🔎Fort Worth has eyes on more Alcon; Apple takes bigger bite for site; Madden NFL company snags $55B deal.

Fort Worth approved up to $6M in incentives as Alcon weighs moving two manufacturing lines from Europe to its campus in south Fort Worth. The expansion could bring $186M in investments and 241 new jobs.

Apple is relocating its retail store in University Park Village and will open doors at its new location on Saturday, October 11. The original store has served customers since 2008. Apple will fill a space previously divided between two clothing retailers — Jos. A. Bank and The Impeccable Pig — for more space and prominence.

Executives of a portfolio company that managed RadioShack, Pier 1 Imports and others have been accused by federal regulators of lying to investors and costing them millions. The SEC filed a lawsuit against Retail Ecommerce Ventures co-founders Alex Mehr and Tai Lopez, and Chief Operating Officer Maya Burkenroad, alleging they misled hundreds of investors while raking in $112M after buying large, bankrupt retail brands.

Black Mountain, a Fort Worth-based partnership of fossil fuel and mining companies, received permission from Fort Worth to convert roughly 142 acres of greenery along the southern edge of Lon Stephenson Road into a data center park.

Lockheed Martin has secured a contract for 296 F-35 fighters for the three U.S. military services and international customers. The contract covers an equal amount from Lot 18 and Lot 19 aircraft, with deliveries to commence in 2026. The U.S. Department of War said the value of the contract is $12.5 billion.

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control was awarded a $233-million, firm-fixed-price contract to procure 59 infrared receivers and 45 processors in support of the Infrared Search and Track Block II systems and initial spares. Lockheed also was awarded a $245-million contract to exercise options for production, spares, production support material, engineering support and hardware repair of components in support of the MK 48 MOD 7 Heavyweight Torpedo program.

The Pentagon is pushing for defense contractors to double their missile production for a potential conflict with China. The Wall Street Journal has a look at how Lockheed Martin, Boeing and others are reacting.

TXSE Group said the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has approved its Form 1 registration to operate as a national securities exchange. TXSE will provide listing solutions for corporate issuers and ETP sponsors that are aligned with its priorities and fully transparent. It says it will launch trading as well as ETP and corporate listings in 2026.

Electronic Arts, the maker of video games like “Madden NFL” and “The Sims,” is being acquired for $55 billion, the largest buyout of a public company. The investor group includes Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth, a firm managed by Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, and private equity firm Silver Lake Partners. The deal far exceeds the $32 billion that took Texas utility TXU private in 2007.

Fort Worth-based American Airlines and Canada’s Porter Airlines have formed a codeshare partnership to give customers more ways to travel between the countries. Customers can book itineraries on either airline’s site. They are looking at expanded codeshare destinations and loyalty benefits.

American Airlines must revamp its 401(k) plan to remove ties to socially-conscious investing, but it won’t have to pay money damages despite being found liable for violating federal benefits law. The pilot who proved at trial that American acted disloyally by favoring environmental, social and corporate governance goals in its 401(k) plan failed to prove that the plan suffered monetary losses.

Fort Worth-based Elbit America, the U.S. headquarters for the Israeli defense company, has won a U.S. Army contract for $2.6 million. The Future Advanced Long-range Common Optical/Netted-fire Sensor (FALCONS), positioned at long-range and undetected, can employ a sensor suite that surveils and targets the opposition.

Arlington-based Skywalker Property Partners acquired industrial assets in north Texas for its fund The Leverage Strikes Back. The two fully leased projects, totaling 35 tenants in 95,000 square feet of space, are in Granbury. Skywalker also is under contract to buy 2.8 acres, situated between the two properties, which are earmarked for industrial outside storage and future development.

Backed by Southlake-based Gauge Capital, Rovia Clinical Research has added StudyMetrix Research in the St. Louis area and Coastal Research Institute in Fayetteville, N.C. – to its network. Rovia partners with healthcare providers, pharmaceutical, biotech, and contract research organizations worldwide. David Friedman, Partner at Gauge Capital, said, “We are excited about Rovia’s next chapter of growth.”

Michael Tenny sold the former Cheaper Than Dirt building in north Fort Worth to investment group CanTex RE Holdings. The building is on 3.9 acres at 2500-2536 NE Loop 820. Bradford Commercial Real Estate Services Executive Vice President and Managing Partner Todd Lambeth and Richard Hitz represented the seller of record, Direct Investment Ltd. CanTex retained Bradford to lease the building.

Transwestern said it secured a 20,000-square-foot lease at 711 W. Kennedale Parkway in Fort Worth for an undisclosed client. Brokers were Jeff Givens, Wythe Roberts and Lyndon Todd.

Virbac, a French company whose U.S. headquarters is in Westlake, launched the first medicated feed for cats. Called Vikaly, the food marries a renal kibble with a veterinary drug, aiming to advance therapeutic animal nutrition.

Snippets:

• Flytrex CEO explains why D-FW is the hotbed for drone deliveries and shares his company’s expansion plans for 2026.

• Berkshire Hathaway nears a $10B deal for Occidental's petrochem unit, according to The Wall Street Journal.

• Rock & Roll Hall of Famer James Taylor at the Grand Ole Opry Nov. 11: What is the country connection? 

Daily digit: $82,503 = median annual household income in Fort Worth in 2024, up 7.03% versus prior year. It was the 17th largest increase among large cities, according to a study by SmartAsset.

Significant stat: Mitch Whitten, COO of Visit Fort Worth, said the World Cup is expected to have a $1.5 billion regional economic impact and bring more than 100,000 visitors a day to north Texas.

Announcements: 

• Bank of Texas: Hires Jeff Vincent as Market Manager - Commercial Banking.

• The Cliburn: Adds Andrea Palmer, VP of Legal & Compliance at TTI, to its Board. 

• Fort Worth: Hires Socorro “Coy” Gray to the Public Events Administration & Finance team. 

• Fort Worth Sister Cities International: Officers of the Board are Chairwoman – Cindy Johnson; Chair-elect -- David Campbell; Secretary – Staussa Ervin; Treasurer – Jason Brown; and Past Chair/Nominating – Greg Jackson. For a full list of board members, click here.

• Paychex: Selects Alonzo Peavy as Mid-Market HCM Consultant. 

• YMCA: Hires Jennifer Davis as Executive Assistant. 

• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Hires Britney Guevara as Neurology Shadower.

• Strategic Government Resources: Hires Steve Stoler as Senior VP of Leadership Development.

• Workforce Development Board: Names Chair - Rosa Navejar; Vice Chair - Jerietha McDonald; and 2nd Vice Chair - Dr. Daniel Lufkin. 

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