A series of high-profile mergers, acquisitions, and stake sales were reported by Friday, highlighting continued momentum in global deal-making.
Economist Stake Sale
Bidders are moving quickly to acquire a 27% stake in the iconic Economist publication, with expressions of interest due by Friday. Sources indicate that the sale is reaching a critical stage this week.
Raptor Technologies Acquisition
Private equity firm Warburg Pincus has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Raptor Technologies from fellow investor Thoma Bravo. The deal values the school safety software provider at approximately $1.8 billion, according to insiders.
NatWest Divestment
NatWest Group (NWG) is in exclusive discussions to sell its 85% stake in workplace pension provider Cushon to U.S. insurance broker Willis Towers Watson (WTW), just two years after acquiring the business.
Puma Under Scrutiny
Chinese sportswear giants Anta Sports Products and Li Ning are reportedly exploring a potential takeover of struggling German brand Puma, signaling renewed interest in European sportswear consolidation.
Deutsche Boerse Talks
German stock exchange operator Deutsche Boerse AG (DB1Gn.DE) confirmed it is in exclusive talks with Allfunds (ALLFG.AS) over the acquisition of the European fund trading platform.
Piraeus Bank Acquisition
Piraeus Bank S.A. completed its purchase of all shares in Ethniki Holdings S.à.r.l. for €600 million ($695.1 million) in cash, expanding its footprint in the region.
UniCredit Stake in Generali
Italian bank UniCredit (CRDI.MI) acquired a stake in insurer Generali (GASI.MI) as a “financial investment,” while leaving the door open for potential strategic collaboration, according to CEO Andrea Orcel.
Naver Financial Acquires Dunamu
Naver Financial, a subsidiary of South Korean tech giant Naver (035420.KS), has agreed to acquire Dunamu, the operator of the nation’s largest cryptocurrency exchange Upbit, in an all-stock deal valued at 15.13 trillion won ($10.27 billion).
These transactions underscore sustained investor interest across media, fintech, tech, and financial services sectors, with both European and Asian markets seeing significant activity.