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AMERICAS

HPS Investment Partners to invest in Lido Advisors.

HPS Investment Partners, a company specializing in credit-focused alternative investments, agreed to invest in Lido Advisors, a company focused on wealth management and personalized financial advisory services, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

HPS Investment Partners is advised by Sidley Austin and Prosek Partners (led by Mike Geller). Lido Advisors is advised by Ardea Partners, Houlihan Lokey, Piper Sandler, William Blair & Co, Herrick & Feinstein, Ropes & Gray (led by Taylor Hart), Willkie Farr & Gallagher (led by Jeffrey Poss, Justin Sommerkamp and Jordan Messinger), and JConnelly (led by Sarah Tremallo). Charlesbank Capital is advised by Prosek Partners (led by Alexa Ottenstein and Ryan Fitzgibbon), according to press releases.

Hudson Global to merge with Star Equity.

Hudson Global, a company specializing in recruitment outsourcing and total talent solutions, agreed to merge with Star Equity Holdings, a diversified holding company operating across building, energy, and investment sectors, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Star Equity Holdings is advised by Oberon Securities and Littman Krooks. Hudson Global is advised by Houlihan Lokey, Morgan Lewis & Bockius, and The Equity Group (led by Lena Cati), according to press releases.

Sanofi to acquire Vigil Neuroscience for $600m.

Sanofi, a company specializing in pharmaceuticals and vaccines, agreed to acquire Vigil Neuroscience, a biotechnology company, for $600m, according to press releases.

Vigil Neuroscience is advised by Centerview Partners, Goodwin Procter, and CTD Comms (led by Megan McGrath), according to press releases.

Diligent completes the acquisition of Vault.

Diligent, a company specializing in GRC SaaS solutions, completed the acquisition of Vault, a company focused on AI-powered ethics and compliance technology, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Diligent was advised by District Capital Partners and Willkie Farr & Gallagher. Vault was advised by Raz Dlugin, according to press releases.

The Deeter, Griffith and Khosla families to invest in San Francisco 49ers.

The Deeter, Griffith and Khosla families agreed to invest in San Francisco 49ers, an American football team. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The Khosla Family is advised by Sullivan & Cromwell (led by Joseph C. Shenker).

Ecopetrol to acquire Enerfín Colombia from Statkraft.

Ecopetrol, an oil & gas company, agreed to acquire Enerfín Colombia, a renewables portfolio, from Statkraft, a generator of renewable energy, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Statkraft is advised by Rothschild & Co, according to press releases and MergerLinks data.

Honeywell to acquire Johnson Matthey Catalyst Technologies from Johnson Matthey for £1.8bn.

Honeywell, a company specializing in industrial automation and energy solutions, agreed to acquire Johnson Matthey Battery Systems, a developer, designer and producer of advanced lithium-ion battery systems, from Johnson Matthey, an international speciality chemicals company, for £1.8bn ($2.4bn), according to press releases.

Proofpoint completes the acquisition of Nuclei.

Proofpoint, a cybersecurity and compliance company, completed the acquisition of Nuclei, a US-based technology company specializing in compliance archiving and AI-driven data enrichment, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

BancFirst to acquire American Bank of Oklahoma.

BancFirst Corporation, a company specializing in banking and financial services, agreed to acquire American Bank of Oklahoma, a community bank, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Millicom to acquire Telefonica Uruguay from Telefonica for $440m.

Millicom, a company specializing in telecom services, agreed to acquire Telefonica Uruguay, a company focused on mobile and broadband services in Uruguay, from Telefonica, a telecommunication company, for $440m, according to press releases.

Insight Partners-backed Hinge Health IPO raises $437m. (Press Release)

Hinge Health and a group of investors raised $437m in the digital physical therapy provider’s US initial public offering, pricing shares at the top of the marketed range.

The company, along with backers including Tiger Global Management and Insight Partners, sold approximately 13.7m shares at $32 each. The shares had been offered in a range of $28 to $32. The pricing was announced on May 21.

Ryan Reynolds' ad firm MNTN, holders raise $187m in IPO. (Press Release)

Connected TV advertising platform MNTN and its shareholders raised $187m in an initial public offering, pricing shares at the top of the marketed range.

The Austin-based company, where actor Ryan Reynolds serves as chief creative officer, and its selling shareholders sold 11.7m shares at $16 each, the company announced on May 22.

EMEA

Royal London to acquire Dalmore Capital.

Royal London, a mutual insurer and investment company, agreed to acquire Dalmore Capital, a fund management company. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Dalmore Capital is advised by Rothschild & Co and Slaughter & May. Royal London is advised by BNP Paribas, Longspur Capital, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Herbert Smith Freehills.

India's Bajaj Auto to take control of KTM with $906m debt deal. (Reuters)

Bajaj Auto announced on May 22 that it plans to take control of Austrian motorcycle maker KTM through an €800m ($906.2m) debt package aimed at reviving the company’s struggling operations.

The move will see the Indian manufacturer of the Pulsar motorcycle transition from a long-standing minority investor to a strategic lead. Bajaj, which has held a stake in KTM since 2007, will align governance and inject new capital to help restore the brand’s performance.

UK gas producer Energean cuts production outlook, seeks deals to bolster output. (Reuters)

Energean narrowed its annual production forecast on May 22 and announced it is actively pursuing new merger and acquisition opportunities following the collapse of a deal to sell assets to private equity firm Carlyle.

The British gas producer had agreed to sell its Egypt, Italy, and Croatia portfolio to Carlyle but canceled the transaction in March due to delays in securing regulatory approvals in Italy and Egypt.

ProSieben boards advise against takeover bid from Berlusconis' MFE. (Reuters)

ProSiebenSat.1 announced on May 22 that its boards have advised against the takeover bid from MFE-MediaForEurope, calling the offer "inadequate."

MFE, controlled by Italy’s Berlusconi family and operating commercial TV networks in Italy and Spain, made the bid in March as part of its ambition to build a pan-European broadcasting group. ProSieben has pushed back on the strategy, signaling its intent to remain independent.

APAC

Goldman combines APAC investment banking business. (Bloomberg)

Goldman Sachs is consolidating its investment banking operations across the Asia Pacific region into a single entity to strengthen its advisory and capital markets capabilities.

The integration brings together teams from Japan, Australia and New Zealand, and Asia ex-Japan, forming a unified APAC investment banking business. The new unit will be led by Iain Drayton. The move was outlined in an internal memo, with the details confirmed by a company spokesperson.

Qatar's wealth fund stays active in China despite US concerns. (Bloomberg)

Qatar’s $524bn sovereign wealth fund is continuing to pursue investment opportunities in China, despite rising geopolitical tensions that have made global investors more cautious.

Mohammed Al-Hardan, head of technology, media, and telecommunications at the Qatar Investment Authority, said the fund remains actively engaged in exploring investments in China but is taking precautions to avoid any moves that could strain relations with the United States.

CK Hutchison confirms Italian tycoon's lead role in ports deal. (Bloomberg)

CK Hutchison has informed investors that the family-run business of Italian billionaire Gianluigi Aponte is the "main investor" in the consortium aiming to acquire its global ports operations and that the sale will move forward only after receiving necessary regulatory approvals.

The remarks were made by co-managing director Dominic Lai in response to investor questions during the company’s annual general meeting, as reflected in the official transcript of the May 22 gathering.

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