Centerbridge Partners to acquire MeridianLink for $2bn.

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AMERICAS

Littlejohn and Platinum Equity-backed The Cook & Boardman to acquire AJ Labourdette.

Littlejohn and Platinum Equity-backed The Cook & Boardman, a provider of fully integrated access and security solutions, agreed to acquire AJ Labourdette, a telecom service provider, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

AJ Labourdette is advised by Legacy Capital. The Cook & Boardman is advised by K&L Gates, according to press releases.

Schroders Greencoat completes the acquisition of a 50% stake in a 395MW US solar portfolio from JERA Nex.

Schroders Greencoat, a specialist energy transition manager, completed the acquisition of a 50% stake in a 395MW US solar portfolio from JERA Nex, a renewable energy developer, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

JERA Nex was advised by Nomura Greentech, according to MergerLinks data and press releases.

Convergint to acquire A+ Technology & Security.

Convergint, a company focused on service-based systems integration, agreed to acquire A+ Technology & Security, a security integrator, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Convergint is advised by Finn Partners, according to press releases.

Align Capital-backed Schneider Geospatial completes the acquisition of Full Circle Technologies.

Align Capital-backed Schneider Geospatial, a SaaS solutions provider, completed the acquisition of Full Circle Technologies, a software company, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Altimeter Capital led a $65m funding round in Vulcan Elements. (WSJ)

Altimeter Capital, a venture capital firm, led a $65m funding round in Vulcan Elements, a rare-earth magnets manufacturer, according to press releases.

Lead Edge Capital led a $50m Series C round in BinSentry.

Lead Edge Capital, a growth equity firm, led a $50m Series C round in BinSentry, a technology company, according to press releases.

Martin Sorrell's S4 Capital confirms merger talks with MSQ Partners. (Reuters)

S4 Capital is in early talks to acquire marketing agency MSQ Partners, a move that sent its shares up as much as 14% on August 11.

S4 Capital, established in 2018 following Martin Sorrell’s exit from rival WPP, stated a potential transaction would involve acquiring MSQ Partners, which is majority-owned by private equity firm One Equity Partners. The company added that there is no certainty the deal will be completed.

EMEA

Intas Pharmaceuticals to acquire Prothya Biosolutions.

Intas Pharmaceuticals, a vertically integrated pharmaceutical company, agreed to acquire Prothya Biosolutions, a plasma-derived medicinal products company, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Prothya is advised by Evercore. Intas is advised by Bank of America, according to MergerLinks data and press releases.

Infinity Digital Consulting to acquire Sequel Solutions.

Infinity Digital Consulting, a digital consulting firm, agreed to acquire Sequel Solutions, a business development consultancy, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

First Camp to acquire Sommarvik Group.

First Camp, a chain of campsites and resorts, agreed to acquire Sommarvik Group, a resort operating company, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Rumble announces intent to acquire AI company Northern Data. (Press Release)

Rumble, a video-sharing platform and cloud services provider, has expressed interest in a potential exchange offer for Northern Data, a German provider of AI and high-performance computing solutions.

Under the proposed terms, Northern Data shareholders would receive newly issued Class A Rumble shares in exchange for their Northern Data stock. Northern Data has indicated it is open to further discussions. If completed, the combined company would focus on AI leadership as well as global data privacy and independence.

Rumble is advised by Guggenheim Securities and Willkie Farr & Gallagher.

AXA IM in talks to take stake in Telefónica Spanish fibre venture. (FT)

AXA Investment Management is in advanced talks to acquire a significant minority stake of around 30% in FiberPass, a fibre optic broadband joint venture between Telefónica and Vodafone Spain, in a deal potentially worth hundreds of millions of euros to the telecom firms.

The French asset manager, recently acquired by BNP Paribas and overseeing €879bn ($1tn) in assets, is negotiating the investment as Vodafone Spain, which was sold last year for €5bn ($5.4bn) by its parent to London-listed Zegona Communications, seeks a third-party investor for FiberPass. An announcement is expected before the end of September.

Entertainer founders hand over control of UK toy retailer to workers. (Reuters)

Britain’s largest toy shop chain, The Entertainer, is transferring ownership of the business to its 1.9k employees.

The retailer, which also owns the Early Learning Centre and Addo brands, will be placed into a trust by the end of September. Future profits will fund payments to the family, although the company’s valuation has not been disclosed.

An employee advisory board will be established to influence the group’s strategic direction, while staff will receive tax-free bonuses tied to the company’s profitability.

Ukraine's Kyivstar to raise up to $200m in landmark US listing. (Reuters)

Ukraine’s largest telecom operator Kyivstar aims to raise between $50m and $200m through a landmark listing on the New York Stock Exchange this year.

Kyivstar is set to become the first Ukraine-based company to list on a US exchange by merging with fintech entrepreneur Betsy Cohen’s special purpose acquisition company, Cohen Circle, thereby sidestepping some of the complexities of a traditional initial public offering.

APAC

Iron Mountain completes the acquisition of Capital Record Centre. (LinkedIn)

Iron Mountain, a storage and information management services provider, completed the acquisition of Capital Record Centre, a digitisation services and records management company, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Iron Mountain was advised by S&R Associates (led by Sudip Mahapatra and Sumit Bansal), according to MergerLinks data.

Smart Communications to acquire Pendula.

Smart Communications, a technology company, agreed to acquire Pendula, a customer engagement platform, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Smart Communications is advised by Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, according to press releases.

Singapore's Keppel divesting SGD1.4bn M1 Telco at loss. (Bloomberg)

Singapore’s Keppel is planning to divest its stake in one of the country’s leading telecommunications providers, incurring an estimated accounting loss of SGD222m ($173m).

The divestment, disclosed in exchange filings on August 11, marks the end of Keppel’s long-standing involvement with M1, a company it co-founded in 1994. Keppel, which holds approximately 83.9% of M1’s shares, expects to generate close to SGD1bn ($777m) in cash proceeds from the sale.

Singapore's Ninja Van said to halve valuation in latest round. (Bloomberg)

Logistics startup Ninja Van is in talks to raise an $80m internal funding round that is expected to halve its valuation to around $1bn, highlighting ongoing challenges for tech companies amid Southeast Asia’s funding downturn.

The Singapore-based company, backed by Alibaba Group, will see existing investors B Capital Group, a venture capital firm founded by Meta co-founder Eduardo Saverin and Raj Ganguly, along with Monk’s Hill Ventures leading the round.

JSW Cement's India IPO fully subscribed on third day of bids. (Reuters)

JSW Cement’s INR36bn ($413m) initial public offering was fully subscribed on the third day of bidding, as investors backed the company’s long-term growth prospects supported by India’s infrastructure and housing push.

Cement producers in India, the world’s second-largest maker of the material, are benefiting from rising government spending and a buoyant housing sector, which have also fueled increased dealmaking in recent years.

Indonesia eyes 'sovereign AI fund' to drive development. (Reuters)

Authorities overseeing artificial intelligence development in Indonesia have proposed a "sovereign AI fund" to support the country’s ambitions of becoming a regional hub for the rapidly growing technology.

In July, Indonesia announced plans to release its first national AI roadmap, aiming to attract foreign investment and strengthen its position in the global AI and semiconductor industries.

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