Abbott Laboratories completes the acquisition of Exact Sciences for $23bn.

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AMERICAS

Wawanesa to acquire Canadian Retail Insurance operations from Everest.

Wawanesa, a mutual insurance firm, agreed to acquire Canadian Retail Insurance operations from Everest, a research firm that applies research to people's day-to-day business problems, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Wawanesa is advised by TD Securities and Torys. Everest is advised by Ardea Partners, Debevoise & Plimpton (led by David Grosgold) and Stikeman Elliott, according to press releases.

AEA Investors completes the investment in Trinamix.

AEA Investors, a private investment firm, completed the investment in Trinamix, a technology company, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

AEA Investors was advised by Joele Frank (led by Kate Thompson). Trinamix was advised by Greif & Co, according to press releases and MergerLinks data.

Ruder Finn completes the acquisition of The Equity Group.

Ruder Finn, a global communications and creative agency offering services in public relations, completed the acquisition of The Equity Group, an investor relations and corporate communications firm, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Molson Coors completes the acquisition of Atomic Brands.

Molson Coors, a Canadian-American multinational drink and brewing company, completed the acquisition of Atomic Brands, a beverage alcohol company, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Activist Elliott takes multibillion-dollar stake in Synopsys. (Reuters)

Activist investor Elliott Investment Management has built a multibillion-dollar stake in electronic design automation company Synopsys, arguing the software maker has scope to accelerate revenue growth and improve margins.

Sunnyvale, California-based Synopsys, which has a market value of more than $80bn, is a long-standing supplier of software used to design and optimize the placement of tens of billions of transistors in advanced chips produced by companies including Advanced Micro Devices and Nvidia.

HPE gets day in court as state AGs challenge $14bn deal. (Bloomberg)

Hewlett Packard Enterprise faces a key legal test as a federal judge weighs whether its $14bn acquisition of Juniper Networks was improperly cleared through an antitrust settlement with the US Justice Department.

HPE reached the settlement in June 2025, just ahead of trial, to resolve federal concerns that the transaction could harm competition in the market for enterprise wireless equipment used by large corporations, universities and hospitals. A group of US states has challenged the agreement, arguing that the Justice Department approved the terms under improper political pressure.

Victory Capital rejects reports of client pushback in bid for Janus Henderson. (WSJ)

Victory Capital pushed back against reports suggesting major clients are uneasy about its proposed transaction involving Janus Henderson, calling the claims misleading and aimed at undermining what it describes as a superior offer.

Victory’s proposal values Janus Henderson at $40 per share in cash plus a fixed exchange ratio of 0.250 Victory Capital shares for each Janus Henderson share, which the firm said equates to total consideration of $57.05 per share. Victory stated that the proposal represents full value for Janus Henderson shareholders and would result in a 31% ownership stake in the combined business.

Victory Capital fires back at Peltz's Trian as Janus bidding war drags on. (Reuters)

Victory Capital on March 23 2026, responded to criticism from activist investor Trian over its proposed $8.6bn transaction involving Janus Henderson, saying the campaign was spreading misleading information about the deal.

The San Antonio, Texas‑based firm said reports citing alleged views of Janus Henderson employees and clients were aimed at creating uncertainty in the market about Victory Capital’s ability to complete the proposed transaction.

EMEA

Poste Italiane to acquire a 72.68% stake in Telecom Italia for $12.5bn.

Poste Italiane, a diversified Italian services group operating across mail and parcel delivery, offered to acquire a 72.68% stake in Telecom Italia, a telecommunications provider offering fixed‑line, mobile, and data transmission services, for $12.5bn, according to press releases.

Poste Italiane is advised by BNP Paribas, Gianni & Origoni (led by Francesco Gianni), Mediobanca and JP Morgan, according to MergerLinks data.

Apollo to acquire a 37% stake in Syntegon from CVC.

Apollo, an asset management firm, agreed to acquire a 37% stake in Syntegon, a provider of process and packaging technology worldwide, from CVC, a private equity and investment advisory firm, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Apollo is advised by Barclays. CVC is advised by FGS Global, according to press releases and MergerLinks data.

Maverick Silicon leads a $225m Series A round in Kandou AI.

Maverick Silicon, a venture capital fund, led a $225m Series A round in Kandou AI, a semiconductor technology company, with participation from SoftBank Group, Synopsys, Cadence Design Systems and Alchip Technologies, according to press releases.

Kandou AI was advised by Homburger (led by Andreas Müller), according to press releases.

LE DUFF Group-backed BRIDOR to acquire Panamar Bakery Group.

LE DUFF Group-backed BRIDOR, a global bakery company, agreed to acquire Panamar Bakery Group, a provider of pre-cooked bread and frozen pastry products, according to press releases. Financial terms are not disclosed.

BRIDOR is advised by SRW Agency (led by Amy Tew), according to press releases.

Danone to acquire Huel.

Danone, a multinational food-products corporation, agreed to acquire Huel, a provider of complete, nutritionally balanced meal solutions, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Danone is advised by JP Morgan, according to MergerLinks data.

