Know What's Happening in M&A
Know What's Happening in M&A
Universal Music Group’s Virgin Music Group has completed its $775 million acquisition of Downtown Music Group, finalizing the deal 14 months after announcement and shortly after EU approval. Pieter van Rijn, former Downtown head, is appointed COO of Virgin Music, reporting to co‑CEOs Nat Pastor and JT Myers. Downtown founder Justin Kalifowitz has departed, while board chair Andrew Bergman moves to an advisory role. The transaction still requires divestiture of Curve Royalty Systems per European Commission conditions.
Sinclair Broadcast Group has received Federal Communications Commission approval to acquire three stations it already operates under shared services agreements. The transactions include the Howard Stirk Holdings NBC affiliate in Flint, Michigan, a Cunningham Broadcasting station in Traverse City, Michigan,...
Atlanta‑based CargoSprint, a cargo‑industry software provider, announced the acquisition of Dray Dog, a drayage‑focused platform. The deal is backed by Lone View, the venture firm that previously funded CargoSprint. By combining Dray Dog’s real‑time drayage capabilities with CargoSprint’s broader freight...
Stellantis announced a €22.2 billion ($26 billion) write‑down tied to its electric‑vehicle strategy and sold its 49 % stake in the NextStar Energy battery JV to LG Energy Solution for a nominal $100. The charge reflects cancelled EV platforms, supply‑chain resizing and quality‑related...
Bill Ackman's Pershing Square bought Howard Hughes Holdings for $900 million in May 2025 and is reshaping the commercial‑real‑estate firm into a diversified holding company. The firm announced a $2.1 billion acquisition of Vantage Group’s insurance business, slated to close this quarter....
This has been another noisy week in the Warner Bros. sale, and yet it still comes back to the same question. Will Paramount Skydance increase its offer? If it does, by how much? And, will Netflix match?
In the inaugural episode of PEI Group’s "Commitment Issues" podcast, Children’s Health’s Yangge Seaman and Hg’s Steven Batchelor examine how limited partners (LPs) and general partners (GPs) are adapting to a slower private‑equity exit market. Both guests highlight a growing...
Facilities managers are often left out of M&A due diligence, yet early access to building data can dramatically increase deal value. By collaborating with finance teams, they can inventory leases, square footage, occupancy, and technology stacks before the transaction closes....
BlackRock announced the merger of two of its UK investment trusts, a move supported by activist investor Saba Capital. The consolidation will combine assets worth over £X billion, aiming to enhance scale and reduce operating costs. By streamlining the trusts, BlackRock...
Netflix announced the global acquisition of *I Am Frankelda*, Mexico’s first feature‑length stop‑motion film, slated for a 2026 debut on the platform. The project, created by brothers Arturo and Roy Ambriz, earned a Best Independent Feature nomination at the 53rd...
Virgin Music Group (VMG) completed its acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings on February 20, 2026, after the European Commission cleared the deal pending the divestiture of Downtown’s Curve royalty‑accounting unit. The transaction brings Downtown’s 5,000 business clients, four million creators and...
Virgin Music Group, the Universal Music Group subsidiary, closed its $775 million acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings after securing European Commission approval. The deal elevates VMG’s footprint in the independent music services market, adding Downtown’s 5,000 business clients and four million...
Netflix says Paramount Skydance’s prospective Warner Bros. Discovery takeover has *not* received DOJ approval. “Paramount Skydance continues to mislead stockholders and distract from the facts,” Netflix chief legal officer David Hyman said in a statement https://t.co/NiKkflro8J
Customer concentration + founder dependency = hidden SaaS risk. In Ep. 233 of The SaaS CFO Podcast, Luca Cartechini breaks down what acquirers really look for beyond growth and EBITDA. 🎧 Watch here: https://t.co/CvZiAzWspt #SaaS #AI https://t.co/NnzH4dkR4I
Day three of CAGNY 2026 highlighted divergent AI adoption, aggressive revenue‑growth management, and bold M&A moves across leading CPG firms. Kraft Heinz announced a $600 million investment in a tiered portfolio to recapture lost volume, while P&G detailed its operational “AI...
If this gambit works then Makan Delrahim saved the Ellison family many billions of dollars and potentially closed the merger.
eBay’s recent earnings beat was eclipsed by its strategic purchase of Depop, the Gen‑Z‑focused resale platform. The $1.6 billion acquisition expands eBay’s mobile‑first, social commerce capabilities and adds a youthful user base. Analysts note that Depop’s rapid growth and strong community...
