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FutureSports to create world’s first broad-based indexes on MLB team performance

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Exclusive agreement paves the way for CME FSPI baseball futures

CHICAGO, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — FutureSports, the independent index administrator transforming professional and college sports statistics into rules-based, benchmark financial indexes, today announced an agreement with Major League Baseball (MLB) to create first-of-their-kind indexes on baseball team performance. Under the agreement, MLB will provide FutureSports with Official League Data that the company will use to create new broad-based CME FutureSports Performance Indexes (FSPI) on each of the 30 MLB clubs.

The agreement paves the way for CME Group to list weekly, monthly and quarterly cash-settled futures contracts, pending regulatory review, based on the CME FSPI MLB benchmarks.

CME FSPI are designed to systematically measure the cumulative performance of teams in prominent sports leagues. The play-by-play benchmark indexes will provide hedging vehicles and investment opportunities.

Rhett Dinsdale, Co-Founder of FutureSports, said: “We’re thrilled to collaborate with MLB to create indexes on America’s beloved sport. The business of baseball has grown significantly over the years, and we aim to provide a new way for the industry participants to hedge their capital exposures.”     

FutureSports and CME Group are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and transparency. CME FSPI are administered using transparent, rules-based methodologies derived from Official League Data, helping ensure that index values are determined objectively and independently. FutureSports and CME Group will work with MLB on integrity matters related to CME FSPI baseball futures contracts, establishing a framework to share information in a manner consistent with applicable law. MLB will have no involvement in the determination, calculation or governance of the indexes, which are the purview of FutureSports.

FutureSports and the National Hockey League (NHL) previously announced the creation of CME FSPI based on hockey team performance, and CME Group intends to launch futures contracts on the indexes on Sept. 28, pending regulatory review.

About FutureSports

Under development since 2022 and launched in 2026, Chicago-based FutureSports has created a proprietary index methodology for measuring on-field, on-ice and on-court performance for a range of professional sporting teams and athletes. Partnering with many of the most recognizable sports leagues and financial market participants, FutureSports transforms live, play-by-play statistical data into rules-based, benchmark indexes that may be referenced by exchange-listed financial products. The indexes are designed to serve the same benchmarking function as the leading equity, commodity and fixed income indexes utilized every day across major global exchanges to track performance and hedge risk in the financial markets. FutureSports administers the indexes independently, with formal governance, oversight and methodology change procedures designed to align with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks. For more information, visit www.futuresports.com.

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A New Episode of Advancements to Broadcast on Saturday, September 26 at 8:00 p.m. ET

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Discover how new technologies, tools, and approaches are addressing some of the greatest challenges facing society today.

JUPITER, Fla., Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — An upcoming episode of Advancements with Ted Danson is scheduled to broadcast on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 8:00 pm ET. Tune in to Bloomberg Television to watch.

Across four featured segments, the program examines how organizations are responding to growing demands for infrastructure, sustainability, continuous healthcare, and more adaptable industrial systems. The episode opens with a look at the evolution of construction and megaproject delivery. As demand grows for semiconductor fabrication facilities, clean energy projects, advanced manufacturing, transportation, and other infrastructure, the construction industry faces pressure to deliver projects faster and at greater scale. Watch to discover how artificial intelligence, automation, project data, and other technologies are being applied to the construction industry and are empowering a new generation of skilled craft professionals, engineers, and project managers.

The program then turns to the challenge of making food packaging more recyclable. Packaging represents roughly one-third of municipal solid waste in the United States, while food packaging presents its own challenges, because of contamination, complex materials, and recycling systems that are not always equipped to process them. The segment examines how packaging design can influence recyclability. Industry experts explore approaches involving recyclable P.E.T. packaging, pad-less tray designs, and clearer consumer disposal information designed to support better recycling outcomes and a more circular materials economy.

Healthcare is the focus of the third segment, which examines the movement from episodic care toward more continuous care. While American healthcare provides highly advanced acute and specialty services, care is frequently organized around individual encounters, such as hospitalizations, physician visits, tests, and follow-ups. Learn about the clinical “white space” between those encounters and how remote monitoring, clinical intelligence, communication, and human decision-making can work together to provide greater visibility into a patient’s health journey. The segment will share how continuous specialty care can extend beyond traditional healthcare settings and into the home and will include patient stories illustrating the potential impact of earlier intervention and ongoing support.

The episode concludes with an examination of modernizing industrial control systems. Learn why the demands of AI, advanced analytics, and cybersecurity are changing what manufacturers need from their automation systems. The show will educate about the limitations of traditional closed control architectures, including vendor lock-in and interoperability challenges, as it introduces Open Process Automation (OPA) as an approach based upon open, standards-based architectures. Viewers will see how the technology can allow hardware and software from different suppliers to work together, giving manufacturers greater flexibility to upgrade and adapt their systems over time.

