding partnership between Shaker and LG, building upon their successful joint venture factory in Riyadh that has been producing AC units for the local and international markets since 2008.

The MoU was signed in the presence of H.E. Khalid AlFalih, Minister of Investment; Mr. Abdulelah Abunayyan, Chairman of Shaker Group; Eng. Saleh AlKhabti, Deputy of Investment Transactions Deputyship at MISA; Eng. Fahad Aljubairy, Assistant Deputy Minister for Sectoral Strategies and Regulations at Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources; Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Abunayyan, CEO of Shaker Group; and Mr. Jong Ho Lee, CEO of LG Shaker Co. LTD.

This marks a significant leap towards localizing the production of the most technologically complex component of AC units – the compressor, and the realization of this project – upon the completion of the feasibility study and final agreement – will position Shaker and LG as pioneers in the local and regional manufacturing of AC compressors, in alignment with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals of transforming Saudi Arabia into an industrial leader and a global logistics hub.

In support of this ambitious project, MISA, along with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, and the National Industrial Development Center, are collaboratively participating in the feasibility study. The joint effort is focused on thoroughly reviewing the viability of establishing a domestic production facility for AC compressors, with further specifics concerning investments and essential considerations to be determined in forthcoming discussions. This partnership underscores the commitment of various Saudi ministries to foster industrial growth and technological innovation within the Kingdom.

Eng. Saleh AlKhabti, Deputy of Investment Transactions Deputyship at MISA, commented:

“The collaboration between MISA, LG, and Shaker Group through this MoU is a strategic leap towards achieving the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 by localizing the air conditioning industry and its components. It signifies our commitment to not just local industry enhancement but also positions Saudi Arabia as a potential hub for assembling and eventually manufacturing a broader range of electronic products, aligning with our investment diversification and growth strategy.”

Eng. Fahad Aljubairy, Assistant Deputy Minister for Sectoral Strategies and Regulations at Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, said:

“This MoU embodies our strategic focus on developing the machinery and equipment sector and aligns with our National Industrial Strategy, particularly through the localization of compressor manufacturing. It’s a testament to our dedication to not only enhancing local production capabilities but also to establishing Saudi Arabia as a pivotal exporter in the region. This initiative supports our broader objective of integrating and strengthening value chains across sectors, bolstering both current and future projects within the Kingdom.”

Mr. Abdulelah Abdullah Abunayyan, Chairman at Shaker Group, added:

“This MoU is a testament to our commitment to contributing to the Kingdom’s industrial and technological advancement. By bringing the manufacturing of AC compressors to our homeland, we are taking a significant step towards self-reliance in AC production and is perfectly in-sync with the Kingdom’s strategic aspirations to ascend to the forefront of global industrial leadership and establish itself as a pivotal logistics hub.” 

Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Abunayyan, CEO at Shaker Group, said:

“Our collaboration with LG and MISA on this venture underscores our unique position as the first and only company in the Kingdom with the capabilities to potentially manufacture AC compressors, marking a significant advancement in energy-efficient technology. This initiative not only enhances our product offerings but also ensures that Saudi Arabia leads in sustainable manufacturing practices. We are excited about the prospects this MoU presents for Shaker, LG, and the Kingdom, driving innovation and excellence in the HVAC industry at large.”

About Shaker 
Shaker was founded in 1950 and was amongst the first in Saudi Arabia to introduce Air Conditioning & Home Appliances for Saudi consumers. Shaker is the importer and distributor of several leading international brands including Maytag, Ariston, Indesit, Midea, Bompani, and LG in Saudi Arabia, and the sole distributor of LG Air Conditioners in Saudi Arabia. ESCO, as a business unit of Shaker, provides Energy Solutions and management services. Shaker has been a publicly listed company on the Saudi Exchange (Saudi Exchange) since 2010. Throughout the years, Shaker has positioned its name among the top Saudi companies, providing a range of integrated solutions in terms of Air Conditioners and Home Appliances in the Saudi market and the region. For more information, visit: http://www.shaker.com.sa/

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2341200/Shaker_Group.jpg

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Chelsea FC announces multi-year sleeve partnership with Sokin, the business payments and FX platform

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Chelsea FC name fast-growing fintech platform as Principal Partner

LONDON, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Chelsea Football Club has today announced a multi-year partnership with Sokin, the embedded finance and payments company used by businesses worldwide. Sokin will be named a Principal Partner and Official Business Payments and FX Partner of Chelsea FC and Chelsea FC Women.

As a Principal Partner, Sokin will be represented on the sleeves of the Chelsea FC men’s, women’s and academy home, away, and third kits from the 2026/27 season.

The partnership brings together two ambitious London-headquartered organisations with worldwide reach – a club with millions of fans across the world and a fintech platform through which businesses move more than $11 billion a year. A club of Chelsea’s scale works in many currencies every day, with partners, competitions and supporters around the world, and needs a financial partner built to handle that.

Sokin gives finance teams business payments, multi-currency accounts, foreign exchange, checkout and treasury in one place, so they spend less time juggling banks and providers and keep more of what they move.

As Official Business Payments and FX Partner, Sokin will simplify how Chelsea FC sends, receives and manages money in the currencies the club operates in.

The Sokin logo will feature on the sleeve of the Chelsea shirt for the first time [when the men’s team host Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 24th October.]

Jason Gannon, President at Chelsea FC said:

“At Chelsea, we seek to partner with organisations that share our ambition and innovative mindset. Sokin’s expertise in business payments, and their focus on making both simpler for the businesses they serve, makes them a natural fit for the Club. We are pleased to welcome Sokin to the Chelsea family and look forward to working together in the years ahead.”

