It’s All About the Beer: Heineken acquires Brasil Kirin in a Move to Challenge AB InBev in its Oldest Market

Heineken N.V. (AMS:HEIA) – market cap as of 3/3/17: €45.05bn Kirin Holdings Co. Ltd. (TYO:2504) – market cap as of 3/3/17: ‎¥‎1.82tn (€15.05bn) Introduction On February 13, 2017, Japanese brewer Kirin Holdings Company has agreed to sell its Brazilian beer business to Heineken for ¥77bn (€664m). The deal will make Read more…

Kraft Heinz’s Ambitious Bid for Unilever: Why Did They Do It, and Why Did It Fail?

Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ:KHC)—market cap as of 24/02/17: $112.79bn Unilever plc (LON:ULVR)—market cap as of 24/02/17: £112.08bn (€133.46bn) Introduction On February 17, 2017, it was reported that Kraft Heinz had made a £112bn ($143bn) takeover offer for the Anglo-Dutch conglomerate, Unilever. A deal would have created the world’s second largest Read more…

Go big or go home – Reckitt Benckiser to acquire Mead Johnson for $17.9bn

Reckitt Benckiser Group (LON: RB) – market cap as of 17/02/2017: $61.7bn (£49.71bn) Mead Johnson Nutrition Company (NYSE: MJN) – market cap as of 17/02/2017: $16.05bn Introduction On 10 February 2017, UK-based consumer goods multinational Reckitt Benckiser (RB) and US-based infant nutrition leader Mead Johnson reached an agreement by means Read more…

Barbarians at the Fortress Gate: SoftBank Shows its Global Ambitions

SoftBank Group Corp (TYO:9984)—market cap as of 17/02/17: ¥88.84tn (€74.19bn) Fortress Investment Group LLC (NYSE:FIG)—market cap as of 17/02/17: $3.08bn Introduction On February 14, 2017, the Japanese conglomerate SoftBank Group Corp. announced the acquisition of Fortress Investment Group LLC for $3.3bn in cash. The deal represents a radical departure from Read more…

Allergan Wants to Get You back in Shape and Make Money Out of It.. : Allergan to Acquire Zeltiq Aesthetics for $2.5bn

Allergan PLC (NYSE: AGN) – market cap as of 16/02/2017: $82.86bn Zeltiq Aesthetics Inc. (NASDAQ: ZLTQ) – market cap as of 16/02/2017: $2.23bn Introduction On February 13, 2017, the biopharmaceutical giant Allergan PLC announced that it entered into an agreement to purchase the medical technology company Zeltiq Aesthetics Inc. in Read more…

A Five-calories Drink a Day Keeps the Doctor Away…or not? Dr Pepper Snapple Acquires Bai Brands for $1.7bn

Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. (NYSE: DPS) — market cap as of 24/11/2016: $16.031bn Introduction On November 22, 2016, Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc., an American beverage producer, agreed to acquire Bai Brands, another American beverage producer focused on antioxidant beverages, for $1.7bn. The deal emerges as traditional customers sway Read more…

Chinese European Shopping Still Hot: Ctrip.com to Acquire Skyscanner

Ctrip.com International Ltd. (CTRP:US) – Market Cap as of 26/11/2016: $22.4bn Introduction On November 23, 2016, Ctrip.com announced the acquisition of the UK travel website, Skyscanner, for £1.4bn. Ctrip looks to consolidate its position in the European market providing services for an increasing number of Chinese people flying to Europe Read more…

Tech Behind the Wheel: Samsung to Acquire Harman for $8bn

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930:KSE) – market cap as of 18/11/2016: $188.98bn (KRW223.117tn) Harman International Industries Inc. (HAR:NYSE) – market cap as of 18/11/2016: $ 7.622bn Introduction On November 14, Samsung Electronics Co. announced the acquisition of Harman International Industries Inc. for a total equity value of approximately $8bn, and Read more…