Deals of the day-Mergers and acquisitions

Challenger

17/03/2026 20:27

Updates Mastercard, Victory Capital; adds Private Wealth, A2A

March 17 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 2130 GMT on Tuesday:

** Italian utility A2A A2.MI is not discussing a tie-up with renewables group Erg ERG.MI, its Chief Executive Renato Mazzoncini said, after a newspaper report last month raised the prospect of a deal.

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** Arthur J. Gallagher has acquired Australia-based Asset Partners Private Wealth, the broker announced.

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** Victory Capital VCTR.O revised its $8.6 billion cash-and-stock offer for rival Janus Henderson JHG.N, ratcheting up efforts to derail the asset manager's take-private deal ‌with Nelson Peltz's Trian and venture capital firm General Catalyst.

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** Mastercard MA.N said it would buy stablecoin payments infrastructure firm BVNK for up to $1.8 billion, as the card giant deepens its push into blockchain-based transfers.

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** Crypto trading firm and liquidity provider GSR is acquiring two digital asset advisory firms in a $57 million deal to become a "one stop shop" crypto capital markets partner, the company said.

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** Italian investment bank Equita Group  said it is in talks with Xenon Private Equity shareholders to acquire the asset management platform.

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** Woolworths  said it has agreed to acquire privately held in2food Holdings for an undisclosed amount as the food and clothing retailer aims to better control the quality and supply of its premium convenience food products.

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** Societe Generale  said it had signed a preliminary agreement with regional French bank Credit Mutuel Arkea to sell part of its securities services business serving retail banking clients, in the latest step by CEO Slawomir Krupa to streamline the lender's portfolio.

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** Finnish lift maker Kone Oyj  is in talks to buy TK Elevator, which has been preparing for an initial public offering, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.

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** Ant Group is set to close its HK$2.81 billion ($358.88 million) acquisition of a controlling stake in Bright Smart Securities & Commodities <1428.HK> by the end of the month following the satisfaction of all conditions, the companies said on Monday.

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** Brazilian state-run firm Petrobras  said on Monday it had decided to exercise its right to purchase Malaysian company Petronas' 50% stake in two offshore fields in Brazil for $450 million, according to a securities filing.

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** Australia's Pepper Money  said it has received a lower revised takeover proposal from investment manager Challenger  valuing it at A$1.01 billion ($713.67 million), down from its earlier valuation of A$1.16 billion.

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** Drone maker AeroVironment  said on Monday it has acquired Empirical Systems Aerospace, a producer of unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility platforms, in a cash-and-stock deal valued at about $200 million.

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

 ((Varun.sahay@thomsonreuters.com))