This episode examines how industries are adapting established systems to meet rapidly changing demands. From construction sites and food packaging facilities to patients’ homes and industrial plants, emerging technologies are being used alongside new operating models and human expertise to improve how complex systems function,” said Dustin Schwarz, programming director for the Advancements series.

Featured segments in this episode include Bechtel, Lucid Corp, Streamcare Group, and Collaborative Systems Integration (CSI).

About Advancements:
Advancements is an information-based educational television series that explores recent developments taking place across several industries and economies. With a focus on some of the major innovations responsible for global progress today, the award-winning series goes behind-the-scenes to discover and share how technology and innovation continue to drive the world forward.

For more information, please visit
www.AdvancementsTV.com
or call 866-496-4065.

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SOURCE Advancements

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McDermott Completes Refinancing; Strengthens Capital Structure for Continued Growth

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Refinancing includes completion of $500 million equity rights offering, $550 million Nordic bond issuance and new long-term Letter of Credit facility

HOUSTON, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — McDermott International, Ltd (“McDermott” or the “Company”) today announced the successful completion of its comprehensive refinancing transaction, including a backstopped $500 million equity financing, a $550 million senior secured Nordic bond issuance and a new long-term letter of credit and guarantee facility.

The refinancing builds upon the Company’s strong operational and financial performance, including consistent project execution and disciplined bidding. This platform for long-term growth positions McDermott to execute its high-quality global backlog, pursue disciplined growth opportunities and advance its long-term strategy.

“This refinancing reflects the continued support and confidence our shareholders, lenders and bond investors have shown in our strategy, performance and future,” said Michael McKelvy, McDermott Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board of Directors. “We believe the successful completion of this transaction positions McDermott with the financial foundation to continue building on the momentum we’ve established through strong project delivery and a relentless focus on serving our customers.”

The completed refinancing consists of:

$500 million equity financing through a rights offering to existing shareholders, which was 97% subscribed by Class A ordinary shareholders and completed by the related backstop commitments,A $550 million senior secured bond issuance in the Nordic market due in 2031,A new long-term letter of credit and guarantee facility, andA revolving credit facility.

Collectively, these transactions are designed to extend McDermott’s maturity profile, further deleverage the balance sheet and provide long-term financing certainty.

About McDermott
McDermott is a premier, fully-integrated provider of engineering and construction solutions to the energy industry. Our customers trust our technology-driven approach engineered to responsibly harness and transform global energy resources into the products the world needs. From concept to commissioning, McDermott’s innovative expertise and capabilities advance the next generation of global energy infrastructure—empowering a brighter, more sustainable future for us all. Operating in over 30 countries, McDermott’s locally-focused and globally-integrated resources include more than 30,000 employees, a diversified fleet of specialty marine construction vessels and fabrication facilities around the world. To learn more, visit www.mcdermott.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
McDermott cautions that statements in this communication which are forward-looking, and provide other than historical information, involve risks, contingencies and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements about the expected benefits achieved through the completion of the refinancing. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Those statements are made by using various underlying assumptions and are subject to numerous risks, contingencies and uncertainties, including, among others: adverse changes in the markets in which we operate or credit or capital markets; our inability to successfully execute on contracts in backlog; changes in project design or schedules; the availability of qualified personnel; changes in the terms, scope or timing of contracts, contract cancellations, change orders and other modifications and actions by our customers and other business counterparties; changes in industry norms; actions by lenders, other creditors, customers and other business counterparties of McDermott and adverse outcomes in legal or other dispute resolution proceedings. If one or more of these risks materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. This communication reflects the views of McDermott’s management as of the date hereof. Except to the extent required by applicable law, McDermott undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.

Contacts:

Global Media Relations
Reba Reid
+1 281 588 5636
RReid@McDermott.com

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SOURCE McDermott International, Ltd

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OMNICOM MEDIA WAS AWARDED $3.3 BILLION IN NEW BILLINGS IN H1 2026, MORE THAN ANY OTHER GLOBAL MEDIA GROUP

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PHD ranked #1 globally, joined by Hearts United and OMD in top five for total new business, while PHD, Hearts United and Initiative sweep the top three for net new business in H1 2026

NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As reported in TheGlobal Media Agency New Business Barometer H1 2026, published today by independent research company COMvergence, Omnicom Media, an Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) Connected Capability, was awarded $3.3 billion in new billings in the first half of the year, the best performance among the five global media management groups.

Looking at Total New Business performance (defined by COMvergence as wins minus losses, including retentions) this translated to $3.15 billion, putting Omnicom Media in a photo finish for the top slot on global media group ranking.

