Acquisition

• Sky has pledged to spend £2 billion as it prepares to acquire ITV's broadcasting arm, with a formal announcement expected in July. • The investment is designed to place the business on a solid financial footing and ensure the stability of the acquired assets. • This move is critical for safeguarding the future of high-profile programming, including Love Island, I’m a Celebrity, and soaps like Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

• Deutsche Bank has downgraded its stock rating for Synaptics following the company's acquisition deal with ON Semiconductor. • The rating cut reflects analyst concerns regarding the strategic implications and financial impact of the acquisition. • This move is significant as it signals a shift in institutional confidence regarding Synaptics' growth trajectory and valuation.

• Salesforce has agreed to acquire Fin, an Irish-founded company, in a deal valued at $3.6 billion. • This acquisition represents one of the largest technology deals involving an Irish firm, highlighting the country's growing role as a global tech hub. • The move underscores Salesforce's strategic bet on the future of AI, leveraging Ireland's strong ecosystem of cloud computing, fintech, and data services.

• India's startup ecosystem saw significant financial activity today, highlighted by JustAI raising $17 million and SaffronStays securing $3.5 million in funding. • In a strategic move to expand capabilities, EMA Partners has officially acquired Taggd. • These developments reflect a broader trend of growth across AI, deeptech, and quick commerce sectors within the Indian entrepreneurial landscape.

• The focus of AI investment is shifting away from Large Language Models (LLMs) toward the development of "Agentic AI" systems. • Industry leaders are now prioritizing technologies that enable autonomous decision-making and real-world application over simple generative text. • This transition is evidenced by recent acquisition trends and investor demand, signaling a move toward more functional, goal-oriented AI agents.

• AI consolidation reached record levels last year, with 33 major acquisitions totaling at least $157 billion in disclosed value. • High-profile deals include Google's $32 billion purchase of Wiz, IBM's $27.8 billion data-stack acquisition, and Salesforce's $3.6 billion purchase of Fin. • These trends indicate a shift in investor demand away from Large Language Models (LLMs) toward specialized infrastructure and data-stack companies.

• Deloitte released a new M&A Pulse Survey featuring insights from 500 corporate and private equity (PE) leaders regarding current market trends. • The findings reveal a sense of "cautious optimism" for deal activity leading into 2026, with leaders emphasizing a more disciplined approach to acquisitions. • Cross-border acquisitions are highlighted as a primary strategic path for growth as dealmakers seek new opportunities.