APTARGROUP, INC. (ATR): Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

Schroder Asian Total Return Investment Company plc (ATR) said it has published a circular for shareholders on a proposed combination with Pacific Assets Trust plc (PAC). The plan would use a scheme of reconstruction and PAC’s members’ voluntary winding-up, transferring most PAC assets and issuing New ATR shares. A cash option is capped at 25% with a 2% discount; shareholder approval is required.

AptarGroup (ATR) reported Q2 2026 total sales of $1.03B, up 6% reported, with adjusted EPS of $1.42 above guidance. Adjusted EBITDA was $213M, down 3%, and margins fell due to mix and operational issues in beauty. Pharma core sales grew 8% excluding emergency medicine destocking. Net debt was $1.2B, leverage 1.49x, and Q3 adjusted EPS guidance is $1.45 to $1.53.

APTARGROUP, INC. (ATR) filed an SEC Form 8-K — Results of Operations and Financial Condition. Exhibit 99.1 Aptar Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results Crystal Lake, Illinois, July 30, 2026 -- AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR), a global leader in drug delivery, dosing and protection technologies, and consumer product dispensing, today reported the following second quarter results

Amazon (AMZN) is raising its minimum starting wage for U.S. core operations workers to $20/hour, a $1.5B investment. This follows rising fulfillment costs, which increased 13% YoY to $56.9B in H1 2026. The move aims to reduce turnover and support holiday demand, with average hourly pay approaching $24. Amazon's Q2 operating income rose 43% to $27.5B, but fulfillment expenses grew 14%. The wage hike adds to existing cost pressures, with future productivity gains uncertain.

Applied Materials (AMAT) plans a $5B investment in India over a decade to expand its semiconductor manufacturing presence. India aims for $110B in semiconductor consumption by 2030. AMAT's Q3 2026 revenue was $9.12B, up 25% YoY. Risks include delays in India's semiconductor projects and potential pressure on returns.

Accenture's contract with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) for a political funding system increased from $30M to $71M due to four amendments. The AEC defended the costs, citing a modular approach, while critics like Greens' Barbara Pocock questioned the strategy. In 2025-26, Accenture earned $667M from contract variations, exceeding new contracts. The company has received $1.6B from amendments over five years, raising concerns about transparency and oversight.