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Orient Express, the luxury travel venture jointly owned by Accor (EU:AC) and LVMH (EU:MC), is positioning itself to attract a new generation of ultra-wealthy travellers with the launch of its first luxury yacht, as the partners broaden their presence in the fast-growing market for premium experiences.

The new vessel, which cruises along the French and Italian Riviera, is the first of two planned yachts and forms part of a wider expansion that also includes luxury hotels and a forthcoming revival of the iconic Art Deco Orient Express train. Accor Chief Executive Sebastien Bazin told Reuters that the rapid creation of wealth driven by artificial intelligence is expected to generate a fresh wave of high-net-worth clients seeking exclusive experiences.

“When you are getting rich, very rich, money hasn’t got the same meaning,” Bazin said. “The only thing that has a meaning is recognition. Have you become someone?”

According to a Bain study published this week, spending on luxury experiences is forecast to increase by between 9% and 11% this year, significantly outperforming the expected 1% to 4% growth in personal luxury goods. The trend is being fuelled by the expansion of the technology sector, particularly in the United States, creating more ultra-high-net-worth individuals who increasingly spend on private aviation, superyachts and exclusive global events such as Formula One.

“When people are very rich and they have seven homes, and 12 cars, and 17 watches… they still have a bucket list of things they promised themselves to do before dying. It’s not to have an 18th watch,” Bazin said in an interview with Reuters this week.

Bazin also confirmed that Accor and LVMH each hold reciprocal options to buy out the other’s stake in the Orient Express venture in the coming years. While neither company has disclosed the business’s valuation or profitability, the luxury assets are estimated to be worth around €1 billion.

Industry observers believe LVMH would be the more likely buyer should either party exercise its option, given its significantly larger financial resources and growing focus on experiential luxury as demand for traditional luxury goods such as handbags, fashion and watches moderates.

Luxury Experiences at the Centre of the Strategy

Orient Express is initially targeting affluent guests attending high-profile events including the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix, where exclusivity and status remain key attractions.

“If you’ve been to a Monaco Formula One, if you want to go around, you need badges everywhere. Certain people would have certain badges,” said Estelle Dinh, a professor at Switzerland-based hospitality school Gilon and industry advisor.

Prices for a four-day cruise start at approximately €25,000 for an entry-level suite. The yacht also showcases several LVMH brands, including a Guerlain beauty salon and Hennessy cognac featured prominently in its premium penthouse suites.

Bridgepoint (LSE:BPT) shares climbed more than 8% on Monday after the private equity group announced an agreement to acquire U.S.-based Kayne Anderson Real Estate in a transaction valued at approximately $1.39 billion, including debt. The acquisition will be funded through a combination of $759 million in cash and around 189 million newly issued Bridgepoint shares.

The deal will increase Bridgepoint’s assets under management to approximately $117 billion from its current $95 billion, significantly expanding the group’s scale. The company said the acquisition will broaden its investment offering, diversify fee-based revenues and strengthen its presence in the U.S. market. Kayne Anderson’s existing management team will remain in place, with the business operating under the new Kayne Bridgepoint brand.

Bridgepoint expects the acquisition to be earnings enhancing, forecasting a mid-single-digit percentage increase in earnings per share during 2027 and growth of more than 20% in 2028. The company also issued standalone EBITDA guidance of between £390 million and £460 million for the 12 months ending December 2027. Subject to regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to complete before the end of 2026.

More about Bridgepoint

Bridgepoint is a UK-listed alternative asset manager specialising in private equity, private credit, infrastructure and real estate investments. The firm manages capital on behalf of institutional investors and has an international presence across Europe, North America and Asia. The acquisition of Kayne Anderson Real Estate expands Bridgepoint’s real estate platform and strengthens its position in the U.S. investment market.

British American Tobacco (LSE:BATS) has announced a major restructuring programme that will see 5,500 jobs eliminated and a further 3,500 roles transferred to strategic partners. The changes will affect around 20% of the group’s global workforce as the company continues to streamline its operations and improve efficiency.

The restructuring is expected to deliver an additional £600 million (US$793.32 million) in annual cost savings by 2028. The new programme builds on British American Tobacco’s existing efficiency initiatives, which were already targeting £500 million of annual savings by 2027.

The latest measures form part of the company’s broader strategy to strengthen profitability, simplify its operating model and improve long-term financial performance as it adapts to changing market conditions and evolving consumer demand.

More about British American Tobacco

British American Tobacco is one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies, producing cigarettes, smokeless tobacco products and a growing portfolio of reduced-risk alternatives, including vapour, heated tobacco and modern oral nicotine products. Operating in markets around the world, the company is focused on transforming its business towards non-combustible products while improving operational efficiency and shareholder returns.

Fulcrum Metals (LSE:FMET) has signed a non-binding term sheet with Chancery Royalty covering a proposed US$20 million royalty financing package alongside a £200,000 equity subscription to support the development of its Teck-Hughes tailings project in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. The proposed funding structure includes a 5% net smelter return royalty, with Fulcrum retaining the option to repurchase 2% of the royalty in the future. The financing is intended to provide non-dilutive capital as the company progresses the project towards commercial production using its cyanide-free processing technology.

