Once Close Enough for an Acquisition, Stripe and Airwallex Are Now Going After Each Other
Airwallex rejected Stripe's $1.2 billion acquisition bid when it was pulling $2 million in revenue, opting to stay independent. Since then the Melbourne‑based fintech has surged to over $1.3 billion in annualized revenue, 85% year‑over‑year growth, and processes roughly $300 billion in transactions. By amassing close to 90 financial licences across 50 markets, it can hold funds locally and cut 2‑3% foreign‑exchange fees that Stripe typically charges. The two firms, once merger candidates, are now head‑to‑head as Airwallex eyes a U.S. push and Stripe expands globally, despite a valuation gap of roughly twenty‑fold.
American Airlines Dismisses United’s Merger Pitch, Citing Competition Negativity
American Airlines publicly rejected any merger discussions with United Airlines, emphasizing that a combination would harm competition and consumers. The denial follows reports that United CEO Scott Kirby had pitched the idea to the Trump administration as early as last...
Pat McGrath Labs Exits Bankruptcy With a New Owner
Pat McGrath Labs has emerged from Chapter 11 after a U.S. judge approved a restructuring that places Florida‑based GDA Luma in control. The firm provided a $30 million bankruptcy financing package, while founder Pat McGrath returned as chief creative officer. The brand, once...
Consumers Put A WBD-Paramount Merger On Probation
Warner Bros. Discovery’s pending acquisition of Paramount is set for a shareholder vote on April 23, 2026, marking the most critical stage of a deal that would consolidate film, TV, streaming and news assets. Forrester’s March 2026 Consumer Pulse Survey of 540 U.S....
REPAY Confirms Receipt of Unsolicited, Non-Binding Proposal From Forager Capital Management
Repay Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: RPAY) disclosed that it has received an unsolicited, non‑binding cash offer from shareholder Forager Capital Management to acquire all outstanding shares at $4.80 per share. The board will review the proposal with financial and legal advisors,...
Media Bureau Creates Scripps-INYO Pleading Cycle
The FCC has opened a pleading cycle to solicit comments on whether E.W. Scripps Co. can reacquire 23 television stations it previously sold to INYO Broadcast Licenses. The original divestiture was done to satisfy local ownership caps that regulators are...
African American-Focused Radio Pair Are Sold
An asset purchase agreement has been filed to transfer ownership of two AM radio stations and their associated FM translators, both serving African American audiences. The buyer has signaled that programming will remain unchanged, preserving the stations' current format. The...
Fifth Third CEO on Comerica Integration: So Far, so Good
Fifth Third Bank says its integration of Comerica is progressing ahead of schedule and on track to meet its cost‑saving targets. The bank aims to generate $360 million of net savings this year and lift that to an $850 million annual run‑rate by...
New Merger Rules Are No Free Ride for European Champions, Says Teresa Ribera
The European Commission is set to release a revised 100‑page merger guideline on May 2, aiming to tighten scrutiny of cross‑border consolidations. Competition chief Teresa Ribera emphasized that mergers cannot be used as a shortcut for market integration and warned against...
Why Reverse Morris Trust Deals Demand Strategic Discipline
Emilie Feldman, a Wharton management professor, outlines how reverse Morris Trust (RMT) transactions reshape merger strategy by delivering tax‑free restructuring while pursuing scale‑driven synergies. She stresses that the tax advantage alone does not guarantee success; disciplined target selection and integration...
Reed Hastings’ Netflix Exit Calls For A Warner Bros. Discovery Rethink
Reed Hastings announced his departure from Netflix, prompting a 10% slide in the streaming giant’s share price and erasing roughly $40 billion of market value. The decline highlights investors’ view of Hastings as the chief architect of Netflix’s transformation from DVD...
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On May 1, 2026 Farmer Bros. Co. shareholders will vote on a merger with BP I Brew Merger Sub Inc., a Royal Cup subsidiary. If approved, each FARM share converts into a $1.29 cash payment, or $129 per options contract. The OCC will adjust all FARM options to cash‑settlement and...
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European Wax Center, Inc. (EWCZ) shareholders will vote on May 7, 2026 to approve a merger with a subsidiary of Glow Midco, an affiliate of General Atlantic. If approved, each EWCZ Class A share converts to a right to receive $5.80 in cash,...
Megadeals Are Having a Mega Year (so Far)
Dealmakers kicked off 2026 with a surge in megadeals—transactions of $10 billion or more—setting an all‑time Q1 record. Twelve megadeals closed, up from just two in the prior quarter, and they drove total deal value to $438 billion, a 155% jump from...
Warburtons Invests £100M and Acquires New Site
Warburtons is spending more than £100 million (about $125 million) to mark its 150th anniversary, acquiring the former Rathbones bakery in Wakefield and upgrading its gluten‑free plant, a new distribution centre, and three production lines. The purchase expands the company’s footprint to...