S&P sees Atkore deal having limited leverage impact - 6 Aug 2026

As of August 6, today’s news sees developments around Prysmian’s acquisition strategy, environmental concerns impacting major projects, and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. According to S&P Global analysts, Prysmian’s planned acquisition of US-based Atkore will lead to only a temporary increase in leverage. Meanwhile, German energy company RWE said today that it had reached a 1.22 billion dollars deal with the Trump administration to cancel three offshore wind leases in U.S. waters and to direct the funds to LNG and natural gas power plant projects. The deal is the fifth the administration has struck this year as part of its wide-ranging effort to stop development of U.S. offshore wind projects, which U.S. President Donald Trump regards as costly and ugly. In other business news, Google’s ambitious 15 billion dollar data center project in India is facing significant pushback from environmentalists concerned about its impact on local water supplies and wildlife. Protests, including marches and planned awareness campaigns, have raised alarms about the project's feasibility in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, amid legal challenges pertaining to its ecological footprint. In geopolitical developments, Iran has intensified its diplomatic efforts with Gulf states, warning that any new U.S. strikes against its territory could lead to retaliation against energy infrastructure in the region. The Iranian Foreign Minister communicated this through high-level discussions with officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar, emphasizing the need for a diplomatic solution to avoid escalation. Market analysts are also paying attention to the potential impacts of a total solar eclipse in Spain on electricity consumption, as EU grid operators begin preparations. The current news cycle highlights pivotal shifts in the energy and technology sectors, alongside significant geopolitical challenges that could have far-reaching implications.