Know What's Happening in M&A
Know What's Happening in M&A
The Iran war has injected fresh geopolitical risk into the packaging sector, curbing M&A momentum in 2026. While Q1 saw 36 announced deals—up slightly from 34 a year earlier—the pace lags behind earlier forecasts and megadeals are fading. Companies are pivoting to programmatic, smaller‑to‑medium transactions, with private equity still actively hunting opportunities. Rising fuel costs and muted consumer spending further dampen valuations, leaving the industry’s growth outlook tied to the conflict’s duration.
In this 7‑minute episode of This Week in RegTech, host Chris Russell highlights two major acquisitions shaping talent acquisition: Crosschq’s purchase of Tradeify to create an outcome‑trained hiring model, and Lattice’s acquisition of Mandela’s AI‑native coaching tech to accelerate its...
A joint venture of Falcone Group, ROK Acquisitions, Andre Mirmelli, The Davis Companies and Jamestown has taken control of a 300,000‑square‑foot retail, dining and entertainment district within Miami Worldcenter. The district, anchored by a flagship Apple store and a roster...
Sutter Health announced a cross‑border acquisition of Minnesota‑based Allina Health, marking a strategic push into health‑technology and AI. The deal gives Sutter access to Allina’s medtech engineering talent while providing Allina with the scale needed to compete against larger systems...
In March 2026, thirty‑eight cybersecurity‑focused M&A deals were announced, marking a rapid acceleration in the sector. The month’s headline transactions include Google’s $32 billion closure of the Wiz acquisition, Zurich’s $11 billion purchase of Beazley, and a series of AI‑security buyouts such as...
TotalEnergies has sold a 50 % stake in its 800‑MW German battery storage portfolio to Allianz Global Investors for about €500 million (≈$577 million). The portfolio comprises 11 projects under construction, delivering 1,628 MWh of capacity and slated for commercial operation within two years....
Standard Bank’s Corporate Finance Advisory team has completed the sale of South African soft‑drink maker Twizza for R2.1 billion (approximately $124 million) to The Beverage Company, a subsidiary of India’s Varun. The transaction received all regulatory clearances, marking a landmark deal in...
Shionogi completed a $2.5 billion acquisition of global rights to Radicava from Tanabe Pharma, adding an approved ALS treatment to its portfolio. The deal transfers all intellectual property, sales rights and the existing commercial team, delivering an estimated $700 million in annual...
Federal regulators are being urged to reject Talen Energy’s proposed purchase of about 2.6 GW from Energy Capital Partners because the deal would amplify Talen’s market power in the PJM Interconnection. Monitoring Analytics warns the acquisition could pull capacity out of...
Craig Fox, a veteran owner of Central New York radio stations, has agreed to purchase a low‑power television station serving the Syracuse market. The transaction was disclosed in FCC filings prepared by David Oxenford of Wilkinson Barker Knauer. While the...
Sysco has announced a $29.1 billion bid to acquire Jetro Restaurant Depot, merging its delivery‑centric network with Depot’s cash‑and‑carry warehouse model. The combined platform would serve over 700,000 independent operators through mixed pick‑up and delivery options, targeting roughly $250 million in annual...
Home Bancshares Inc. closed its $150 million acquisition of Tennessee‑based Mountain Commerce Bancorp, issuing 5.4 million shares valued at $146 million. The deal adds eight Tennessee branches, lifts Home Bancshares to the 89th largest U.S. depository institution and brings total assets near $25 billion.
Germany's Eat Happy Group and Hana Group's European sushi operations are negotiating a merger, backed by a strategic investment from One Rock Capital Partners. The combined entity would cover roughly 5,800 points of sale across 14 European countries, linking Hana's...
Korean developer Shift Up announced it has bought all shares of Shinji Mikami’s Unbound studio, adding the veteran’s team of about 50 developers to its roster. The deal positions Shift Up to publish Unbound’s upcoming AAA game while strengthening its...
Phantom Space announced the acquisition of Thermal Management Technologies (TMT), a specialist in satellite thermal components, to strengthen its in‑orbit data‑center project called Phantom Cloud. TMT will operate as a Phantom subsidiary with founder Scott Schick remaining as general manager,...
Publicis Groupe announced the acquisition of 160over90, a specialist sports‑marketing agency, to accelerate its push into the sports sector. CEO Arthur Sadoun described sports as the network’s “next big bet,” while Suzy Deering, head of Publicis Sports, will oversee the...
Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez is moving to cement control of CITGO Petroleum by installing a new board of directors, including Asdrubal Chavez, a cousin of Hugo Chávez. The appointments require approval from the U.S. Treasury and State Departments, which have...
Macro: coastal marine services consolidate. Key: OTH buys Bellhart, adds 3 NC hubs to cut third‑party costs. Risk: low margins, approvals. Trade: buy OTH on weakness. 🚤 — Viktor Kopylov, PhD, CFA. More insights: t.me/si14Kopylov
Spread has blown out to ~30% for no clear reason, with the stock back to pre-announcement levels. In just 6 weeks, sentiment flipped from pricing a bump (trading above the deal) to questioning close risk entirely. That is a sharp swing, and...
In this episode, Dan Caruso, founder and former CEO of Zayo, walks through his 45‑deal roll‑up strategy that delivered an 8.5x return, sharing how he built a disciplined, buyer‑led M&A thesis, sourced and integrated fiber assets, and allocated capital to...
LY Corporation, the former LINE Yahoo, is investing roughly ₩300 billion (about $198 million) to become the largest shareholder of Kakao Games. The deal, executed through the LAAA Investment vehicle, combines a stake purchase, new share issuance, and convertible bonds, and is slated...
Macro: LEO consolidation accelerates as Amazon eyes Globalstar (GSAT +12%). Key: Apple’s 20% stake complicates talks; SpaceX competitive pressure. Risk: deal uncertainty, regulatory review. Trade: buy on confirmed deal. — Viktor Kopylov, PhD, CFA More insights: t.me/si14Kopylov
Another activist has joined the fight against $XPOF. Kanen Wealth (owns 4%) is pushing for a sale. The fight won’t be easy, despite activists now owning close to 23% of equity. The board is staggered, and insiders own 40%.
TotalEnergies and Masdar have formed a $2.2 billion 50‑50 joint venture to develop on‑shore solar‑PV, wind and battery‑storage projects across nine Asian countries. The new entity combines roughly 3 GW of operational assets with a 6 GW pipeline slated for completion by 2030....
Just in: French ad giant Publicis Groupe will acquire sports-marketing firm 160over90 from WME, unveils strategic partnership enabling collaboration between WME’s talent roster and Publicis
Icelandair disclosed a letter of intent to acquire a 49% stake in Fly Play Europe, the Maltese‑registered entity that retained an Air Operator Certificate after the Icelandic low‑cost carrier’s bankruptcy. The transaction is contingent on due‑diligence and creditor approval. By...
Flutterwave has obtained a national micro‑finance banking licence in Nigeria after acquiring open‑banking startup Mono, allowing it to hold deposits and issue loans directly. The move follows $40 billion in lifetime payments processed through its platform and eliminates reliance on third‑party...
T‑Mobile US and Fort Worth‑based private‑equity firm TPG are exploring a joint $5‑6 billion acquisition of Uniti Group’s fiber‑to‑home and enterprise fiber assets. The rumor has sent Uniti’s stock sharply higher and could dramatically expand T‑Mobile’s broadband footprint.
Unilever is combining its food business with spice maker McCormick in a $65 bn Reverse Morris Trust transaction, giving Unilever shareholders a 65% stake in the new entity and $15.7 bn in cash. The deal marks the largest food‑sector M&A announced today...
Intel announced a definitive agreement to repurchase Apollo Global Management’s 49% equity interest in its Fab 34 joint venture in Leixlip, Ireland, for $14.2 billion. The deal will be financed with cash on hand and roughly $6.5 billion of new debt, and it...
Modern Wealth Management acquired Legacy Wealth Management, adding roughly $1.2 billion in assets and establishing its first Florida office while expanding retirement‑plan capabilities with $300 million of plan assets. Socium Advisors merged with Amplify Wealth Partners, bringing $1.6 billion in assets and a...
Hg has completed an all‑cash take‑private acquisition of OneStream, valuing the enterprise finance management platform at roughly $6.4 bn in equity. The transaction adds a leading cloud‑based corporate performance management solution to Hg’s technology portfolio. By buying the company outright, Hg...
Lawfront, a private‑equity‑backed legal services platform, announced the acquisition of Reading‑based boutique Field Seymour Parkes. The deal adds roughly 30 lawyers and expands Lawfront’s presence in the South East, complementing its existing UK network. Field Seymour Parkes, known for corporate...
