Merger

• Private equity firms, family offices, and institutional investors have rapidly increased their acquisitions and investments in the dermatology market over the last decade. • Financial sponsors typically establish a platform investment in an existing dermatology group to serve as a strategic buyer for further add-on acquisitions. • Strong consumer spending and positive US economic trends are driving high demand for dermatology services and increasing the value of these practices.

• Modern Healthcare is tracking the latest news on mergers, acquisitions, and joint partnerships in the healthcare industry. • The publication provides live updates on deals as they happen, giving readers insight into the changing healthcare landscape. • This coverage helps healthcare professionals and investors stay informed about potential opportunities and challenges in the market.

• Intesa Sanpaolo and MPS, along with other top Italian lenders, are competing for dominance in Italy's banking merger frenzy, with several deals underway. • The mergers involve major banks, with Intesa Sanpaolo being one of the key players, and the outcomes will be crucial for investors who have stakes in these institutions. • Investors are watching the developments closely, as the mergers will impact their investments and the overall Italian banking sector, with potential effects on the country's financial stability.

• PayTabs and WaFd, Inc. completed major acquisition deals on September 8 and 9, 2026. • WaFd, Inc. entered into a reverse merger transaction with EverBank Financial Corp valued at $3.9 billion. • These multi-billion-dollar shifts in the financial sector alter the competitive landscape for payment services and banking in the MENA and US markets.

• Aedifica reported strong growth for the first half of 2026, driven largely by its strategic merger with Cofinimmo. • While the company achieved positive earnings growth and synergy progress, it is now managing a significantly higher debt load following the merger. • The results are tempered by ongoing regulatory pressures in key markets, particularly in Belgium, which has limited the stock's price movement.

• United Airlines is pursuing growth through an expansion at JFK airport and the increased integration of AI to optimize operations. • The airline is specifically focusing on the premium travel segment as options for major industry mergers remain limited and uncertain. • These strategic shifts aim to drive revenue and efficiency in a competitive market where consolidation is currently stalled.

• European governments in Berlin and Rome initially attempted to block cross-border bank mergers, specifically targeting UniCredit's efforts to acquire Commerzbank. • The European Commission issued a 56-page preliminary opinion arguing that national security justifications were insufficient and breached EU rules on the free movement of capital. • In response to regulatory pressure, Italy rewrote its laws for January 2026 to subordinate "Golden Power" reviews to prior decisions made by the ECB and the Commission.

• European stock markets closed mostly higher on Monday, with the Stoxx Europe gaining 0.4%, Germany's DAX climbing 1.6%, and France's CAC advancing 1.4%. • Market activity was highlighted by reports that pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca is currently in merger talks with Bristol Myers Squibb. • The positive momentum reflects broader optimism in the sector, while the S&P 500 is simultaneously approaching 40% earnings growth, driven largely by Alphabet.

Tie-up would be one of the biggest pharmaceutical deals ever and create the world’s fourth-largest drugmaker Business live – latest updatesBritain’s biggest drugmaker AstraZeneca is in discussions to take over its US rival Bristol Myers Squibb in a deal that would create a near-$400bn (£300bn) pharmaceutical group.AstraZeneca, run by longtime chief executive Pascal Soriot, is the second-biggest listed company in the UK, with a market value of nearly £196bn. BMS, headquartered in Princeton and known for its cancer treatments, is worth $133bn. Continue reading...

• Senior advocate Kapil Sibal has challenged the merger exception within the Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which currently allows legislators to switch parties without disqualification if a specific threshold of members merges. • The Supreme Court is reviewing whether the current interpretation of the anti-defection law allows for "engineered political realignments" that undermine legislative stability. • A ruling in favor of the challenge would significantly strengthen anti-defection laws by reducing the legal loopholes used by politicians to avoid disqualification during party shifts.

• The European Commission has approved the $110 billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, though the deal remains stalled in the United States. • The EU's approval is conditional, requiring Paramount to meet specific regulatory requirements to prevent market monopolies. • This merger represents a massive consolidation of the entertainment industry, aiming to combine vast content libraries to better compete with streaming giants.

• T-Mobile US stock is trading near record highs as the company focuses on its 2025 earnings guidance and the integration of its UScellular acquisition. • The company's strong market position is currently supported by rising profitability and robust free cash flow generation throughout 2024 and into 2025. • Investors are closely monitoring key performance indicators, including profit margins, customer addition rates, and overall cash flow.

• The European Union has approved Paramount's $81 billion acquisition of Warner Bros., though the deal is subject to specific conditions. • The merger will consolidate major media assets, placing HBO Max, CNN, and the "Harry Potter" franchise under the same corporate roof as CBS, "Top Gun," and Paramount+. • The deal also impacts the European market, as both companies own significant regional assets, including Warner's TVN Group in Poland and localized MTV and Nickelodeon channels.

• The European Union has officially approved Paramount's $81 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. • This regulatory greenlight removes a significant legal hurdle, allowing the two media giants to proceed with the massive merger. • The deal represents a major consolidation of the entertainment industry, combining vast libraries of content and streaming services.

• The European Commission has approved the $110 billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros., though the deal remains on hold pending regulatory approval in the United States. • The EU's clearance is conditional, requiring Paramount to meet specific requirements to ensure fair competition within the European market. • This merger represents a massive consolidation of the entertainment industry, combining two of the world's most influential media conglomerates.

