Comcast’s dreams worked: Shrek finds a new home among the Minions

DreamWorks Animation SKG, Market cap as of 29/04/2016: $3.8bn Comcast Corporation, Market cap as of 29/04/2016: $147.12bn   Introduction Last Thursday April 28, 2016, Comcast Corporation announced after quick merger talks that it would acquire DreamWorks Animation SKG for $3.8bn in an all-cash transaction. DreamWorks Animation will be folded under Read more…

Nokia is “Connecting People” again with the Withings Acquisition

Nokia Corp.; market cap as of 29/04/16: €29.746bn Introduction On April 26, Finland-based Nokia announced plans to acquire France-headquartered healthcare wearables devices manufacturer Withings S.A. in a €170m cash deal. The transaction comes as Nokia seeks to make a consumer-focused comeback, prompted by slowing sales in its network equipment business. Read more…

Lexmark’s pursuit for “hard” opportunities – A deal with the Chinese

Lexmark International Inc.; market cap as of 23/04/2016:$2.3bn Apex Technology Co., Ltd.; market cap as of 18/02/2016: ¥25.20bn ($3.87bn) Introduction On April 19, US printer maker Lexmark agreed to a $3.6bn takeover by a Chinese investment consortium led by ink cartridges manufacturer Apex Technology Co., Ltd. and Asian private equity Read more…

Sherwin-Williams paints its competitor Valspar and dreams big

Sherwin-Williams, market cap as of 15/04/2016: $27.154bn Valspar, market cap as of 15/04/2016: $8.469bn   Introduction Sherwin-Williams, the largest producer of paints in the United States, agreed to buy rival Valspar Corp., for about $9.3 billion, to become the world’s biggest coatings maker. This compelling combination will lead to a Read more…

On and Off LSE – Deutsche Boerse Relationship Could Result in a “Marriage of Equals”

 London Stock Exchange Group plc.; market cap as of 04/03/2016: £9.93bn ($14.13bn) Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.; market cap as of 04/03/2016: $28.41bn Deutsche Boerse AG; market cap as of 04/03/2016: €14.31bn ($15.74bn)   Introduction Last week’s rumors about a “merger of equals” between LSE and Deutsche Boerse officially put LSE “in Read more…

Oaktree’s Countryside Properties finds its home on LSE, valued at £1.01bn at IPO

Oaktree Capital; market cap as of 04/03/2016: $7.33bn (£5.15bn) Countryside Properties plc.; market cap as of 04/03/2016: £ 1.01bn Introduction On 14 January, 2016, Countryside Properties plc. (Countryside), UK-based real estate developer controlled by private equity firm Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. (Oaktree),announced its intention to proceed with an initial public Read more…

Atlantia S.p.A misses £2.0bn ticket for London City Airport. Canadian funds don’t.

Atlantia; Market Cap: €19.57bn (as of 4th March 2016)  The Deal  On February 2, a consortium led by Ontario Teacher’s Pension Plan (OTPP) and formed by OMERS Private Markets, Alberta Investment Management and Wren House (fund of the Kuwait Investment Authority), announced the acquisition of London City Airport (LCY) for Read more…