✈️💰 Sky Shift: $500M Lift

Joby’s eVTOLs Take Flight

Dear Friend,

The mobility sector delivered seismic shifts last week as Toyota Motor Corp completed the first $250 million tranche of its $500 million commitment to air taxi manufacturer Joby Aviation, cementing Toyota's position as the leading shareholder in the Santa Cruz-based eVTOL pioneer. This strategic alliance gained further momentum with Toyota Industries accepting a massive $42 billion acquisition by Toyota Motor Corp, marking one of the largest intra-conglomerate deals in automotive history and consolidating control over the sprawling Toyota ecosystem. Meanwhile, struggling automaker Nissan announced plans to raise over $7 billion through convertible securities and asset sales, including a £1 billion UK government-backed loan, highlighting the industry's urgent restructuring needs. The sector's technological backbone strengthened as London-based Volteras secured $11.1 million in Series A funding to expand its platform connecting EV batteries to grid storage systems, partnering with automotive giants Ford and BMW.

In energy transition, strategic acquisitions dominated the landscape as Swedish energy company Monsson completed its acquisition of a 60 MWh battery energy storage system in Eskilstuna Municipality, with construction scheduled to begin in June 2025. International collaboration accelerated through Singapore's Royal Golden Eagle and France's TotalEnergies forming Singa Renewables to develop utility-scale solar and battery storage projects in Indonesia's Riau Province, supporting both local industries and Singapore's energy exports. Nuclear innovation gained momentum as Radiant Industries secured $165 million in Series C funding to complete development of its 1-megawatt small reactor design, bringing total raised capital to $225 million and positioning the company to produce up to 50 microreactors annually.

Physical AI witnessed transformative consolidation as Hugging Face completed its acquisition of France-based humanoid robot developer Pollen Robotics, marking the AI platform leader's first foray into embodied intelligence and physical robotics. Chinese smartphone manufacturer Honor announced its expansion into humanoid robotics as part of a $10 billion artificial intelligence initiative, establishing a new business opportunities department focused on human-shaped machines for China's competitive AI marketplace. Venture capital surged with Cathay Innovation closing its $1 billion vertical AI fund—the largest AI-dedicated venture capital fund from the European Union—focusing on industrial AI applications across consumer, healthcare, financial services, and energy/mobility sectors. The sector's industrial foundations strengthened as Swiss technology company ABB selected Bank of America and UBS to arrange a potential transaction for its robotics division, planning either a Q2 2026 spinoff or strategic sale to capitalize on surging automation demand.

Stay sharp,

Vitaly Golomb
Managing Partner
Mavka Capital

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Mobility

1. Toyota's Strategic Investment in Joby Aviation
Toyota Motor Corp. completed the first $250 million tranche of its previously announced $500 million investment commitment to air taxi manufacturer Joby Aviation, making Toyota the top shareholder in the Santa Cruz, California-based company
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2. Toyota Industries Accepts $42 Billion Takeover Bid

Toyota Industries agreed to a $42 billion acquisition by Toyota Motor Corp and affiliated group companies, marking one of the largest intra-conglomerate deals in automotive history.

3. Nissan Secures $7 Billion Funding Package

Nissan announced plans to raise over $7 billion through convertible securities, asset sales (including stakes in Renault and AESC Group), and a £1 billion ($1.35 billion) UK government-backed loan to support restructuring efforts.
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4. Volteras Raises $11.1 Million for EV Grid Integration

London-based Volteras secured $11.1 million in a Series A round led by Union Square Ventures to expand its platform, which connects EV batteries to grid storage systems, and has partnered with automakers such as Ford and BMW.
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5. Northrop Grumman invests $50 million in space startup Firefly Aerospace
U.S. defense contractor Northrop Grumman (NOC.N), opens new tab has invested $50 million into space startup Firefly Aerospace to aid the production of their jointly developed rocket, the companies said on Thursday.
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Energy Transition

1. Monsson Acquires 60 MWh Battery Energy Storage System in Sweden
Swedish energy company Monsson completed the acquisition of a 60 MWh battery energy storage system project in Eskilstuna Municipality from renewable energy producer Neoen, with construction scheduled to begin in June 2025.
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2. RGE and TotalEnergies Launch Solar-Battery Joint Venture in Indonesia
Singapore’s Royal Golden Eagle (RGE) and France’s TotalEnergies formed Singa Renewables to develop a utility-scale solar and battery storage project in Indonesia’s Riau Province. The initiative will power local industries and export solar energy to Singapore.
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3. Eni in talks with GIP for sale of 49.99% of carbon capture unit 
Italian energy group Eni entered exclusive negotiations to sell a 49.99% stake in its carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) business to BlackRock's infrastructure fund GIP as part of its satellite strategy to finance low-carbon ventures.
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4. Global Energy Transition Investment Reaches Record $2.1 Trillion  BloombergNEF's Energy Transition Investment Trends report reveals that global investment in the energy transition hit $2.1 trillion in 2024, an 11% increase from the previous year, covering renewables, energy storage, nuclear, hydrogen, carbon capture, and other clean energy technologies
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5. Nuclear Startup Radiant Raises $165 Million
Radiant Industries Inc., a US nuclear startup, secured $165 million in Series C funding led by DCVC Management Co. to complete development of its 1-megawatt small reactor design, bringing its total raised capital to $225 million
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6. EPH and Itochu Bid for Irish Utility Energia Group
 Daniel Kretinsky-backed Czech energy group EPH and Japanese trading house Itochu are expected to submit preliminary bids for Irish utility Energia Group in a deal that could value the company at over 2 billion euros ($2.27 billion)
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Physical AI

1. ABB Prepares Robotics Unit for Potential Deal
ABB selected Bank of America and UBS to arrange a potential transaction for its robotics division, with plans to either spin off and list the unit in Q2 2026 or explore a sale as an alternative. The Swiss industrial technology company's move reflects the growing interest in robotics assets as automation demand continues to surge across manufacturing sectors.
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2. Honor Advances Humanoid Robot Development
Chinese smartphone manufacturer Honor announced its expansion into humanoid robotics as part of a $10 billion artificial intelligence initiative launched in March 2025. The company's new business opportunities department is developing human-shaped machines as part of its broader push into China's competitive AI marketplace.
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3. Cathay Innovation Closes $1B Vertical AI Fund 

Global venture capital firm Cathay Innovation announced the final close of its latest $1 billion fund, marking it as the largest AI-dedicated venture capital fund from the European Union, with significant focus on industrial AI applications across consumer, healthcare, financial services, and energy/mobility sectors
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4. Hugging Face Acquires Pollen Robotics

AI platform leader Hugging Face completed its acquisition of France-based humanoid robot developer Pollen Robotics, maker of the Reachy 2 research platform, marking a significant move into physical AI and embodied intelligence.
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Information provided by Mavka Capital. Securities are offered through Finalis Securities LLC, a member of FINRA/SIPC. Mavka Capital and Finalis Securities LLC are separate, unaffiliated entities. The information contained in this message does not constitute legal advice and should not be considered an offer to purchase or a solicitation to sell securities or any other financial instruments; it is for informational purposes only.