Private equity firms saw exit activity plunge 36% in Q1 2026, with disposals dropping to roughly $103 billion. The slowdown is driven by AI‑related market volatility and heightened geopolitical risk, especially the Iran conflict, which have rattled both private and public‑market...
Global alternative asset manager Apollo’s funds have acquired Gatehouse Living Group, a UK residential investment manager that operates about 10,000 homes. The purchase includes Gatehouse Investment Management and its Ascend property‑management arm, though the price was not disclosed. Existing CEO...
BCUBE Group has signed a purchase agreement to acquire Italy’s Alha Group, a specialist in airport cargo handling and integrated airfreight solutions. The merger will create the country’s largest cargo handling platform, linking major hubs such as Rome Fiumicino, Milan...
$BILD.V is a “boring” flooring roll-up led by a CEO who understands capital allocation. While the housing sector is weak, co is acquiring assets at 1–2x EBITDA. In 2–3 years, it could be trading at a 13–15% FCF yield, with further roll-up...
Covivio and Blue Owl have finalized a joint venture valued at €503 million (about $549 million). The partnership will acquire and develop the Thales Vélizy campus in the Paris suburb of Vélizy‑Meudon. The deal deepens Covivio’s foothold in French office assets while...
Publicis Groupe has acquired 160over90, a leading sports and culture agency with more than 670 employees, to bolster its Publicis Sports division. The undisclosed‑price deal, pending regulatory clearance, brings expertise across events such as the Super Bowl, Olympics and World...
Roth/MKM downgraded Apellis Pharmaceuticals to Neutral from Buy and lifted its price target to $41, matching Biogen’s cash offer of $41 per share. The acquisition values Apellis at roughly $5.6 billion, an 86% premium to its recent average price, and is...
The moron in chief tore up a deal that would have capped it under 4%
Weightmans, a Liverpool‑based firm with over 1,500 lawyers across ten UK offices, announced mergers with London’s Elborne Mitchell and Leeds‑based Myton Law effective 1 April 2026. Elborne Mitchell adds insurance, employment and commercial expertise, while Myton Law brings a niche focus on...
Imdex has paid roughly $23 million to acquire the remaining 60% of Krux Analytics, completing its ownership of the drilling‑software specialist. The deal follows a 2023 purchase of a 40% stake, giving Imdex full control of Krux’s data‑capture platform. Krux’s software...
Merit Medical Systems announced a $140 million acquisition of View Point Medical, adding the FDA‑cleared OneMark Detection Imaging System and tissue markers to its oncology portfolio. The deal includes $90 million upfront and $50 million in two anniversary installments. Merit expects the OneMark...
Amazon is in advanced talks to acquire satellite‑telecom firm Globalstar as it accelerates its low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) broadband project, Kuiper. Globalstar, valued at about $8.8 billion, saw its shares jump 24% to $85 after the news. The deal would give Amazon access...
The Delaware Court of Chancery issued a letter opinion in Shareholder Representative Services v. Sphera Solutions, clarifying when optimistic buyer statements cross from mere puffery into actionable fraud. The magistrate held that Sphera’s promise to substantially increase its marketing budget...
WTW has completed its acquisition of FlowStone Partners, adding specialist private‑equity secondary capabilities to its advisory platform. The deal expands WTW’s private‑markets offering, targeting high‑net‑worth and mass‑affluent investors seeking alternative exposure. By merging institutional‑grade secondaries expertise with its wealth‑management reach,...
Halper Sadeh LLC has issued advisory notices to shareholders of McCormick & Co., Corebridge Financial and Urgent.ly, warning that the pending mergers with Unilever Foods, Equitable Holdings and the sale to Agero may contain terms that limit competing offers or...
Novisto has bought London‑based carbon‑management software provider Minimum, merging carbon accounting into its ESG suite to meet expanding EU, UK and California reporting mandates. The deal, announced today, gives the Montreal‑based firm end‑to‑end data capabilities for large enterprises facing stricter...
Electromagnetic Geoservices (EMGS) has agreed to sell its core offshore geoservices business to private‑equity firm Riggs Capital for up to $2.5 million. The deal provides $1 million at closing and a $1.5 million earn‑out tied to future performance, while Riggs assumes selected liabilities....
