Friday on global markets is marked by restructuring and financial warnings. British luxury carmaker Aston Martin cuts profit forecasts and sells the naming rights to its Formula 1 team for £50 million. Simultaneously, tech giant Sony announced the closure of the prestigious Bluepoint Games studio, responsible for hits on PlayStation consoles. The situation is worsened by reports of a drastic dividend cut by chemical company LyondellBasell and IMF loan plans for Ukraine.

Aston Martin's Financial Crisis

The luxury carmaker lowered profit forecasts for 2025 and sold naming rights in F1 for £50 million.

Liquidation of Bluepoint Games

Sony is closing the esteemed development studio in March. About 70 people will lose employment due to rising costs of game production.

LyondellBasell Dividend Reduction

The chemical conglomerate cut its dividend to 69 cents, reacting to a prolonged stagnation in the petrochemical industry.

IMF Support for Ukraine

The Fund will consider on February 26 granting Ukraine a loan worth $8.1 billion as part of a four-year program.

The financial situation of British carmaker Aston Martin has deteriorated sharply, forcing management to issue another profit warning. The company expects its 2025 results to be significantly worse than analysts' forecasts, leading to a drop in its share price. To salvage financial liquidity, the firm decided to sell perpetual naming rights for its Formula 1 team to holding company AMR GP for £50 million. The brand's problems are compounded by U.S. tariffs and weakening demand in key markets in China and North America. Founded in 1913, Aston Martin has repeatedly faced financial troubles throughout its history, declaring bankruptcy seven times. The current recovery strategy led by billionaire Lawrence Stroll is encountering unprecedented macroeconomic challenges.In parallel, the video game industry is experiencing a shock after Sony Interactive Entertainment's decision to liquidate the Bluepoint Games studio. The American developer, known for technically excellent remakes of games like Demon's Souls and Shadow of the Colossus, will cease operations by March 2026. This decision followed an internal business review, and about 70 employees will lose their jobs. Head of PlayStation Studios, Hermen Hulst, cited rising game production costs as the main reason for structural optimization. 2024: 6000, 2025 (forecast): 5448 The economic slowdown is also affecting the chemical sector, where conglomerate LyondellBasell announced a drastic reduction in its quarterly dividend by nearly 50% – from $1.37 to 69 cents per share. The company's management argues this step is due to the longest crisis in years in the petrochemical industry. In the background of these events, positive signals emerge for Ukraine. The International Monetary Fund Executive Board is set to meet on February 26 to approve a four-year loan program worth $8.1 billion, which is crucial for the stability of its economy. £50 million — AMR GP will pay for the Aston Martin name in F1„Bluepoint Games is an incredibly talented team, but rising development costs forced us into a difficult restructuring.” — Hermen HulstChange in LyondellBasell Dividend: : → ; : → Liberal media emphasize the impact of trade barriers and U.S. tariffs on the condition of global British luxury brands. | Conservative media focus on the necessity of cost-cutting in corporations and expenditure optimization in the face of inflation.

Mentioned People

  • Lawrence Stroll — Canadian billionaire and majority owner of Aston Martin, attempting to restructure the brand.
  • Hermen Hulst — Head of PlayStation Studios at Sony Interactive Entertainment, responsible for the decision to close the studio.