Vroon Modgill, CEO and founder at Sokin said:

“Chelsea plays on the biggest stage in world football, and its business runs in dozens of currencies. Sokin was built for that with regulated, multi-currency payments and foreign exchange for organisations that operate internationally. We’re proud to be the platform behind the business payments and FX of one of the most iconic teams in football. Sokin’s platform serves businesses in more than 170 countries. We’re thrilled to be partners for the season ahead. An organisation as sophisticated as Chelsea doesn’t leave its finances to chance.”

About Sokin

Sokin is the financial layer global business runs on. Businesses can transact, convert and hold money in 70+ currencies across 170+ countries. Some businesses use Sokin to manage global finance in-house. Others build it into their products to power financial experiences for their customers. Businesses move more than $9 billion a year on licenses Sokin holds in 36+ countries and infrastructure Sokin owns. Founded in 2019, Sokin has raised over $100 million from investors including Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital and Prysm Capital.

About Chelsea Football Club

Chelsea Football Club is one of the biggest, most successful football clubs globally and our men’s team are reigning world champions, having won the four-yearly FIFA Club World Cup in 2025. Our women’s team, Chelsea Women, are also multiple trophy winners.

Founded in 1905, Chelsea is London’s most central football club, based at the iconic 40,000-capacity Stamford Bridge stadium. Nicknamed the Blues, the club lifted the Champions League for the first time in 2012 and domestically has won the Premier League five times, the FA Cup eight times, the Football League Cup five times and the Football League Championship once, in 1955.

The Chelsea Women’s team have enjoyed a huge amount of success and in 2025 won the FA Women’s Super League for a sixth consecutive year and the eighth time overall. The Women’s FA Cup has been won on six occasions. We have also captured the FA Women’s League Cup four times as well as reaching the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in 2021. In two seasons, 2020/21 and 2024/25, a domestic treble of trophies was secured.

The Chelsea Foundation boasts one of the most extensive community initiatives in sport, helping to improve the lives of children and young people all over the world.

Media Contacts:

Taina Biggs
taina.biggs@sokin.com 

Nerissa Chesterfield
nerissa.chesterfield@chelseafc.com 

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Amy Johnson Appointed President of GDIT

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RESTON, Va., Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) announced today that Amy Johnson has been appointed as president of GDIT, effective November 3.

Johnson is a 27-year veteran of General Dynamics Mission Systems, where she held increasingly senior roles in engineering, engineering management and business leadership across cybersecurity, defense electronics, space and intelligence systems, most recently as vice president and general manager for Space, Cyber and Intelligence. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science and computer systems engineering. 

“Amy has a proven track record of leading teams to solve complex and highly technical challenges for our customers,” said Phebe Novakovic, CEO of General Dynamics. “I am confident that her dynamic leadership, operational rigor and deep commitment to our values and culture will deliver value to our customers, employees and shareholders.”

GDIT delivers digital modernization, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and software development solutions to the U.S. federal government, defense, intelligence agencies and other customers. It is a business unit of General Dynamics, a global aerospace and defense company that offers a broad portfolio of products and services in business aviation; ship construction and repair; land combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions; and technology products and services. General Dynamics employs more than 120,000 people worldwide and generated $52.6 billion in revenue in 2025. More information is available at gd.com.

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Yazan Al Homsi Invests US$500,000 in Toronto Drone Maker Arcanus Aerial Systems

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Private investment comes as Arcanus builds out Canadian manufacturing capacity for autonomous aerial systems

DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Yazan Al Homsi, a UAE-based investor and managing partner of Catalyst Communications DMCC, has invested US$500,000 in Arcanus Aerial Systems Inc., a Toronto-headquartered developer and manufacturer of unmanned aerial systems for defence, public safety and critical infrastructure customers. Al Homsi is an investor only and holds no operational, advisory or board role with the company. Other terms were not disclosed.

Arcanus is a Canadian-controlled company. It currently lists more than 15 platforms across heavy-lift, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), cargo, strike and counter-drone missions. According to the company, its published line-up includes:

AB 516e: a long-endurance vertical take-off fixed-wing aircraft rated for three hours of flight.AE 401: a counter-drone interceptor with a top speed of 300 km/h.AC 5250: a cargo platform with a 250 kg payload and a range of more than 2,300 km.

Alongside defence, Arcanus markets its systems for wildfire detection, search and rescue, Arctic sovereignty, border and maritime patrol, and pipeline and power line monitoring.

The company has spent 2026 assembling its domestic production base. In April, Arcanus signed a binding term sheet with Portugal-based Beyond Vision, granting it rights to manufacture, commercialize and support Beyond Vision’s unmanned aerial systems in Canada.

In June, Arcanus announced a five-year agreement appointing FeralX Systems Inc. as a non-exclusive Canadian contract manufacturer for several of its platforms.

“Canada has the engineering talent to build these systems at home, and recent years have shown how much depends on having that capacity domestically,” said Yazan Al Homsi. “What stood out to me about Arcanus was the manufacturing groundwork already in place: licensing, a production partner, and a range of aircraft that serves wildfire crews and search-and-rescue teams alongside defence customers.”

About Yazan Al Homsi

Yazan Al Homsi is a UAE-based investor and managing partner of Catalyst Communications DMCC, which he founded in Dubai in 2018. He was previously based in Vancouver, where he founded Founders Round Capital in 2017 and built a track record of investments in early-stage and small-cap companies. He earned a finance degree from McGill University in 2004 and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. Before turning to investing, he spent more than a decade with PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Middle East, rising to director and focusing on transaction due diligence and valuation.

Media Contact
Catalyst Communications DMCC
catalyst-wire@protonmail.com

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