The proposed transaction strengthens Fulcrum’s funding strategy while allowing the company to retain full ownership and operational control of the Teck-Hughes project. Chancery would become both a shareholder and a potential long-term financing partner, supporting the advancement of the project through the next stages of development. Subject to due diligence, successful pilot-scale testing and the execution of definitive agreements, Chancery would also receive a right of first refusal over future royalty opportunities within the Kirkland Lake district, creating a framework that could support additional mine waste recovery projects and further expand Fulcrum’s sustainable metals recovery business.

The agreement marks another step in Fulcrum’s strategy of developing environmentally focused mining solutions while securing alternative sources of project finance. By combining innovative cyanide-free processing technology with non-dilutive funding, the company aims to accelerate the commercialisation of legacy mine waste assets while maintaining flexibility for future growth.

More about Fulcrum Metals Plc

Fulcrum Metals plc is a technology-led natural resources company focused on recovering precious and critical metals from historic mine waste in Canada using cyanide-free processing technologies developed in partnership with Extrakt Process Solutions. Listed on AIM, the company also owns a portfolio of exploration and development assets across Ontario and Saskatchewan and holds exclusive rights to deploy its cyanide-free extraction technology throughout the historic gold mining districts of Timmins and Kirkland Lake.

Focusrite (LSE:TUNE) has reported a resilient performance for the 18 months ended 28 February 2026, with pro-forma 12-month revenue increasing 1.3% to £164.6 million and adjusted EBITDA rising 5.7% to £24.7 million. The improvement was supported by disciplined pricing, effective supply chain management and continued growth in direct-to-consumer sales. Gross margin increased by 1.7 percentage points, while net debt was reduced by £9.3 million to £8.6 million. The group’s Content Creation division also returned to organic constant-currency growth, although reported operating profit was impacted by a £9.8 million non-cash impairment reflecting softer demand for premium synthesiser products.

Innovation remained a key focus during the period, with Focusrite introducing 38 new products and 66 product updates. The company also launched a new technology platform built around a shared software architecture and a proprietary silicon chip, designed to improve product performance, accelerate development cycles and reduce dependence on third-party components. Management reported a positive start to the new financial year, with healthy demand across both operating divisions, and reaffirmed guidance for the year ending 28 February 2027. The group enters the period with stronger operational momentum, an expanded product portfolio and continued growth across its direct-to-consumer and reseller channels, particularly in Japan.

Focusrite’s investment outlook is supported by consistent financial performance and a robust balance sheet with relatively low leverage. However, slower free cash flow growth and mixed technical indicators temper the overall picture. Valuation remains reasonable, with the shares trading on a moderate price-to-earnings multiple and offering a dividend yield of approximately 2.1%.

More about Focusrite

Focusrite is a global developer and manufacturer of professional music and audio technology, supplying hardware and software to musicians, content creators and the wider entertainment industry. The company operates through its Content Creation and Audio Reproduction divisions and owns 11 specialist brands, including Focusrite, Novation, ADAM Audio and Martin Audio, serving customers across studio recording, music production and live sound markets.

Atome PLC (LSE:ATOM) is continuing to advance its flagship Villeta green fertiliser project in Paraguay as it seeks to finalise a power purchase agreement with state utility ANDE. The fully funded development, regarded as the country’s largest single industrial investment, is expected to create thousands of construction and permanent jobs while supplying low-carbon fertiliser to Paraguay and the wider Mercosur region. The company is relying on an existing 145MW power contract agreed in 2022 and continues to work with Paraguayan authorities and lenders, including IDB Invest, IFC, the European Investment Bank and FMO, to resolve outstanding issues following the recent revocation of a presidential decree that had supported the project.

Atome said it has formally expressed its commitment to reaching a swift and mutually beneficial agreement with ANDE, highlighting the strategic importance of the Villeta project for both Paraguay’s economic development and the utility’s long-term objectives. The company estimates the development could generate around US$1 billion in revenue for ANDE over its operational life. Management also dismissed recent Paraguayan media reports suggesting the utility had rejected an earlier proposal, stating that the reports relate to an outdated 2025 submission and that negotiations have since progressed on revised commercial terms. Atome warned that any failure to proceed could result in the associated economic benefits and employment opportunities being relocated to another jurisdiction.

Despite the project’s strategic significance, Atome’s investment outlook continues to reflect its early-stage financial profile. The company remains pre-revenue, is reporting ongoing losses and continues to generate negative free cash flow, leaving it exposed to future funding requirements. Technical indicators offer a more positive picture, with the shares trading above key moving averages and supported by a positive MACD signal. However, valuation remains difficult to assess because of negative earnings and the absence of a dividend.

More about Atome Energy PLC

Atome PLC is an AIM-listed developer of industrial-scale green fertiliser projects across Latin America. Its flagship Villeta development in Paraguay is designed to use renewable electricity to manufacture low-carbon fertiliser for domestic agriculture and export markets across the Mercosur region, supporting industrial development while contributing to the transition towards more sustainable food production.