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AMERICAS

Warner Bros. weighs reopening sale negotiations with Paramount. (Bloomberg)

Warner Bros. Discovery is considering reopening sale discussions with Paramount Skydance after receiving an amended proposal from the studio. The updated offer has prompted the company to reassess whether re-engaging with Paramount might provide a more attractive alternative to its current plans.

The board is reviewing the new proposal alongside the terms of its existing agreement with Netflix. While no decision has been reached, the binding deal with Netflix remains in place as the company evaluates its options.

Warner Bros is advised by Allen & Company, Evercore (led by Daniel Mendelow), JP Morgan (led by Chris Ventresca), Covington & Burling (led by Derek Ludwin), Debevoise & Plimpton (led by Jonathan Levitsky), Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson, Potter Anderson & Corroon (led by Mark Morton), Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz (led by Hannah Clark, Karessa Cain and Andrew Nussbaum) and Joele Frank (led by Kelly Sullivan and Daniel Katcher). Financial advisors are advised by Ropes & Gray and White & Case (led by Denise A. Cerasani). Paramount is advised by Bank of America, Barclays (led by Gary Posternack), Centerview Partners (led by Blair Effron and Tony Kim), Citigroup, M. Klein & Co (led by Michael Klein), RedBird Advisors (led by Gerald J. Cardinale), Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton (led by Paul Shim and Kelsey Nussenfeld), Cravath Swaine & Moore (led by Faiza Saeed), Latham & Watkins (led by Ian A. Nussbaum), Paul Hastings (led by David Ambler and Eric Schiele), Brunswick Group (led by Jonathan Doorley) and Okapi Partners (led by Christian Jacques). Debt is provided by Apollo Global Management, Bank of America and Citigroup. Debt providers are advised by Cahill Gordon & Reindel. Netflix is advised by Moelis & Co (led by Navid Mahmoodzadegan), Wells Fargo Securities (led by Jeffrey Hogan and Derek Van Zandt), Borden Ladner Gervais, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom (led by Kenton J. King), Community Group (led by Auro Palomba) and FGS Global (led by John Christiansen). Debt is provided by BNP Paribas, HSBC and Wells Fargo Securities, according to press releases and MergerLinks data.

The Riverside Company completes an investment in Western Botanicals.

The Riverside Company, a private equity firm, completed an investment in Western Botanicals, a developer and manufacturer of vitamins, minerals and supplements, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The Riverside Company was advised by William Hood and Company, Jones Day (led by Emily Cai, Lisa Lathrop and Kevin Samuels) and Holly M Communications (led by Holly Mueller), according to press releases and MergerLinks data.

Kohlberg-backed Worldwide Clinical Trials completes the acquisition of Catalyst Clinical Research from QHP Capital.

Kohlberg-backed Worldwide Clinical Trials, a mid-sized, global contract research organization providing full-service drug development solutions, completed the acquisition of Catalyst Clinical Research, a global contract research organization providing specialized clinical trial solutions, from QHP Capital, a private equity firm, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Worldwide Clinical Trials was advised by Greenberg Traurig. Catalyst Clinical Research was advised by Bank of America and Smith Anderson, according to press releases.

Dungarees completes the acquisition of Taylor Toolworks.

Dungarees, a retailer of premium workwear and boots, completed the acquisition of Taylor Toolworks, a supplier of specialty hand tools and workshop equipment, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Rosenbank is in talks to buy two US firms for over $3bn. (Press Release)

Rosebank Industries, the latest buyout vehicle led by former Melrose Industries executives, is in advanced talks to acquire two unidentified US businesses in deals valued at a combined $3.05bn, including debt.

The transactions will be funded through a fully underwritten equity raise of about £1.9bn ($2.6bn) and new debt facilities. Discussions are ongoing and subject to final agreements.

AirAsia Chief says its brand unit is nearing the Nasdaq backdoor listing. (Bloomberg)

AirAsia’s branding unit is nearing a merger with a Nasdaq-listed company in a backdoor listing that would value the combined entity at about $1.5bn.

The transaction, expected to be announced within the next two months, would see the branding business combine with the US-listed target, with the merged group likely to debut in the third quarter. Discussions are ongoing and subject to final agreements.

EMEA

Optima Health to acquire PAM Healthcare for £100m.

Optima Health, a provider of technology enabled corporate health and wellbeing solutions, agreed to acquire PAM Healthcare, an occupational health and wellness service provider, for £100m ($137m), according to press releases.

Optima Health is advised by Panmure Liberum (led by Emma Earl) and ICR (led by Mary-Jane Elliott), according to press releases.

Attestor completes an investment in Padana Tubi.

Attestor, an investment firm, completed an investment in Padana Tubi, an Italian industrial company specializing in the production of welded steel tubes and profiles, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Attestor was advised by Jefferies & Company, according to MergerLinks data.

Alkem to acquire a 55% stake in Occlutech for €99m.

Alkem, an Indian multinational pharmaceutical company, agreed to acquire a 55% stake in Occlutech, a global medical devices company, for €99m ($117m), according to press releases.

Alkem is advised by Boston Consulting Group, according to press releases.

Mutares to acquire the flooring business of Hamberger Industriewerke.

Mutares, a private equity firm, agreed to acquire the flooring business of Hamberger Industriewerke, a parquet and hard‑flooring manufacturer, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Mutares is advised by CROSS ALLIANCE communication (led by Susan Hoffmeister), according to press releases.

