Page 13 - Acquisition

Microsoft, Activision Blizzard extend deadline to close $69 bn deal

The deadline for Microsoft's USD 69 billion acquisition of video game company Activision Blizzard has been extended to as the companies seek to close a deal that has been challenged by regulators in the US, as well as by UK's Competition and Markets Authority. Microsoft believes that pushing back the deadline to Oct. 18 will provide enough time to work through the remaining regulatory issues, said Brad Smith, the company's president. We are confident about our prospects for getting this deal across the finish line, Smith said. The extension comes with a bigger termination fee, should the deal be called off, and a number of other new agreements. Tuesday marked an important deadline for the deal announced 18 months earlier. Both Microsoft and Activision had agreed that either party could walk away from the planned merger if it hadn't closed by then, triggering Microsoft to potentially have to pay a USD 3 billion breakup fee unless both sides decided to renegotiate. That termination

Bikaji Foods International acquires 49% equity stake in Bhujialalji

Bhujialalji Pvt Ltd (BPL) is a new entrant to this industry with its product portfolio comprising popular bhujia and namkeen variants

Sheela Foam to acquire 94.66% stake in Kurlon Enterprises for Rs 2,150 cr

Sheela Foam Ltd, the maker of popular mattress brand Sleepwell, on Monday said it will acquire a 94.66 per cent stake in Kurlon Enterprises Ltd for Rs 2,150 crore. The company also said it will acquire a 35 per cent stake in online furniture firm House of Kieraya Pvt Ltd for Rs 300 crore. The company's board at its meeting held on July 17, 2023, has approved the acquisition of Kurlon Enterprise Ltd and House of Kieraya Pvt Ltd, Sheela Foam said in a regulatory filing. "The company is acquiring 94.66 per cent of KEL's (Kurlon Enterprises Ltd ) share capital at an equity valuation of Rs 2,150 crore, subject to customary adjustments for net working capital, debt and surplus cash, if any," it said. KEL deals mainly in the manufacture and marketing of foam and coir-based home comfort products across the 'sit and sleep' categories like mattresses, furniture cushions, pillows and coverings. It was established in 1962 as Karnataka Coir Products, part of South India-based Pai family busine

Reliance to acquire Alia Bhatt-promoted kidswear brand Ed-a-Mamma

Reliance Brands, part of Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL), is planning to buy Ed-a-Mamma, a kidswear brand promoted by Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt, according to an industry source. The leading retailer would ultimately acquire the company, which specialises in providing sustainable clothing options for kids at affordable rates. Talks between Reliance Brands and the kidswear retailer, which mainly sells online are in the final stages, the industry source said. According to a media report, the deal is estimated to be around Rs 300 crore. The deal would help strengthen Reliance Brands' play into the branded kidswear segment, which is rapidly growing in the country. Ed-a-Mamma brand is owned by Eternalia Creative and Merchandising, in which Alia Bhatt is a director. The company was incorporated in 2019. An e-mail sent to Reliance Brands remained unanswered by the time of filing of the story. Established in 2007, Reliance Brands has collaborated with of over 50 international bran

Pfizer's proposed $43 bn takeover of Seagen faces EU investigation

If the takeover goes through, Seagen's portfolio would double Pfizer's pipeline of early-stage experimental cancer therapies, Pfizer has said

Nirma, Sekhmet Pharmaventures vie for $731 mn Glenmark Life stake: Reports

Suitors have entered final round of bidding for stake of about 83% in Mumbai-listed company held by Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd., said people, who asked not to be identified as information is private

Exxon Mobil Corp to buy Denbury in $4.9 bn all-stock transaction deal

Under the terms of the deal, Denbury shareholders will get 0.84 Exxon shares for each Denbury share they hold

ZappFresh acquires Dr Meat for $3 mn to expand into Bengaluru market

Startup ZappFresh, which sells meat in Delhi-NCR through its online platform, has acquired Dr. Meat in a deal value of USD 3 million as part of its strategy to enter the Bengaluru market. The company has fully acquired Bengaluru-based Dr. Meat, a brand operated by Sukos Foods, ZappFresh said in a statement. The company did not disclose the deal value. However, the market sources said that the deal was valued at around USD 3 million. The acquisition of Dr. Meat aligns perfectly with ZappFresh's growth strategy and vision for the future, it added. ZappFresh aims to enter new markets with Bengaluru being the first target. Deepanshu Manchanda, founder of ZappFresh, said, "Dr. Meat's demonstrated ability to achieve substantial scale without compromising its bottom line resonates strongly with ZappFresh's vision. We have been profitable for the last 4 years and anticipate reaching revenue of Rs 70 crore within 12 months in Bengaluru alone, while targeting a top line of Rs 300 crore by