Asset‑intensive reinsurance (AIR) is gaining traction worldwide, still centred in the United States but expanding rapidly across Asia‑Pacific, the United Kingdom and Europe. The growth is fueled by insurers shifting to private ownership, the rise of hybrid asset‑manager/reinsurer partnerships, and...
Extreme Hospitality has incorporated The Franklin on Rittenhouse, a 20‑room boutique lifestyle hotel in Center City Philadelphia, into its managed portfolio. The property boasts individually decorated guestrooms and a Prohibition‑themed speakeasy, the Franklin Mortgage & Investment Company, reflecting a rebellious...
GF Data’s senior leaders Ruben Burke and Ryan McCann joined the Inside DealMAX podcast to discuss how the Las Vegas conference is reshaping engagement between data providers and middle‑market dealmakers. They previewed GF Data’s Q4 2025 findings, highlighting a 30%...
Media M&A value surged to nearly $250 billion in 2025, more than double the prior year, even as deal count fell 10.1 %. The jump was anchored by two mega‑transactions: Netflix’s $82.7 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery and a $55 billion take‑private of Electronic Arts....
Ampyr Solar Europe announced it has acquired the East Yorkshire Solar Farm from BOOM Power, a 530 MWp photovoltaic project that will supply electricity to roughly 100,000 households. The farm, classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, received its Development Consent...
Community Health Systems (CHS) announced it will decelerate its aggressive divestiture program as it focuses on strengthening core markets. The for‑profit hospital chain has cut its debt leverage to 6.6× in 2025, down from 7.4× the year before, and boosted...
Pure Treats, the Montreal‑based pet‑snack maker behind PureBites and PureSnacks, announced the acquisition of rival Primal Pet Foods from Kinderhook Industries. The purchase price was not disclosed. The deal brings Primal’s freeze‑dried and frozen food lines and its manufacturing plants...
EchoStar exited the facility‑based cellular market after FCC pressure to monetize its spectrum, selling valuable bands to Starlink and AT&T while walking away from thousands of tower lease payments. The lease abandonment has prompted tower owners to seek FCC intervention,...
The episode breaks down Salesforce’s acquisition of Momentum, a revenue‑orchestration startup that transforms unstructured voice and video conversations into structured CRM data and automated workflows via Agentforce 360 and Slackbot. It explains how this move lets Salesforce own the "ground truth"...
First Gen Corporation will acquire a 40% equity stake in Prime Infrastructure Capital’s pumped‑storage portfolio for roughly 75 billion pesos ($1.34 bn). The deal covers the 600 MW Wawa project in Rizal and the 1.4 GW Ahunan (Pakil) project in Laguna, together delivering 2 GW...
Neal and Toby examine why the U.S. trade deficit continues to grow despite the Trump administration's aggressive tariff policy, highlighting the limited impact of tariffs on the broader balance of payments. They then shift to a family dispute over the...
Meta Platforms signed a multiyear, multibillion‑dollar agreement with Nvidia to install millions of AI processors for both training and inference, including confidential‑computing GPUs for WhatsApp. Vodafone Group sold its 50% stake in Dutch joint venture VodafoneZiggo to Liberty Global for...
Bulgaria’s Supreme Administrative Court has upheld the competition authority’s view that United Group’s purchase of Bulsatcom’s telecom infrastructure does not constitute a notifiable concentration under Bulgarian law. The decision dismisses appeals from A1 Bulgaria, Yettel Bulgaria and CETIN Bulgaria, confirming...
Johnson & Johnson announced a $1 billion investment to build a next‑generation cell‑therapy manufacturing facility in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, slated to support 500 skilled jobs. The hub is a key element of J&J’s $55 billion U.S. manufacturing, R&D, and technology strategy. Meanwhile,...
This week’s investment roundup highlighted three interlinked themes: a resurgence in unemployment, accelerating consolidation among asset‑management firms, and a surge in semi‑liquid fund inflows. Unemployment edged to 5.2% in Q4 2025, prompting managers to boost cash buffers and reassess risk models....
