M&A news covering corporate mergers, acquisitions, deal announcements, regulatory approvals, and transaction valuations.
Twelve U.S. states, led by California AG Rob Bonta, sued to block Paramount's $81 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, alleging antitrust violations. A federal judge said she would rule by next Wednesday on a temporary restraining order. Separately, the Writers Guild of America and Paramount investors filed their own lawsuits challenging the deal.
PayPal's board views a $53 billion takeover bid from Stripe and Advent International as undervaluing the company and facing regulatory and financing hurdles. The $60.50-per-share offer represents a 28% premium to PayPal's share price before the approach became public.
A multistate effort led by 12 Democratic state attorneys general to block the $111bn Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery merger heads to court on Friday. California AG Rob Bonta expressed optimism, calling the complaint 'clean, clear, concise' under the Clayton Act.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren and other Democrats warned of antitrust issues in Fox Corp.'s proposed $22 billion acquisition of Roku. They sent a letter to the DOJ seeking a commitment that the review will be free from political interference, arguing the merger could reduce consumer choice for free streaming services.
ConocoPhillips agreed to acquire a 42% interest in BP's venture in northern Iraq, supporting redevelopment of four oil fields in the Kirkuk area. The deal provides access to over 3 billion barrels of initial gross recoverable resources and further exploration potential. Financial details were not disclosed.
Telecom Italia's board accepted a cash and stock takeover bid from Poste Italiane, valuing the deal at around €13 billion. The offer includes €1.67 in cash and 0.218 Poste shares per Telecom Italia share. Poste already owns about 20% of Telecom Italia.
M&A deals for registered investment advisors hit a second-quarter record, according to DeVoe & Co. Most active acquirers report that valuations for RIAs looking to sell have plateaued or will decline, with 18% predicting a drop in sales prices.
This commentary argues that Stripe's reported interest in acquiring PayPal is strategically motivated by potential gains in consumer reach, merchant-processing scale, and stablecoin capabilities. It contends that while the deal faces obstacles such as price and operational risks, the combination could enhance checkout conversion and support agentic commerce.
GameStop disclosed in a regulatory filing that it owns 43.4 million shares of eBay, a 9.8% stake, after purchasing 3.5 million shares for $381 million in June 2026. CEO Ryan Cohen reaffirmed the company's push to acquire eBay, aiming to build a $1 trillion digital marketplace for video game items.
This commentary argues that Michaels, owned by Apollo Global Management, leveraged the bankruptcies of Party City and Joann Fabrics to rapidly expand into party supplies and fabrics, using its private ownership to make quick decisions without public market scrutiny. It contends that this strategy is driving growth in a maturing market.