M&A
Vodafone and Three tell CMA 'outstanding issues' over proposed merger 'can be resolved'
Telecommunications firms Vodafone and Three have pushed back at the Competition and Markets Authority after the watchdog raised concerns over the pair's proposed £15. 0bn merger, stating that "outstanding issues can be resolved".
Rightmove tumbles as REA Group abandons pursuit
Rightmove tumbled on Monday after Rupert Murdoch’s Australian property business REA Group said it was abandoning its pursuit of the property portal after a fourth, £6. 2m takeover proposal was rejected.
AT&T sells DirecTV stake to TPG for $7.6bn
American telecoms giant AT&T is to sell its 70% stake in satellite television provider DirecTV to private-equity firm TPG for a total of $7. 6bn.
Frasers makes £83m takeover bid for Mulberry, shares jump
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group said on Monday that it had made an £83m takeover bid for Mulberry, as it criticised the luxury handbag retailer for not informing it of plans to raise £10m.
Learning Technologies 'minded to recommend' takeover bid from General Atlantic
Learning Technologies surged on Friday as it confirmed it had received a conditional takeover approach from US private equity investor General Atlantic that it would be minded to recommend.
CMA clears Amazon’s partnership with Anthropic
The Competition and Markets Authority said on Friday that it had cleared Amazon’s artificial intelligence partnership with San-Francisco based AI start-up Anthropic.
API offloads majority of portfolio to GoldenTree in £351m deal
Abrdn Property Income Trust is to sell the vast majority of its portfolio to Travelodge's US owner GoldenTree Asset Management, it was confirmed on Friday.
Intel rejects approach from Arm Holdings - report
Intel has rebuffed an approach from Arm Holdings about buying the US chipmaker’s product division, it was reported on Friday.
Rightmove rejects third takeover offer from REA
UK property platform Rightmove has once again rejected a takeover offer from REA Group, saying the Australian outfit's latest proposal “materially undervalues" the company.
LondonMetric buys portfolio for £78m
LondonMetric Property said it had bought six single let urban UK logistics properties for £78m from an unnamed FTSE 100 pension fund.
Blackstone, Vista Equity to buy Smartsheet in $8.4bn deal
Collaboration software maker Smartsheet rallied on Tuesday after agreeing to be bought by alternative asset manager Blackstone and global investment firm Vista Equity Partners in an $8. 4bn an all-cash deal.
BNP Paribas to buy HSBC’s private banking business in Germany
BNP Paribas said on Monday that it has agreed to buy HSBC’s private banking activities in Germany, as it looks to position its wealth management arm "among the top leading players in Germany" and bring its assets under management to more than €40bn.
Rightmove to respond 'in due course' on new £6.1bn offer from REA
Rightmove on Monday said it would respond to a third offer from Rupert Murdoch’s REA Group for the UK housing portal valuing it at £6. 1bn, "in due course".
Volution to buy Fantech Australasia for up to AUD280m
Volution said on Friday that it has agreed to buy Fantech Group in Australasia from Elta Group for up to AUD280m (£144m).
NewRiver REIT agrees terms for possible purchase of Capital & Regional
NewRiver REIT reached a potential agreement to acquire Capital & Regional in a cash and share transaction.
Reckitt said to have started talks on £6bn sale of homecare assets
Reckitt Benckiser has reportedly started early discussions with some of the potential suitors for its homecare assets, which could fetch more than £6bn in a deal.
Guardian enters formal negotiations to sell Observer to Tortoise Media
The Guardian's parent company has confirmed speculation that it in discussions with Tortoise Media to sell The Observer, the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.
Playtech to sell Italian business to Flutter for €2.3bn
Gambling technology firm Playtech said on Tuesday that it has agreed to sell its Italian business, Snaitech, to Paddy Power owner Flutter Entertainment for €2. 3bn in cash.
Bausch & Lomb shares jump on spin-off sale hopes
Shares in Bausch & Lomb surged on Monday amid speculation that the North American contact lens and eye care products supplier is exploring a potential sale.
Flutter closing in on £2bn acquisition of Playtech’s consumer operations - report
Paddy Power owner Flutter Entertainment is reportedly closing in on a £2bn swoop for the consumer operations of Playtech.