The Battle of Dragons – Recent Acquisitions and Investments in China amid the Rivalry between Alibaba and Tencent

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (NYSE:BABA) – market cap as of 20/04/2018: $462.0bn Tencent Holdings Ltd. (HKG:0700) – market cap as of 20/04/2018: HK$3,780bn Introduction The first two weeks of April 2018 have seen a string of aggressive acquisitions and the announcement of financing rounds by companies backed by the Chinese Read more…

When “subject to regulatory approval” means troubles: forms of government intervention in M&A transactions

Introduction A persistent financial crisis, the rising of regional tensions, the concerns of a trade war and many other facts have recently been catching up with the M&A-friendly international environment. Protectionism seems now to pervade the new world order. Rising economic nationalism is threatening to impact M&A activity across all Read more…

Cigna Corporation and Express Scripts: a $67bn deal for their survival in the US healthcare industry

CIGNA Corporation (NYSE:CI) – market cap as of 09/03/2018: $42.7bn Express Scripts Holding Co (NASDAQ:ESRX) – market cap as of 09/03/2018: $45.7bn Introduction On March 8, 2018, Cigna Corporation announced the acquisition of Express Scripts Holding for a cash and stock consideration of $67bn. The combination of Cigna – a 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…

Hong Kong warns: Li Ka-shing sells The Center in US$5.15bn record deal to trim his HK’s assets

CK Asset Holdings Ltd (1113:HK) – market cap as of 05/11/2017: HK$246.07bn Introduction On November 1, 2017, CK Asset Holdings announced an agreement to sell the skyscraper located in Central (Hong Kong) known as “The Center” to C.H.M.T. Peaceful Development Asia Property for a total transaction value of HK$40,2bn ($5.15bn). Read more…