UniCredit weighs three options to potentially sweeten Commerzbank bid. (Reuters)

UniCredit is weighing three options to potentially sweeten its all-share takeover offer for Commerzbank.

A UniCredit spokesperson pointed to recent comments by Chief Executive Officer Andrea Orcel, who stated that last week that a higher-premium offer was not being considered at this stage.

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait seek to advance energy deals despite war. (Bloomberg)

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are pressing ahead with planned multibillion‑dollar energy transactions despite an expanding regional conflict that has seen Iran target oil and gas infrastructure across the Middle East in recent weeks.

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation is continuing efforts to lease part of its pipeline network after drawing interest from large private‑equity and infrastructure investors. The company is proceeding with the plans for now despite heightened geopolitical risks.

Saudi unicorn Ninja said to gauge IPO appetite despite Iran war. (Bloomberg)

Saudi Arabian quick‑delivery company Ninja is sounding out investor interest in a potential initial public offering in Riyadh, pressing ahead despite market volatility linked to a regional conflict now in its fourth week.

Company executives have held meetings with investors in recent weeks, including at a banking conference in London in March 2026. Ninja is in the final stages of selecting investment banks to lead a potential IPO.

Paschi said to review Lovaglio position at the board meeting. (Bloomberg)

Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena’s board will discuss whether Luigi Lovaglio can remain chief executive officer after he agreed to stand for another term under a rival proposal put forward by a minority shareholder.

Lovaglio’s inclusion on the competing slate is viewed as incompatible with the bank’s interests, as his acceptance was not disclosed and runs counter to the board’s push for a management change in the next term. The issue is expected to be discussed at a board meeting already scheduled for March 23 2026.

Indra chairman secures Rare Union support in clash with Sanchez. (Bloomberg)

Spain’s largest union has backed Indra Sistemas Chairman Ángel Escribano, warning that efforts to remove him could destabilize the state‑backed defense company at a sensitive moment for Europe’s military buildup.

Comisiones Obreras stated that questions over Escribano’s leadership were particularly concerning given that the decisions now under scrutiny were previously supported by public authorities with full awareness of the circumstances. The union was referring to the government’s shift in position on Escribano.

APAC

Zijin Mining Group to acquire a majority stake in Chifeng Jilong Gold Mining for $2.64bn.

Zijin Mining Group, a Chinese gold, copper and non-ferrous metals producer and refiner, agreed to acquire a majority stake in Chifeng Jilong Gold Mining, a mining and metals company, for $2.64bn, according to press releases.

A consortium of investors led a $100m Series D round in QCraft.

A consortium of investors including Ningbo Ninghai Xingtaihe Fund, Wonderland Capital, and Broad Vision Funds led a $100m Series D round in QCraft, an autonomous driving AI, according to press releases.

Grab to acquire delivery platform business in Taiwan from Delivery Hero for $600m.

Grab, a Singaporean multinational technology company, agreed to acquire delivery platform business in Taiwan from Delivery Hero, a German multinational online food ordering and food delivery company, for $600m, according to press releases.

Berkshire Hathaway to acquire $1.8bn stake in Japan’s Tokio Marine. (WSJ)

Berkshire Hathaway plans to acquire a 2.5% stake in Tokio Marine Holdings for $1.8bn as part of a newly established strategic partnership.

Tokio Marine stated that it will sell treasury shares to National Indemnity, Berkshire Hathaway’s reinsurance unit. The partnership is expected to include cooperation in reinsurance as well as potential acquisition opportunities.

Sony said near $1bn home entertainment deal with TCL. (Bloomberg)

Sony Group is close to reaching a binding agreement to sell a majority stake in its home‑entertainment business to TCL Electronics Holdings in a transaction that could be valued at about $1bn.

The companies have made progress in negotiations and are aiming to announce a deal as soon as March 2026. Discussions remain ongoing and no final decision has been made.

Kotak Mahindra Bank to buy Deutsche's India retail business in 45 billion-rupee deal. (ET)

Kotak Mahindra Bank is set to acquire Deutsche Bank’s India retail business in a deal valued at about INR45bn ($480m).

Kotak was selected as the preferred bidder over Federal Bank. The transaction could be announced as early as March 30 2026, with the final price subject to adjustment at closing.

Tata Capital Healthcare Fund in talks to invest in Tenet Diagnostics. (DealStreetAsia)

Tata Capital Healthcare Fund has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Tenet Diagnostics, an India‑based diagnostics services provider operating a network of laboratories and collection centres.

The transaction is expected to support Tenet’s expansion across India’s diagnostics market, with Tata Capital providing capital and strategic support. Financial terms and the exact size of the stake have not been disclosed.

Aware Super appoints Satchcroft to run pension’s private equity. (Bloomberg)

Aware Super, the AUD235bn ($164bn) Australian pension fund, has appointed Alex Satchcroft as head of private equity as part of a broader reshuffle under Chief Investment Officer Simon Warner.

Satchcroft will oversee the fund’s AUD11bn ($7.7bn) global private equity portfolio, according to a statement on March 23 2026. He will report to Head of Private Markets Jenny Newmarch, who previously led the private equity unit.

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