Call of… Candy: Activision Blizzard takes over a “poor King” and bets on mobile gaming

Activision Blizzard; Market Cap: $25.52bn (as of 06/11/2015) King Digital Entertainment; Market Cap: $5.55bn (as of 06/11/2015)   Introduction On November 2, Activision Blizzard agreed to acquire for $5.9b King Digital Entertainment, one of the major players of the mobile gaming industry with its popular Candy Crush Saga. The move Read more…

A highly levered money-mover First Data to go public – “Will the offer be sexy enough for investors?”

KKR & Co. LP; Market Cap (as of 03/10/2015): $7.85bn First Data Corporation; Market Cap (as of 03/10/2015): N.A.   Introduction On October 1st, 2015 the KKR-owned payment-processing company, First Data, announced the launch of its initial public offering, aiming to raise about $3.7bn. Apart from being the biggest US Read more…

Teva Pharmaceuticals Heading to the Emerging Markets

Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. (TEVA); market cap (as of 02/10/2015): $51.05bn.   Introduction Following a wave of consolidation in the healthcare industry, Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. and Representaciones e Investigaciones Médicas, S.A. de C.V. (Rimsa) announced on October 1 that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Teva Read more…

Citigroups’s path towards a leaner business model

Citigroup Inc.; Market Cap (as of 06/03/2015): $160.98bn Springleaf Holdings Inc.; Market Cap (as of 06/03/2015): $5.58bn Introduction On March 3, 2015, Springleaf Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LEAF), a leading personal finance company focused on consumer lending, credit insurance and other credit relating products, entered into a definitive agreement with Citigroup Inc. Read more…

Citigroups’s path towards a leaner business model

Citigroup Inc.; Market Cap (as of 06/03/2015): $160.98bn Springleaf Holdings Inc.; Market Cap (as of 06/03/2015): $5.58bn Introduction On March 3, 2014, Springleaf Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LEAF), a leading personal finance company focused on consumer lending, credit insurance and other credit relating products, entered into a definitive agreement with Citigroup Inc. Read more…

BT is Back with a Bang: $19bn deal with EE form UK’s quad-play biggest operator

BT Group plc.; market cap (as of 20/02/2015): $54.66bn Introduction On February 5th, 2015, BT agreed to acquire the British network operator EE from Deutsche Telekom and Orange in a £12.5bn (US$19bn) deal to form the leading telecommunication provider in the UK. Companies’ Overview British Telecom Group, is the world’s Read more…

M&A activity back in the Insurance sector: Aviva to acquire Friends Life

Aviva plc; market cap (as of 27/11/2014 ): £14.96bn Friends Life Group; market cap (as of 27/11/2014): £5.21bn Introduction On November 24, Aviva plc, a multinational insurance company headquartered in London, reached a preliminary agreement to acquire its British rival Friends Life Group, the 5th largest life and pensions company Read more…

Oil Drop pushes Mergers Up: Halliburton to buy Baker Hughes

Halliburton Company; market cap (as of 21/11/2014): $43.1bn Baker Hughes Inc.; market cap (as of 21/11/2014): $27.5bn Introduction On November 17, Halliburton Company, the world’s second biggest oilfield service provider, announced a definitive agreement to acquire Baker Hughes Inc. in a stock and cash deal worth $34.6bn. The transaction is Read more…