About Us

Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

A Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Social Media

Bluesky • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube

Meet the Laser Focus World Team

Editorial

Sales

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology
My Watchlist
Indicators
Industrial Laser Index
Markets
Stocks
ETFs
Tools
Markets:
Overview
News
Currencies
International
Treasuries

Shift4 Completes Squeeze-Out Merger of Global Blue

By: via Business Wire

Shift4 Payments, Inc. (“Shift4”) (NYSE: FOUR), the leader in integrated payments and commerce technology, and Global Blue Group Holding AG (“Global Blue”) (NYSE: GB), the leading specialty payments and technology platform enabling tax-free shopping, dynamic currency conversion, and payments solutions to the world’s largest retail brands, today announced the successful completion of the squeeze-out merger under Swiss law pursuant to which Global Blue merged with and into Global Blue Group Holding GmbH (f/k/a GT Holding 1 GmbH) (“Merger Sub”), with Merger Sub continuing as the surviving entity and wholly-owned subsidiary of Shift4 (the “Merger”). As a result of the Merger, the remaining 2.63% outstanding shares of Global Blue (the “Shares”) not previously purchased by Shift4 in the previously announced completion of a tender offer (the “Tender Offer”) have been cancelled and converted into the right to receive $7.50 per common share in cash, subject to any applicable withholding taxes. The Merger was approved by the Global Blue shareholders at the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders held on August 18, 2025. Following consummation of the Merger, Shift4 caused Global Blue to voluntarily delist its Shares from the New York Stock Exchange.

As previously announced, Shift4 successfully completed the Tender Offer on July 3, 2025 to purchase an aggregate of approximately 97.37% of the issued and outstanding Shares. Shift4 accepted for payment and promptly paid for all such Shares that were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in accordance with the terms of the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 21, 2025, as amended.

About Shift4

Shift4 (NYSE: FOUR) is boldly redefining commerce by simplifying complex payments ecosystems across the world. As the leader in commerce-enabling technology, Shift4 powers billions of transactions annually for hundreds of thousands of businesses in virtually every industry. For more information, visit shift4.com.

About Global Blue

Global Blue (NYSE: GB) is the business partner for the shopping journey, providing technology and services to enhance the experience and drive performance. With over 40 years of expertise, today we connect thousands of retailers, acquirers, and hotels with nearly 80 million consumers across 52 countries, in three industries: Tax Free Shopping, Payments and Post-Purchase solutions. For more information, visit globalblue.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Each of Shift4 and Global Blue intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including statements regarding Shift4’s or Global Blue’s, as applicable, respective expectations associated with the acquisition of Global Blue by Shift4, including the benefits, synergies, efficiencies, and opportunities arising from the acquisition, and the timing of any of the foregoing. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause each of our actual results, performance or achievements, respectively, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to the substantial and increasingly intense competition worldwide in the financial services, payments and payment technology industries; each of our ability to continue to expand our respective share of the existing payment processing markets or expand into new markets; additional risks associated with each of our expansion into international operations, including compliance with and changes in foreign governmental policies, as well as exposure to foreign exchange rates; and each of our respective ability to integrate and interoperate each of our services and products with a variety of operating systems, software, devices, and web browsers, and the other important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A in Shift4’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2024, under the caption “Key Items – Risk Factors” in Item 3(D) in Global Blue’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the years ended March 31, 2025 and March 31, 2024 and each of our other filings with the SEC, respectively. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s expectations as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, each of Shift4 and Global Blue, disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause each of our views to change, respectively.

Contacts

More News

View More
Why the Precious Metal Nobody Talks About Could Be Your Best Bet
Via MarketBeat
Topics ETFs Economy
Tickers PALL VOO
Cheap Chipotle? Why CMG Stock Could Be Ready for a Comeback
Via MarketBeat
Tickers CMG YUM
3 Industrial Stocks Ready to Benefit From Fed Cuts and Spending
Via MarketBeat
Topics Economy Stocks World Trade
Tickers CC DOW NUE
A Copper Catalyst: Why Freeport-McMoRan Is Positioned to Rebound
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence Economy
Tickers BAC FCX
MarketBeat Week in Review – 09/29 - 10/03
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence Economy
Tickers AAPL APP BBAI BYDDF COST CRWV
Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.