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AMERICAS

Senator Warren urges DOJ to scrutinize Disney-Fubo deal. (Bloomberg)

Senator Elizabeth Warren is urging the US Justice Department to investigate Walt Disney’s acquisition of a controlling stake in FuboTV, calling the deal anticompetitive.

In January, Disney agreed to merge its Hulu + Live TV streaming service with Fubo, forming the second-largest digital pay-TV provider. Under the agreement, Disney would hold a 70% stake in the new venture, with Fubo retaining the remaining 30%. The deal also led to the dismissal of Fubo’s lawsuit against Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery over their planned sports streaming service, Venu, which was later scrapped.

FuboTV is advised by Evercore, Wells Fargo Securities, Kellogg Hansen Todd Figel & Frederick, Latham & Watkins (led by Andrew C. Elken) and JCIR. Financial advisors are advised by Sullivan & Cromwell (led by Stephen M. Kotran). Disney is advised by Centerview Partners and Cravath Swaine & Moore (led by Faiza Saeed).

Insight Partners-backed Azara Healthcare completes the acquisition of I2I Population Health.

Insight Partners-backed Azara Healthcare, a provider of population health and value-based care solutions, completed the acquisition of I2I Population Health, a population health technology company, according to press releases.. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Azara Healthcare was advised by Aeris Partners and Sage Growth Partners (led by John Gonda). Insight Partners was advised by Healthcare Growth Partners, according to press releases.

Targa Resources to acquire a 45% stake in Targa Badlands from Blackstone for $1.8bn.

Targa Resources, a provider of midstream services, agreed to acquire a 45% stake in Targa Badlands, the entity that holds all of Targa's assets in North Dakota, from Blackstone, an alternative asset manager, for $1.8bn, according to press releases.

Targa Resources is advised by Vinson & Elkins (led by Benji Barron and Mike Telle), according to MergerLinks data.

Brahma to acquire Metaphysic in a $1.43bn deal.

Brahma, a global AI and content technology company to acquire Metaphysic, a leading developer of AI content creation technologies, in a $1.43bn deal, according to press releases.

Metaphysic is advised by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (led by David Hernand and Clare Gaskell), according to press releases and MergerLinks data.

Andra Capital and SGW led a $480m Series D round in Lambda.

Andra Capital, a fund focused on growth-stage alternative investments, and SGW, the family office of Scott Hassan, led a $480m Series D round in Lambda, an AI developer cloud platform, with participation from Andrej Karpathy, ARK Invest, Fincadia Advisors, G Squared, In-Q-Tel, KHK & Partners, NVIDIA, Pegatron, Supermicro, Wistron, and Wiwynn, 1517, Crescent Cove, and USIT, according to press releases.

Lambda was advised by JP Morgan, according to press releases.

Crestview-backed OneMagnify completes the acquisition of Guidance.

Crestview-backed OneMagnify, an advanced analytics, customer insights, and AI-powered marketing solutions provider, completed the acquisition of Guidance, an eCommerce agency specializing in enterprise-level digital commerce, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Guidance was advised by Canaccord Genuity, according to press releases.

Inspired Thinking Group completes the acquisition of PureRed.

Inspired Thinking Group, a marketing technology and services provider, completed the acquisition of PureRed, an omnichannel content and technology provider based in Atlanta, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Inspired Thinking Group was advised by BrightTower (led by Amir Akhavan and Juan Mejia), according to press releases and MergerLinks data.

Gainline Capital-backed Galaxy Universal to acquire the global product creation, sourcing and US footwear operations from Reebok.

Gainline Capital-backed Galaxy Universal, a global footwear company, agreed to acquire the global product creation, sourcing and US footwear operations from Reebok, a footwear and clothing brand, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

JetBlue still in talks with multiple airlines for partnership. (Reuters)

JetBlue Airways stated on February 19 that it remains in discussions with multiple airlines to establish a new partnership and is open to committing additional funds to secure a deal.

In November, the 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the US Department of Justice, blocking its Northeast Alliance with American Airlines, which had enabled the carriers to coordinate flights and share revenue.

GTCR raises $3.6bn for second strategic growth fund. (Press Release)

Private equity firm GTCR has raised $3.6bn for its second strategic growth fund, exceeding its $2.75bn target and expanding its capacity for smaller buyouts.

Most of the funding, $3.35bn, came from existing GTCR investors, including pension plans, insurance companies, endowments, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm is also contributing $225m of its own capital. Investments by Strategic Growth Fund II are expected to range between $50m and $250m.

EMEA

Axcel-backed Oral Care to acquire De Tandartsengroep.

Axcel-backed Oral Care, a dental care provider in Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands, agreed to acquire De Tandartsengroep, a Dutch dental care provider, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Oral Care is advised by KPMG, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek (led by Gaby Smeenk), Stek Advocaten, Van Benthem & Keulen and Vinge, according to MergerLinks data.

Gamma Communications completed the acquisition of STARFACE for €202m.

Gamma Communications, a provider of technology-based communication services, completed the acquisition of STARFACE, a telecommunications contractor, for €202m ($211m), according to press releases.

Gamma Communications was advised by Deutsche Numis (led by Simon Willis), Peel Hunt (led by Neil Patel), Rothschild & Co and Teneo (led by James Macey White), according to press releases and MergerLinks data.

CCC to acquire an additional 22.81% stake in MODIVO for PLN1.41bn.

CCC, a footwear and clothing retailer, agreed to acquire an additional 22.81% stake in MODIVO, an e-commerce platform, for PLN1.41bn ($353m), according to MergerLinks data.

CCC is advised by Greenberg Traurig (led by Rafal Sienski), according to MergerLinks data.