• Political analysts are evaluating the landscape for Israel's 2026 elections, noting that major blocs are currently separated by only a few seats in most polls. • The outcome may depend less on shifts between Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud and Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar, and more on which smaller parties can surpass the 3.25% electoral threshold. • Internal tensions are rising as United Torah Judaism’s Moshe Gafni demands concrete action on Torah-study legislation, while figures like Edelstein, Illouz, and Haskel have broken with the government over draft policies.

A bipartisan group argue in lawsuit that $110bn merger would hurt competition and lead to thousands of job lossesA bipartisan group of US state attorneys general are seeking to block the $110bn merger of Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery, arguing in a lawsuit filed on Monday that it would hurt competition and lead to higher prices for consumers.The coalition behind the lawsuit is led by the California attorney general, Rob Bonta, who has been a staunch critic of the merger since it was agreed to in February after a bidding war between David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance and Netflix. Continue reading...

• Sky has proposed a £1.6 billion acquisition of ITV's Media & Entertainment division, including its free-to-air channels, advertising business, and the ITVX streaming platform. • The deal aims to create one of the UK's largest commercial broadcasters to better compete against global streaming giants. • ITV Studios, the production arm responsible for hits like 'Love Island' and 'I'm a Celebrity...', will remain a separate entity from the merger.

• UK Culture Minister Lisa Nandy is considering a formal intervention regarding the proposed $110 billion merger between Warner Bros and Paramount. • The minister has established a deadline of 6 July for both companies to address her specific concerns regarding the deal. • This potential intervention signifies the UK government's intent to evaluate whether the merger serves the public interest or creates market imbalances.

• 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.

Senator warns of ‘tsunami of anger’ against big companies and suggests future administrations may undo key dealsDemocratic senator Elizabeth Warren has warned that corporate mergers approved by the Trump administration – including a pending deal that would put two of America’s largest news outlets under the control of a family sympathetic to the president – could be undone by a future administration.“After 2028, we’ll have new players in Washington, and everyone who’s engaged in this merger frenzy right now is aware of that,” Warren said in an interview. Continue reading...

Deal still under UK scrutiny with new investigation, and could face lawsuit from state attorneys generalDonald Trump’s Department of Justice has decided to approve the $111bn merger of Paramount Skydance, controlled by the Ellison family, and Warner Bros Discovery, the parent company of networks like CNN and HBO.The deal was approved by the justice department’s anti-trust division after months of review, and despite the concerns of many people in the entertainment and media industries who believe it will hurt competition by reducing the number of film studios and – most likely – merging two news networks, Paramount’s CBS News and CNN. Continue reading...

Sticking points to build beauty powerhouse included which family would hold balance of power, according to FTBusiness live – latest updatesThe US cosmetics company Estée Lauder has ended merger talks with its Spanish rival Puig to create a fashion and beauty retailer worth almost $40bn (£30bn/€34.5bn) after failing to agree which would hold the balance of power in the combined group.Estée Lauder is one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of skin care, makeup and fragrances with a portfolio that includes Clinique, Bobbi Brown and Tom Ford Beauty. Continue reading...

News will come as a shock to staff, especially at Cranfield, but the institutions’ bosses say intention is growthThe announcement that King’s College London is to absorb Cranfield University came as a surprise but not a shock to England’s higher education leaders, who have been braced for sudden announcements about job cuts and course closures.But for staff and students at both institutions the news will have come as a shock, particularly at Cranfield, the smaller, highly focused postgraduate technology and management college that has its own airport. Continue reading...

• On May 10, 2026, Two Harbors Investment Corp (TWO) revised its merger agreement with CrossCountry Mortgage, boosting the all-cash offer to $12 per share from $11.30. • The adjustment demonstrates TWO's commitment to maximizing shareholder value amid ongoing negotiations for the real estate investment trust combination. • As a REIT specializing in residential mortgage-backed securities and servicing rights, the deal signals confidence in the mortgage sector's recovery potential.

• Polomar Health Services (OTCQB: PMHS) disclosed a $10.7 million net loss for fiscal year 2025 in its annual 10-K filing with the SEC. • The filing raises substantial going-concern doubts due to ongoing losses, telehealth partner setbacks, and liquidity issues. • Company plans a merger with Altanine that would dilute existing shareholders to approximately 20% ownership post-deal.

• Banner Bank, a 136-year-old institution, agreed to acquire Bank of the Pacific in a $177 million all-stock deal to expand its regional footprint. • U.S. mergers and acquisitions over $100 million rose 25% in March 2026 compared to the prior year, per EY Parthenon research. • Global M&A volume hit $861.1 billion in Q1 2026, up 9.7% from Q1 2025 according to S&P Global, driven by bank investments in AI and shifting consumer habits.

• Toronto-based Cohere Inc. and Germany's Aleph Alpha GmbH announced plans to merge, supported by a $600 million structured financing commitment from Schwarz Group. • Cohere, which has raised $1.6 billion since 2019 from Nvidia and others, offers multiple AI models; the Series E deal expects additional investors and closure later in 2026. • The merger combines expertise in enterprise AI, potentially accelerating development amid US-China tech tensions and boosting competitive edge for Western AI firms.