Avenir Management dropped a sharp slide deck on the state of SaaS. Great perspective on the current sell-off, and what the industry could look like going forward. Sharing a few of the most interesting slides below 👇 https://t.co/miawmwOz9C
A $4.2 bn transaction will see Germany’s Hapag‑Lloyd acquire Israeli carrier ZIM, then spin off its Israeli operations into a new entity controlled by FIMI. The deal, which preserves 16 vessels for direct Israeli routes, triggered protests and a strike as...
EY’s latest Private Equity Pulse shows sponsors are increasingly confident about 2026 exits after a resurgence in 2025. Trade sales rebounded sharply, driven by pent‑up strategic demand and stronger board‑level conviction. In total, U.S. firms recorded $481 billion of sales to...
The episode examines whether hiring M&A advisors adds value for mid‑market business owners, citing a Harvard‑referenced study that finds sellers who use professional advisors achieve roughly a 25% higher valuation premium. It outlines how advisors boost deal outcomes by leveling...
Host Hotels & Resorts (HST) announced the sale of its Four Seasons Resort Orlando and Four Seasons Jackson Hole for a combined $1.1 billion, translating to roughly $1.9 million per room key. The deal provides a fresh multiple benchmark for luxury hotel...
Trade press are trying to present it as either Netflix or Paramount wins the bidding contest. But Warner should obviously remain independent.
Paramount Skydance (PSKY) has satisfied the DOJ’s second request, causing the 10‑day Hart‑Scott‑Rodino waiting period to expire. The filing notes that no statutory barrier remains to close a potential acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), but a definitive merger agreement...
DNOW completed its merger with MRC Global on November 6, creating a larger, diversified distributor platform. Full‑year 2025 revenue rose 19% to $2.8 billion, and fourth‑quarter adjusted EBITDA reached $61 million, reflecting a 6.4% margin. The integration added $388 million of stub‑period revenue and...
Lamar Advertising reported Q4 2025 acquisition‑adjusted revenue growth of over 4%, driven by a 6% surge in December and continued digital expansion. Adjusted EBITDA rose 3.7% to $288.9 million, lifting margin to 48.5%, while diluted AFFO per share reached $2.24 and...
Citi CEO Jane Fraser emphasized that a "human" bank remains essential despite rapid digitalization. She highlighted Citi's strategy of blending technology with personal relationships to deepen client trust and improve outcomes. Fraser cited recent investments in employee training, AI‑augmented advisory...
CapitaLand Investment reported a S$142 million H2 2025 loss, largely due to a drag from its China portfolio, while teasing a possible merger with Mapletree Investments. The combined entity could command roughly S$200 billion in assets, creating a headline‑grabbing real‑estate behemoth. However, the...
In M&A deals, retaining staff after closing hinges on well‑designed incentive programs. Sponsors can choose between simple Christmas performance bonuses, phantom equity arrangements, or full equity plans such as stock options, each with distinct tax and legal considerations. The article...
🚨NEWS: Moelis has been retained to sell Wasserman, source tells Sportico. Moelis has been active in the space. Presided over, among others, Goldman buy of Excel Sports and Athlete’s First sale to General Catalyst.
Buccini Pollin Group has purchased the 500,000‑square‑foot Bracebridge office complex from life‑sciences firm Incyte, announcing a mixed‑use redevelopment that will add residential units above ground‑level office and retail. Incyte will retain an 80,000‑square‑foot lease, while the developer aims to finish construction...
Property Markets Group (PMG) announced a 90‑story, 985‑foot Delano‑branded condo tower at 400 Biscayne Blvd., adjacent to its 1,096‑foot Waldorf Astoria development in downtown Miami. The 421‑unit project will launch sales in March with prices starting at $800,000, offering studios...
Scale Computing announced the acquisition of Canadian SD‑WAN and SASE provider Adaptiv Networks, integrating its cloud‑native networking stack into Scale’s SC//AcuVigil managed services. The deal, terms undisclosed, adds built‑in connectivity and centralized orchestration for distributed sites, targeting retail, hospitality and...
Qiddiya City’s esports subsidiary RTS has acquired the remaining stake in the Evolution Championship Series (EVO) after India‑based NODWIN Gaming sold its equity. The transaction, whose financial terms were not disclosed, makes RTS the sole owner of the premier fighting‑game...
Senate Democrats Demand Answers From David Ellison About Paramount Skydance’s Dealings With Trump in Warner Bros. Takeover Bid, Accuse CEO of ‘Pattern of Evasion’ https://t.co/jeeblW2lVw via @variety