Mediobanca shareholders' pact reject MPS takeover bid. (Reuters)

The shareholders' pact for Italy's Mediobanca, representing around 11.6% of the bank's capital, have rejected Monte dei Paschi di Siena takeover bid.

KKR offers to inject £4bn for Thames Water majority stake. (Bloomberg)

KKR has offered to invest nearly £4bn ($5bn) in Thames Water for a majority stake in the struggling utility.

The US alternative asset manager, which has been increasing its infrastructure investments, does not plan to sell any Thames Water assets or make structural changes if it gains control. KKR's proposal adds to the list of potential bidders for Thames Water, joining Castle Water and infrastructure investor Covalis Capital.

Abu Dhabi’s Adnoc seeks $2.8bn in gas unit stake sale. (Press Release)

Abu Dhabi’s state energy company is looking to raise AED10.4bn ($2.84bn) through a secondary offering in its gas business.

Abu Dhabi National Oil is offering approximately 4%, or 3.1bn shares, in Adnoc Gas to institutional investors.

Siemens set to raise €1.4bn in Healthineers stake sale. (Press Release)

Siemens is set to raise approximately €1.4bn ($1.5bn) from the sale of a 2.3% stake in Siemens Healthineers, its medical technology unit that was listed in 2018.

The German company increased the offering to around 26.5m shares from the initially planned 22m, with pricing expected at €54.65 $(56.93) per share.

Historically, Siemens has worked with Latham & Watkins, Hengeler Mueller, JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs, according to MergerLinks data.

GBL considers buyout of specialty materials firm Imerys. (Bloomberg)

Groupe Bruxelles Lambert is considering a move to buy out minority shareholders of French specialty materials firm Imerys.

GBL has held initial discussions with several buyout firms about a potential partnership to take Imerys private. The European investment firm is already the company’s largest shareholder, holding a 55% stake.

Historically, Groupe Bruxelles Lambert has worked with Ernst & Young, Linklaters, Goldman Sachs and Rothschild & Co, according to MergerLinks data.

Tikehau says Schroders stake may lead to cooperation deal. (Press Release)

French asset manager Tikehau Capital stated that its stake in UK competitor Schroders could open the door to a potential partnership.

While the primary reason for the investment is Tikehau’s confidence in Schroders’ stock performance.

Saudi Tadawul Group eyes more M&A to boost capital markets. (Bloomberg)

Saudi Tadawul Group is aiming for more mergers and acquisitions to further develop the local capital market and attract foreign investors.

The Saudi stock exchange operator is now focusing on opportunities in the data and analytics sector after recently completing a deal with Saudi-based Direct Financial Network.

APG weighs options for London’s The Other House hotels and club. (Bloomberg)

The owners of London’s The Other House hotel, residences, and members club are exploring options for the business, including bringing in new investors, in a deal that could value the company at well over £400m ($504m).

Dutch pension provider APG Asset Management and London Central Portfolio have appointed real estate investment bank Eastdil Secured to advise on a potential recapitalization. As part of the process, APG may reduce or fully exit its stake.

Turkey talks for port deal with Abu Dhabi fail. (Bloomberg)

AD Ports Group’s negotiations to acquire the operating rights for a port in western Turkey have collapsed, dealing a setback to Turkey’s efforts to attract investment from the United Arab Emirates.

Saudi car rental firms weigh IPOs amid Kingdom’s tourism push. (Bloomberg)

Two Saudi Arabia-based car rental firms are planning new share sales in Riyadh, aiming to benefit from the kingdom’s push to attract more tourists.

Cherry Rent-A-Car is working with EFG Hermes and BSF Capital on a potential initial public offering. Key Car Rental is also exploring a possible listing.

Saudi Arabia’s SMC plans IPO in latest healthcare offering. (Bloomberg)

Saudi Arabia’s SMC Hospitals is planning an initial public offering in Riyadh, adding to the wave of health-care firms going public in the kingdom.

The hospital operator is working with SNB Capital and EFG Hermes on the potential share sale, which could take place as early as the second quarter of this year.

APAC

KKR completed the second stage of its tender offer. (Press Release)

KKR, a global investment firm, announced that in connection with the two-stage tender offer for the common shares and share options of FUJI SOFT, an independent software developer, it has received tenders in excess of 19.25%, the minimum ownership stake required to conduct a squeeze-out (53.22% in total), and completed the second stage of its tender offer.

KKR is advised by Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (led by Noritaka Kumamoto and Jonathan Stradling), according to MergerLinks data and press releases.

AstraZeneca to acquire the China unit from FibroGen for $160m.

AstraZeneca, a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, agreed to acquire the China unit from FibroGen, a biopharmaceutical company focused on development of novel therapies, for $160m, according to press releases.

FibroGen is advised by Bank of America and Ropes & Gray, according to press releases.

Haier to acquire a 42% stake in Autohome from Ping An for $1.8bn.

Haier, a multinational home appliances and consumer electronics company, agreed to acquire a 42% stake in Autohome, an online destination for automobile consumers, from Ping An, a financial conglomerate, for $1.8bn, according to press releases.

Autohome is advised by Christensen IR (led by Suri Cheng), according to press releases.

Aramco to acquire a 25% stake in Unioil.

Aramco, an integrated energy and chemicals company, agreed to acquire a 25% stake in Unioil, a petroleum company, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Japan's Murata eyeing large-scale M&A to drive growth. (Reuters)

Japan's Murata Manufacturing is considering acquisitions worth more than JPY100bn ($665m) to drive growth.

The smartphone component supplier is exploring opportunities in areas such as inductors and sensors, with potential overseas targets also under consideration as it aims to expand market share and enter new markets.

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