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AMERICAS

Hull Street Energy completes the acquisition of two power plants of Rockland Capital.

Hull Street Energy, a company that invests in middle market energy companies, completed the acquisition of two power plants of Rockland Capital, an investment company that focuses on the acquisition, development, and optimization of companies and projects in the North American and European energy sector, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Hull Street Energy was advised by Investec, Santander and Troutman Pepper Locke (led by Wallace Bao, Steven Khadavi and Akshay Belani). Rockland Capital was advised by Houlihan Lokey, PEI Global Partners and Bracewell, according to press releases and MergerLinks data.

Arcline completes the acquisition of AstroNova for $272m.

Arcline, a growth-oriented private equity firm, completed the acquisition of AstroNova, a provider of mission-critical identification and marking solutions across the aerospace and defense and labeling and packaging industries, for $272m, according to press releases.

Arcline Investment Management is advised by Mesirow Financial, Bass Berry & Sims and Joele Frank (led by Jonathan Keehner). AstroNova is advised by Rockefeller Capital Management, Foley Hoag and Alliance Advisors (led by Deborah K. Pawlowski), according to press releases and MergerLinks data.

Velocity Financial to acquire the operating platform of KKR-backed Toorak Capital for $62m.

Velocity Financial, a vertically integrated real estate finance company that primarily originates and manages business-purpose loans, agreed to acquire the operating platform of KKR-backed Toorak Capital, a business-purpose lending and asset management platform focused on residential real estate investors across the US and UK markets, for $62m, according to press releases.

Velocity Financial and KKR & Co are advised by Barclays, Morgan Lewis & Bockius and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. Toorak Capital Partners is advised by Piper Sandler and Dechert, according to press releases.

First Financial Bank to merge with Hickory Point Bank and Trust in a $111.3m deal.

First Financial Bank, a regional commercial bank, agreed to merge with Hickory Point Bank and Trust, a provider of a range of financial products and services, including personal and business banking, lending, digital banking, treasury management, and wealth management, in a $111.3m deal, according to press releases.

Hickory Point Bank and Trust is advised by Piper Sandler and Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg. First Financial Bank is advised by Raymond James and Amundsen Davis, according to press releases.

Industrial Physics completes the acquisition of Vitrek from Branford Castle.

Industrial Physics, a global packaging, material, and coating test and measurement group, completed the acquisition of Vitrek, a designer and manufacturer of precision test and measurement solutions to diversified industrial manufacturers, from Branford Castle, a private equity and venture capital firm, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Industrial Physics is advised by Kirkland & Ellis and Lambert & Co (led by Christina Maldonado). Branford Castle Partners and Vitrek are advised by Stifel and Akerman, according to press releases.

TJC to invest in 3dB Labs.

TJC, a private equity firm specializing in ESG factors, agreed to invest in 3dB Labs, a company that develops specialized RF signal processing and analysis software and integrated hardware/software systems, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

3dB Labs is advised by ArkMalibu and Robbins Kelly Patterson & Tucker. TJC is advised by Kirkland & Ellis and Prosek Partners, according to press releases.

Continuim Equity Partners completes the acquisition of a majority stake in Resodyn.

Continuim Equity Partners, a private equity firm, completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Resodyn, a technology development and commercialization firm, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Continuim Equity Partners was advised by Chris Tofalli Public Relations (led by Chris Tofalli). Resodyn was advised by Liberty Ridge Advisors, according to press releases.

Nasuni completes the acquisition of DryvIQ.

Nasuni, an enterprise data platform and hybrid cloud solutions provider, completed the acquisition of DryvIQ, a provider of enterprise SaaS platform for unstructured data management, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Nasuni was advised by Bracken PR and V2 Communications, according to press releases.

Numa completes the acquisition of SocketTime.

Numa, the AI operating system for modern dealership operations, completed the acquisition of SocketTime, a provider of a cloud-based shop management platform for automotive repair shops and dealer service departments, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Nooks completes the acquisition of FullyRamped.

Nooks, an AI-first outbound sales workspace for B2B revenue teams, completed the acquisition of FullyRamped, an AI-driven sales training SaaS, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Erthwrks completes the acquisition of Arktos Environmental.

