Deals of the day-Mergers and acquisitions

Banco De Sabadell, S.a

18/03/2026 20:44

Adds Unilever, Paramount Skydance, Anglo American

March 18 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 2030 GMT on Wednesday:

** Unilever ULVR.L and Kraft Heinz KHC.O had recently held talks over a potential merger of parts of their food businesses, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, as the consumer goods companies grapple with weaker demand for packaged foods amid economic uncertainty.nL6N40618Q

** Paramount Skydance's PSKY.O proposed acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery WBD.O will "absolutely not" have a fast track to approval because of political factors, the head of the U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust division told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday. nL6N40618R

** London-listed mining company Anglo American AAL.L expects to get final regulatory approval for its merger with Teck Resources TECKb.TO between September this year and March 2027, a spokesperson said on Wednesday. nL6N40618O

** The owner of Ferrero Rocher on Wednesday said it had agreed to acquire Brazilian protein snacking company Bold Snacks for an undisclosed sum, in a deal that gives the Italian group greater exposure to the growing number of consumers looking for high-protein foods. nL6N406196

**  A group of banks led by JPMorgan Chase JPM.N plans to market a debt package tied to software firm Qualtrics' purchase of peer Press Ganey Forsta after concluding a debt sale for the take-private of game publisher Electronic Arts, according to two people familiar with the matter.nL1N406196

** Unilever ULVR.L shares fell 3.5% on Wednesday with investors concerned that the maker of Hellmann's sauces would get "distracted" by the potential spin-off of its food business, questioning the benefits so soon after its protracted ice cream unit split.nL4N4061HW

** Chief Executive Officer of Spanish lender Sabadell SABE.MC Cesar Gonzalez-Bueno on Wednesday said he expected the bank to close the sale of its British unit TSB by the end of April.

nS8N3TS0BF

** Macquarie Group MQG.AX has expressed early interest in bidding for Shell's SHEL.L European onshore renewable energy business, according to people familiar with the matter, assets that could be valued at more than 1 billion euros ($1.15 billion), another person said.nL8N4061RO

**  A potential combination with Commerzbank CBKG.DE is currently the priority for UniCredit CRDI.MI though further consolidation in Italy could still provide opportunities in the future, CEO Andrea Orcel said on Wednesday. nL8N4061MU

** Bermuda-domiciled reinsurer Compre Group said it had agreed to assume a material portfolio of asbestos insurance liabilities from U.S. commercial insurer Amerisure. nL6N4060N1

** French actuarial services insurtech Akur8 announced on Tuesday that it has acquired Slope Software, an actuarial modelling platform for life insurers and pension firms.

 nL6N4060BI

** Australia's 3D Energi TDO.AX said it received a buyout notice from the Australian unit of ConocoPhillips COP.N to acquire its participating interest in the VIC/P79 exploration permit, offshore Otway Basin, for fair market value.    nL4N40603F

** Elliott Investment Management has taken a "significant" stake in Mitsui OSK Lines 9104.T and is pushing the shipping company to improve shareholder returns and capital efficiency, according to two sources familiar with the matter. nL1N40601J

** Activist investor Altai Capital Management called on OraSure Technologies OSUR.O to explore a sale, saying the medical device maker could fetch double its current share price.    nL1N40517C

** Sodalis Capital, Colin Thompson's intermediary-focused investment vehicle, has acquired BP Marsh-backed speciality MGA Amiga Specialty in a deal which reunites the former Kentro founder Thompson with long-serving lieutenant Adam Kembrooke.

 nL6N405154

 (Compiled by Rajarshi Roy, Varun Sahay and Sanskriti Shekhar in Bengaluru)

 ((Varun.sahay@thomsonreuters.com))