‘Hard to imagine’ no price hikes after Paramount Warner Bros mega merger Media Streaming customers are likely to face further price rises after Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery complete their $111bn (£82bn) merger on Tuesday, analysts have warned. The Hollywood giants will combine under a new parent company called Skydance, bringing Paramount+, HBO Max and some of the world’s most valuable film and television franchises under one roof. [...]
Sainsbury’s and Morrisons held talks over blockbuster merger Retail Sainsbury’s walked away from talks over a merger with smaller rival Morrisons earlier this year, shelving what would have been the biggest shake-up of the UK’s grocery market in decades. The UK’s second-largest supermarket chain held preliminary talks with its private-equity-owned rival over a merger of the two firms between November 2025 and February this [...]
Apollo snaps up Easyjet after Castlelake walks away Aviation Easyjet has agreed a £5.7bn takeover deal with Apollo after rival bidder Castlelake pulled out of the bidding process. In a joint announcement with the low-cost airline on Thursday, the American private markets juggernaut said it had “reached an agreement on the terms and conditions of a recommended cash acquisition”. The offer has the backing [...]
Deloitte snaps up construction cost boutique to target infrastructure boom August 4, 2026 Deloitte has snapped up a niche construction consultancy as the Big Four firm looks to capitalise on the growing demand for tighter financial controls on major infrastructure projects. Deloitte has acquired The Orange Partnership, a Midlands-based consultancy specialising in cost verification and cost assurance in the construction sector, City AM can reveal. The deal comes [...]
Associated British Foods rises to bread battle with Warburtons July 12, 2026 Associated British Foods is taking on bread giant Warburtons with its Hovis merger. Could this be the biggest thing since sliced bread for the FTSE 100 giant? One of the London Stock Exchange’s biggest stalwarts is ditching the wardrobe and betting on the bread bin. Associated British Foods (ABF), which has been listed on the [...]
Associated British Foods toasts approval for £75m Hovis takeover June 16, 2026 FTSE 100 giant Associated British Foods has been given the green light for a £75m takeover of Hovis, creating the UK’s biggest bread brand. Associated British Foods (ABF) has been cleared to snap up Hovis after the competition watchdog accepted that the foods giant would likely exit the bakery sector in Great Britain and Northern [...]
VodafoneThree enters race for TalkTalk customers with takeover bid June 9, 2026 Vodafone has tabled a bid for TalkTalk’s consumer broadband business, joining a crowded auction as the UK’s largest mobile operator pushes into the home internet market. The FTSE 100 telecoms giant has emerged as a late entrant into the sale process, after initially declining to participate, the Financial Times first reported. Sources close to the [...]
CMA launches antitrust probe into Hollywood’s mega merger June 9, 2026 The UK’s competition watchdog has launched a formal merger enquiry into Paramount Skydance’s anticipated $110bn (£86bn) acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, escalating the regulatory hurdles facing a deal that has already triggered a fierce, multi-front corporate war over Hollywood jobs and executive payouts. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced Tuesday it has commenced its [...]
Jamie Dimon opens door to a $20bn JP Morgan takeover May 28, 2026 Jamie Dimon has kicked the door open to the prospect of JP Morgan completing a major takeover that would shake-up the global banking landscape. The Wall Street boss raised the idea of the bank spending as much as $20bn (£15bn) as it looks to capitalise on the freed up capital from deregulation reforms. “I do [...]
Estée Lauder and Charlotte Tilbury owner walk away from merger talks May 22, 2026 Cosmetics giant Estée Lauder has abandoned talks with the Spanish owner of Charlotte Tilbury over a merger which would have created a $40bn fashion powerhouse. Talks between the US cosmetics giant and Spanish beauty giant Puig ended on Thursday despite hopes that the merger could have helped both brands to compete with rival L’Oreal. Estée [...]