Erthwrks, an environmental services company specializing in air emissions testing and compliance monitoring for industrial facilities, completed the acquisition of Arktos Environmental, a provider of optical gas imaging and leak detection and repair services, according to press releases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

SoftBank in talks to buy stake in 1X at $6bn valuation. (Reuters)

SoftBank is in talks to acquire a majority stake in OpenAI-backed humanoid robot developer 1X Technologies in a deal that would value the company at around $6bn.

The potential investment would deepen SoftBank’s exposure to the humanoid robotics sector, while terms remain under negotiation and may not result in a finalized transaction.

Puck is in advanced talks for investment by RedBird Capital Partners at a $250m valuation. (Reuters)

Puck is in advanced talks to receive an investment from RedBird Capital Partners in a deal that would value the newsletter startup at around $250m.

The transaction would involve existing institutional investors selling shares to RedBird, giving the media and entertainment investor a significant stake in the company. The investment would help fund Puck’s growth, although terms remain under discussion.

Caesars turned down a higher offer from Icahn for Fertitta bid. (Bloomberg)

Caesars Entertainment rejected a bid from investor Carl Icahn to take the casino operator private and instead selected a lower offer from billionaire Tilman Fertitta, citing more favorable terms.

Icahn, a longtime Caesars investor, had been pursuing a potential buyout since last summer, while Fertitta entered discussions after learning of Icahn’s interest.

Trian has no plans to make a bid for Wendy's right now. (Reuters)

Trian Fund Management has no plans at this time to make a take-private bid for Wendy’s, despite earlier reports that the activist investor was preparing an offer with a consortium of investors.

Trian, which holds about 16% of the fast-food chain, had been reported to be working with BlueFive Capital and Wendy’s franchisee Flynn Group on a potential transaction. The plans could still change as discussions continue.

EMEA

Edisun Power to acquire the business operations of SMARTENERGY for CHF440m.

Edisun Power, a Swiss solar power producer that operates photovoltaic power plants across Europe, agreed to acquire the business operations of SMARTENERGY, a Swiss private investment firm that specializes in renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure, for CHF440m ($547m), according to press releases.

SMARTENERGY is advised by Bar & Karrer (led by Dieter Dubs), according to press releases and MergerLinks data.

Anthropic to pay Nscale $45bn for AI computing power. (Bloomberg)

Anthropic has agreed to spend $45bn over six years to rent AI cloud computing capacity from Nscale’s flagship data center development in West Virginia.

The agreement covers about 460 megawatts of power and will use Nvidia’s Vera Rubin chips, which are expected to begin coming online late next year. The deal would help Anthropic secure computing capacity as it expands its business, with the company also preparing for a potential public listing.

MTN said to eye investors for $1.1bn IHS Nigeria stake. (Bloomberg)

MTN Group is seeking local investors to acquire a 30% stake in IHS Nigeria under an agreement with Nigeria’s antitrust authorities.

The transaction could raise between $900m and $1.1bn. IHS Nigeria, the largest asset of New York-listed IHS Holdings, operates about 18k mobile-phone towers in the country.

Unilever seeks buyers for iconic British mustard brand Colman's. (Bloomberg)

Unilever plans to sell its Colman’s mustard brand to address competition concerns as the consumer goods group combines its broader food business with McCormick.

The transaction includes major Unilever brands such as Hellmann’s mayonnaise and Knorr stock cubes, while McCormick’s ownership of French’s mustard has prompted Unilever to seek buyers for Colman’s in a separate process. Discussions are ongoing, and the sale terms have yet to be finalized.

Rheinmetall invests €270m in Boxer and drone facilities. (Bloomberg)

Rheinmetall plans to invest about €270m ($314m) to expand vehicle and drone production capacity in northern Germany as it prepares for potential new orders for its Boxer armored personnel carriers.

The German defense company will expand its Kassel facilities, including a central logistics and training hub at the airport and a drone testing center.

UAE tycoon Al Ashram and MTN agree to build Africa AI data centers. (Bloomberg)

MTN Group and Dubai-based businessman Tarek Al Ashram are partnering to develop data centers aimed at supporting artificial intelligence infrastructure across Africa.