Boerse Stuttgart Digital to merge with tradias.

Boerse Stuttgart Digital, a European crypto infrastructure provider, agreed to merge with tradias, an institutional-grade infrastructure and crypto trading engine, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Banks prepare sale of BASF Coating's €4bn buyout debt. (Bloomberg)

Banks are preparing to sell about €4bn ($4.7bn) of debt to finance Carlyle’s acquisition of BASF’s coatings business.

Bank of America and Goldman Sachs are among the lenders arranging the loan and bond financing, which could be sold toward the end of March or early April. The debt package includes leveraged loans in dollars and euros, as well as euro-denominated senior secured notes.

Submarine tech-firm Gabler Group plans IPO in Frankfurt. (Bloomberg)

Gabler Group, a manufacturer of submarine technology components with the majority of its revenue tied to defense contracts, has announced plans for an initial public offering in Frankfurt.

The German company aims to raise about €40m ($47m) through the issuance of new shares and expects trading to begin in early March. Its owner, Possehl Group, will also sell an unspecified number of existing shares as part of the offering.

BNP Alternatives AM unit Capza raises €1.4bn for a fund. (Press Release)

Alternative investment firm Capza, ultimately owned by BNP Paribas, has raised nearly €1.4bn ($1.7bn) for its new private credit vehicle, Capza Private Debt 7.

The fund will provide unitranche loans and subordinated debt to small and medium-sized companies across several European countries. Capza is targeting a final close of about €3bn ($3.5bn), meaning the initial fundraising accounts for nearly half of its goal.

APAC

A consortium led by Macquarie Asset Management to acquire Qube for AUD11.6bn.

A consortium led by Macquarie Asset Management, an Australian financial services group, agreed to acquire Qube, an integrated developer, operator and investment manager of institutional-quality logistics warehouses and related industrial properties, for AUD11.6bn ($8.21bn), according to press releases.

Qube is advised by UBS and Allens (led by Tom Story), according to press releases and MergerLinks data.

SiriusPoint to acquire World Nomads.

SiriusPoint, a global specialty insurer and reinsurer, agreed to acquire World Nomads, a global travel insurance and lifestyle brand offering products and services globally, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

SiriusPoint is advised by Rein4ce (led by Sarah Hills), according to press releases.

Zeeco completes the acquisition of Applicot.

Zeeco, a provider of advanced combustion and environmental solutions, completed the acquisition of Applicot, a Japanese combustion company, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Zeeco was advised by Crossroads (led by Mandy Vavrinak), according to press releases.

Torrent Power to acquire Nabha Power from Larsen & Toubro for $760m.

Torrent Power, an Indian energy and power company, agreed to acquire Nabha Power, which operates a thermal power plant in India, from Larsen & Toubro, an Indian multinational conglomerate headquartered in Mumbai, for $760m, according to press releases.

Cowin Capital and Jingming Capital led a $730m Series D++ round in iSpace.

Cowin Capital, a private placement equity investment company, and Jingming Capital, a Chinese investment firm, led a $730m Series D++ round in iSpace, a Beijing‑based private aerospace company, with participation from Spring Partners, Chengdu Industry Group, and Qianlima Capital, according to press releases.

Bangchak to acquire Chevron Hong Kong.

Bangchak, a petroleum and energy conglomerate in Thailand, agreed to acquire Chevron Hong Kong, the Hong Kong-based unit of Chevron, an American multinational energy corporation predominantly specializing in oil and gas, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Telkom Indonesia to revive its plan for data center stake sale. (Bloomberg)

PT Telkom Indonesia is reviving plans to sell a stake in its data center unit to capitalize on growing investor interest in digital infrastructure assets.

The Jakarta-listed company is working with financial advisers on a potential sale of a majority stake in NeutraDC, seeking a valuation of $1bn to $1.5bn for the business. Discussions are ongoing and may not result in a finalized transaction.

Philippine fintech Maya to weigh up to $1bn US IPO. (Bloomberg)

Philippine financial technology firm Maya is considering a US initial public offering that could raise between $500m and $1bn.

The digital payments and banking group is working with advisers on a potential listing that could take place as early as this year, as Southeast Asian companies increasingly look to overseas exchanges. Discussions are ongoing and subject to market conditions.

India Highway Authority plans an infra trust IPO in March. (Bloomberg)

The National Highways Authority of India is preparing to launch an initial public offering of its infrastructure investment trust that could raise up to INR57bn ($629m) as soon as next month.

Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust has begun meeting prospective investors and is expected to start the share sale in the first half of March. Discussions are ongoing, and details, including the size and timing of the offering, remain subject to change.

Indian fund manager Motilal Oswal Alternates closes fifth fund at $938m. (Press Release)

India-focused fund manager Motilal Oswal Alternates has closed its fifth investment vehicle at INR85bn ($938m), exceeding its initial target of INR65bn ($717m).

The India Business Excellence Fund V attracted significant participation from global limited partners, marking a shift from the firm’s previous fundraising strategy.

Mizuho Securities reportedly faces a probe for insider trading. (Bloomberg)

Mizuho Financial Group’s brokerage unit is under investigation by Japan’s financial watchdog following reports that staff are suspected of insider trading.

The employees in question are said to be from the investment banking division, according to local media. The probe is ongoing, and no formal findings have been announced.

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