Swiggy to acquire retail distribution firm LYNK for undisclosed amount

Food and grocery delivery platform Swiggy on Thursday said it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire LYNK Logistics Limited for an undisclosed amount. The deal paves the way for Swiggy's entry into India's massive retail market with a technology-led distribution platform. LYNK will continue to operate as an independent business post the acquisition led by its co-founder and CEO Shekhar Bhende, Swiggy stated. It enables leading FMCG brands to grow their retail presence through its network of over 1,00,000 retail stores across the top eight cities. "With this acquisition, Swiggy enters India's food and grocery retail market, which is amongst the world's largest and fastest-growing, estimated to be more than USD 570 billion in size and expected to grow at 8 per cent year-on-year," Swiggy noted. Post-acquisition, LYNK will leverage Swiggy's strength in technology and logistics to rapidly scale the existing platform.

Top headlines: India's outward FDI shrinks, HCL Tech to acquire ASAP group

Business Standard brings you the top headlines at this hour

HCLTech to acquire German engineering firm ASAP Group for $279 million

ASAP Group has over 1,600 employees across nine locations in Germany

Online platform CarTrade Tech to acquire Sobek Auto for Rs 537 crore

Online auto classified platform CarTrade Tech on Monday said it has inked a pact to acquire Sobek Auto India for a consideration of Rs 537 crore. Sobek is engaged in the business of running an automotive digital platform and a classifieds internet business. The company has entered into a share purchase agreement to acquire 100 per cent stake of Sobek from OLX India BV subject to completion of certain conditions, CarTrade Tech said in a regulatory filing. The acquisition of Sobek will be for a consideration of Rs 537.43 crore to be paid on the completion date of the acquisition, it added. The acquisition is in furtherance of the strategic objectives of the company to undertake investments which provide synergistic benefits to the existing businesses of the CarTrade Tech, it said. On June 30, 2023, Sobek had acquired the classifieds internet business from OLX India on the terms and conditions agreed under a business transfer agreement.

Elon Musk claims lawyers overbilled in fight to make him buy Twitter

Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz, among most profitable firms in US, exploited a brief, vulnerable period just as Musk was closing $44 bn deal, according to complaint filed in San Francisco state court

Samvardhana Motherson to acquire Bengaluru-based Rollon Hydraulics

Auto component maker Samvardhana Motherson International on Friday said it has inked a pact to fully acquire Bengaluru-based Rollon Hydraulics for an undisclosed amount. Rollon is engaged in manufacturing, assembly and supply of high-precision turned parts, spools, and other machined components with critical engineering applications for the agriculture and off- Highway segment from its two facilities based out of Bengaluru. "Our focus on being a solutions provider to our customers has been a driving force for this acquisition. We are getting access to a new industry segment of construction and material handling for our precision metal business," Motherson Chairman Vivek Chaand Sehgal said in a statement. The company believes this business is highly synergistic with Motherson's existing business and offers ample opportunities to grow this business in India, Mexico & other geographies, he added. "This is our fifth acquisition in India in the past 12 months, reaffirming India's ...

Tata Comm: Upsides in stock limited given execution challenges, valuations

Sharp rally and integration/execution challenges may cap upsides for the stock

Stelis sells Bengaluru facility to Biocon arm Syngene for Rs 702 cr

Strides's 37 per cent stake in Stelis is valued at Rs 800 cr

Siemens acquires Mass-Tech Controls Private's EV division for Rs 38 cr

Siemens Limited on Saturday said it has completed the acquisition of the electric vehicle division of Mass-Tech Controls Private Ltd for Rs 38 crore. Siemens is a technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, transport as well as transmission and generation of electrical power. In a regulatory filing, the company said it "has completed the acquisition of EV division of Mass-Tech Controls in accordance with the definitive agreements entered between the parties for a consideration of Rs 380 million, which is subject to adjustments mutually agreed between the parties to the transaction".

Tata Communication slips 4% on acquisition plan of US-based Kaleyra

Kaleyra is a global omnichannel integrated communication services provider with a set of proprietary platforms, which offers targeted personalisation through messaging, video, push notifications

ICICI Securities to become 100% subsidiary of ICICI Bank after delisting

As a part of the acquisition, shareholders of ICICI Securities will get 67 equity shares of ICICI Bank for every 100 shares of the company

Sleepwell owner Sheela Foam to buy rival Kurlon Enterprise for Rs 3,250 cr

The deal will help Sheela Foam to nearly double its market share in the mattresses segment, said the report