Dealcast: The M&A Podcast

The European Commission (EC) is reviewing AbbVie’s [NYSE:ABBV] proposed acquisition of Botox producer Allergan [NYSE:AGN]. The merging parties have already pledged to divest such products as brazikumab, a drug under development for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, and Zenpep (pancrelipase), which treats a pancreatic disorder, but the EC may want more changes if it is to approve the deal. Dealreporter’s Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro and Mergermarket’s Mintoi Chessa-Florea joined us to discuss how the EC’s review is likely to go.

German media conglomerate Axel Springer [ETR:SPR] has caught the eye of KKR [NYSE:KKR]. With Axel Springer’s founding family supporting its bid, KKR has an easier route towards taking the target off the market. Activistmonitor editor William Mace and Mergermarket’s resident DACH expert Emma-Victoria Farr joined us to discuss what the deal could mean for Axel Springer’s future.

In this weekly edition of Dealreporter Asia Pacific’s podcast, Anette Jönsson and Ed Vinales discuss key deals and developments relevant to Asia event-driven investors, including AGL Energy’s [ASX:AGL] new indicative offer for Australian telecom company Vocus [ASX:VOC], private equity interest in Australian healthcare provider Healius [ASX:ALS] and corporate governance-related investing in Japan. In connection with the latter we highlight the upcoming AGM for Kyushu Railway Co [TYO:9142] that will feature a number of proposals from an activist investor. We also touch on the possible implications for the Chinese ADR delist/relist trend of US Senator Marco Rubio’s recent move to introduce a bill that proposes to delist US-listed Chinese companies that don’t open their audit books to US regulators, and discuss why the bill may have legs and could become legislation.   

In this weekly edition of Dealreporter Asia Pacific’s podcast, Stephanie Hanna and Anette Jönsson discuss key developments on several Asian situations, including comments by Malaysia’s prime minister indicating Australian rare earth producer Lynas [ASX:LYC] will be allowed to continue operating in the Southeast Asian country; and the potential implications of casino tycoon James Packer selling part of his stake in Crown Resorts [ASX:CWN] to Melco Resorts & Entertainment [NASDAQ:MLCO] less than two months after his talks with Wynn Resorts [NASDAQ:WYNN] were terminated following a leak. At the end of the podcast we reveal an unexpected judicial setback for the dissenting shareholders of Qunar’s take-private that could have implications for ongoing and future Section 238 fair value processes in Cayman.

Wobbly tech-sector IPOs, including those of Uber [NYSE:UBER] and Finablr [LON:FIN], have dampened the mood for ECM. Dealreporter ECM editor Gustav Sandstrom joined us to discuss how these high-profile fumbles could affect similar listings ahead this year.

In this inaugural edition of Dealreporter Asia Pacific’s podcast, Stephanie Hanna and Ed Vinales discuss the appointment of a new head of China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), and how the US-China trade dispute is impacting Wesfarmer’s hostile bid for rare-earth miner Lynas. Other situations covered include the hairy privatisation of Hong Kong’s Harbin Electric, and the ongoing sale processes surrounding Hitachi Chemical, and NXC Corp, which owns 47.68% of South Korea’s largest gaming company Nexon. The journalists end the podcast discussing why Australian development and construction business Lendlease could become a takeover target.  

With European telecoms attracting takeover attention, Dealreporter editor Heba Abdelrahman and Mergermarket journalist Amy-Jo Crowley joined us to talk about the case for telecoms M&A, the obstacles standing in the way of deals in the space, and the likelihood of a deal for KPN [AMS:KPN].

Activist investors are adapting their strategy to the top of the business cycle. Activistmonitor assistant editor William Mace and William Cain, who writes Dealreporter's Flash feature, joined us this week to speak about the intersection of private equity and shareholder activism.

Danish pharmaceutical company Lundbeck [CPH: LUN] is poised for a run of M&A to replenish its drug pipeline. We caught up with our Nordics reporter, Karoliina Liimatainen, who spoke recently with the company's chief executive, Deborah Dunsire, and has more on the company's plans for growth.

Just when Apollo seemed poised to take over plastics company RPC, Berry Global emerged as a possible rival bidder. Deane McRobie interviews Mergermarket industrials reporter Joao Grando and Dealreporter industrials reporter Swetha Gopinath on last week's spoiler.