Omnicom Media’s H1 results come as marketers continue to rigorously evaluate agency partners for their ability to bring together data, analytics, AI, technology, and transformation to drive measurable business growth.

“There’s a lot of noise in the industry about what marketers are looking for from their agencies – our view is that clients are far more rigorous than that conversation sometimes suggests. They are actively stress-testing capabilities – across data and analytics, AI, technology, and transformation – and looking hard at who can actually bring them together to drive growth,” said Omnicom Media CEO Florian Adamski. “Our leading new-business volume in the first half of 2026 is powerful validation of what we’ve built at Omnicom Media. By combining intelligence at scale, trusted identity solutions, and unmatched commercial signal strength, we’ve created a connected growth ecosystem that few can replicate. It gives our agencies a distinct ability to understand consumers, identify growth opportunities and turn intelligence into action at scale. When sophisticated marketers put the market’s competing propositions to the test, the results speak for themselves.”

An OM sweep across the agency rankings 

The group-level performance was powered by broad-based momentum across Omnicom Media’s agency portfolio, as three of its agencies – PHD, Hearts United and OMD – claimed three of the top five spots on the global total new business ranking, including the #1 spot for PHD.

Omnicom Media’s performance was even stronger when measured by net new business, with PHD, Hearts United and Initiative taking the top three positions globally.

PHD’s #1 global ranking for both total and net new business was fueled by a streak of wins that included Adidas, Roku, SkyShowtime and Xiaomi.

Hearts United, Omnicom Media’s newest agency, ranked among the global top five for total new business and #2 for net new business, driven by wins including Royal Caribbean International and Major League Soccer. The agency also retained 69% of its H1 business, significantly above the 28% overall industry retention rate tracked by COMvergence.

Initiative ranked #3 globally for net new business, with IBM among its major wins.

For PHD, the results provide a tangible demonstration of its Outthink, Outpace, Outgrow philosophy.

“Outthink, Outpace, Outgrow is not a positioning line for PHD. It is how we approach growth,” said Christian Flouch, Global Brand President, PHD. “We outthink by seeing the opportunity differently, challenging assumptions and turning intelligence into momentum. We outpace by connecting the right capabilities, removing friction, and moving with clarity and confidence. And we outgrow by connecting the work to measurable outcomes, demonstrating value, and identifying what comes next. The H1 results show what happens when that mindset is applied consistently to the challenges clients are facing.”

A robust roster of wins and retentions

Omnicom Media’s first-half performance was driven by a combination of major global wins and broad-based regional momentum across its agency portfolio.

Global wins included Adidas, Bloomberg, IBM, Mark Anthony Brands, On and Royal Caribbean International.

Regional wins included Major League Soccer, NinjaTrader, PushCare, Raymour & Flanigan, Roku and Subway in the U.S.; SkyShowtime in Europe; Xiaomi and Xiaopeng Motors in China; Masdar, Riyadh Expo and Wynn Resorts in the GCC; Aviva/Direct Line Group and Spire Healthcare in the UK; The Quality Group in Germany; Nordea Bank in the Nordics; Association of Mutual Funds of India and Netflix in India; Geely Auto and Grupo Lala in Mexico; and Stan Entertainment in Australia.

The group also retained a significant portfolio of major global and regional relationships, including Uber, Delta Air Lines, Dyson, Epic Games, Cox Automotive, Canada Goose, Travel Alberta, Xiaomi Auto, Yili Digital, Alibaba, Etsy, Take-Two Interactive and Fujifilm.

The COMvergence results reflect the momentum Omnicom Media has built following Omnicom’s acquisition of IPG, as the group continues to connect media expertise with capabilities across identity, data, AI, commerce, and technology.

“Growth is ultimately the measure that matters,” Adamski added. “The breadth of these results, across new relationships, competitive wins and retained clients, shows that marketers are choosing partners based on what they can do for their businesses. That is the opportunity Omnicom Media was built to deliver.”

CONTACT: isabelle.gauvry@omc.com

ABOUT OMNICOM MEDIA
Omnicom Media, an Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) Connected Capability, is the world’s largest global media management network. Powered by the Omni Intelligence Platform, Omnicom Media agencies leverage $75.6 billion in billings, 40,000+ specialists across 70+ markets, and the industry’s most powerful portfolio identity, commerce, and intelligence assets to design dynamic Growth Ecosystems that enable the world’s most ambitious businesses to grow faster and smarter. The Omnicom Media portfolio includes global media agency brands OMD, Initiative, PHD, UM, Hearts & Science, and Mediahub; core Omnicom Integrated Media offerings Acxiom, the world’s premier identity solution, and the Flywheel end-to-end commerce solution; and specialty services across the cloud consulting, creator, financial, healthcare, and sports & entertainment categories.  For more information visit omnicommedia.com

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