Al Ashram, co-founder of KKR-backed Gulf Data Hub, will use his investment firm to back the new Africa Data Hub Holding venture. The partnership will seek to expand data center capacity as demand for AI infrastructure grows across the continent.

Delivery Hero lifts 2026 outlook on strong growth amid Uber takeover bid. (Reuters)

Delivery Hero has raised its 2026 guidance, supported by stronger demand and improved profitability, as it remains subject to a takeover offer from US-based rival Uber.

The German online takeaway food company now expects gross merchandise value to grow 9% to 11% this year, compared with its previous forecast of 8% to 10%.

KNDS plans investor meetings to discuss IPO restart. (Bloomberg)

KNDS is set to restart investor meetings for a potential initial public offering this year after a downturn in defense stocks derailed its listing plans earlier in the summer.

The Franco-German tankmaker is considering relaunching the IPO as soon as the second half of September, with meetings to update investors on the company’s progress scheduled for next week.

APAC

Astrum Space to go public via SPAC merger with Black Spade Acquisition III in a $1bn deal.

Astrum Space, a satellite communications company developing a wholesale satellite-to-device broadcast and data-distribution network to deliver wide-area data and content services across the Asia-Pacific region, agreed to go public via SPAC merger with Black Spade Acquisition III, a special purpose acquisition company, in a $1bn deal, according to press releases.

Black Spade Acquisition III is advised by Cohen & Company Capital Markets and Latham & Watkins. Astrum Space is advised by Loeb & Loeb, according to press releases.

LogProstyle to acquire I-FLATZ for JPY612m.

LogProstyle, a Tokyo-based real estate developer, residential revitaliser, and hospitality management group, agreed to acquire I-FLATZ, a real estate company engaged in sales agency for newly built condominiums, resale of renovated pre-owned condominiums, and real estate leasing, for JPY612m ($3.8m), according to press releases.

LogProstyle is advised by Alphaterra Advisory, according to press releases.

Activist offers to buy S-1 stake from Samsung at a 45% premium. (Bloomberg)

Flashlight Capital Partners has offered to acquire the combined 20.6% stake in S-1 held by five Samsung affiliates at a 45% premium, in a move that could test how South Korean boards apply expanded fiduciary duties under the country’s revised corporate law.

The Singapore-based activist investor is offering KRW116k ($83.7) per share, valuing the stake at KRW906.6bn ($654m). The shares are held by Samsung SDI, Samsung Life Insurance, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, Samsung Securities and Samsung Card.

China's Fujia to consider sale of Hexie Health Insurance. (Bloomberg)

Fujia Group, one of China’s largest privately held conglomerates, is considering selling its majority stake in Hexie Health Insurance.

The company is in the early stages of evaluating a potential divestment of the Chinese insurer. Discussions are ongoing and may not result in a finalized transaction.

Australia's MinRes plans move into copper after record profit. (Bloomberg)

Mineral Resources is seeking to expand beyond Australia and diversify into copper after reporting a record profit supported by strong iron ore and lithium prices.

The Perth-based miner, whose assets are currently concentrated in Western Australia, plans to acquire at least one copper project and expand its mining services internationally. CEO Chris Ellison outlined the strategy during the company’s full-year results call.

Aura Group launches private equity, credit evergreen fund. (DealStreetAsia)

Aura Group has launched an evergreen private markets strategy combining private equity and private credit, targeting a 60% allocation to private equity and 40% to private credit.

The Aura PE Evergreen Income Fund is designed to provide investors with greater flexibility than traditional private equity structures by eliminating capital calls and offering quarterly liquidity. The private credit allocation is also intended to generate regular income and support the fund’s liquidity mechanism.

German auto parts maker Mahle to revisit IPO for India unit. (Bloomberg)

Mahle is revisiting plans for an initial public offering of its Indian business. The German auto parts maker has held early discussions with potential advisers about a share sale in Mumbai and is likely to appoint banks and begin preparations for the IPO soon.

The timing and size of the potential offering have yet to be finalized.

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