Albertsons and Rite Aid to merge in the latest move to contrast the growing threat posed by online e-commerce

Rite Aid (NYSE:RAD) – market cap as of 23/02/2018: $2.22bn Introduction  On the 20th February, Rite Aid Corporation, one of the leading US drugstore chains, entered into a definitive merger agreement with Albertsons Companies, one of the largest American private equity-backed grocery retailers. The deal will result in the creation of a Read more…

“The train to IPO is cancelled, we apologize for the inconvenience”: Infrastructure Fund GIP bids €1.98bn for Italian Railway Group Italo-NTV

Introduction On the 8th of February 2018, the shareholders of the Italian high-speed train operator Italo-NTV (Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori) (“The Company”) have accepted the offer of Global Infrastructure Partners (“GIP”) for the disposal of 100% of their stake, for an equity value of around €1.94bn. As a result, the plan Read more…

GGP Receives Unsolicited Proposal from Brookfield Property Partners

Brookfield Property Partners (NYSE:BPY) – market cap as of 17/11/2017: $5.59bn General Growth Properties (NYSE:GGP) – market cap as of 17/11/2017: $22.38bn Introduction On November 13, 2017, Brookfield Property Partners made a non-binding proposal to acquire all the outstanding shares of common stock of General Growth Properties. Brookfield Property Partners Read more…

Broadcom bids $130bn for Qualcomm in the largest pure technology deal

Broadcom Ltd (NASDAQ:AVGO) – market cap as of 11/11/2017: $108.10bn Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ:QCOM) – market cap as of 11/11/2017: $95.19bn Introduction On November 3, 2017, Broadcom publicly announced an unsolicited $130bn offer to acquire Qualcomm, its California chip-making rival, which is backed by a strong portfolio of intellectual property that Read more…

The Best Defense is Good Offense: Siemens and Alstom Merge Rail Operations to Prepare for Chinese Competition

Siemens AG (SIE:ETR) – market cap as of 29/09/2017: €101.32bn Alstom SA (ALO:EPA) – market cap as of 29/09/2017: €7.92bn Introduction The French rail transport company Alstom SA and the German industrial conglomerate Siemens AG announced on Tuesday 24 September 2017 that they agreed to merge their rail operations. The Read more…

Amazon completes acquisition of Whole Foods Market for $13.7bn

Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) — market cap as of 15/09/2017: $476.64bn Introduction On June 16, 2017, it was announced that Amazon.com Inc. (“Amazon”) had reached a definitive agreement to acquire Whole Foods Market Inc. (“Whole Foods”), for a total cash consideration of approximately $13.7bn, including net debt. This is the latest deal in a Read more…

Amazon of Arabia: Jeff Bezos’ Giant Buys Souq in a Move to Enter the Middle East Market

Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) — market cap as of 31/03/2017: $423.03bn Introduction On March 28, 2017, American electronic e-commerce and cloud computing company Amazon.com announced its acquisition of Dubai-based Souq.com, in a move that is expected to bring a significant impact on the Middle East’s small but fast-growing e-commerce sector. According Read more…