Deals of the day-Mergers and acquisitions

Zentiva SA

20/01/2022 14:41

(Adds Polpharma, Unilever, Microsoft Corp, Kedrion; updates
Chesapeake Energy)
    Jan 20 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions
and disposals were reported by 1430 GMT on Thursday:
    
    ** Poland's largest drug maker Polpharma is working on a
possible $4 billion takeover of Czech rival Zentiva and is
looking for investors to join its bid in return for a minority
stake in the Advent International company, three sources said.
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N2TZ5SC
    
    ** Unilever's  ULVR.L  strategy was under the investor
microscope after the consumer goods giant effectively abandoned
its $68 billion pursuit of GlaxoSmithKline's  GSK.L  consumer
healthcare business.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2U029F
    
    ** Chesapeake Energy Corp  CHK.O  is in advanced talks to
acquire privately owned natural gas producer Chief Oil & Gas for
around $2.4 billion, including debt, people familiar with the
matter said on Wednesday.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2U00UP
    
    ** Hedge funds that earn returns speculating on precarious
acquisitions were handed a gift this week when Microsoft Corp
 MSFT.O  agreed to buy "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard
 ATVI.O  for $68.7 billion in cash.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2TZ270
    
    ** Italian biopharma company Kedrion is to merge with
British rival Bio Products Laboratory (BPL) to create a global
player in the plasma-derivatives market with sales of 1.1
billion euros ($1.25 billion), FSI, one of its shareholders.
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N2U02LU
    
    **    U.S.-based Vinmar Group has signed an agreement to buy
Turkish chemical product procurement firm Arisan Kimya, the
company's financial adviser Ventura Partners said.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N2U01ZO
    
    ** Japanese-South Korean game developer Nexon Co  3659.T 
said it would sell its 34.8% stake in Six Waves Inc to
Sweden-based Stillfront Group AB  SFRG.ST  for about $93
million.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2U00D1
    
    ** Abu Dhabi government-owned holding company ADQ has
transferred a 22.32% stake in logistics firm Aramex  ARMX.DU ,
which it acquired in 2020, to Abu Dhabi Ports, another company
in its portfolio, Aramex said.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2U01DZ
    
    ** Hong Kong-based Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA) said 
it has sold customized technology solutions provider Interplex
to private-equity funds managed by Blackstone Inc  BX.N  for an
enterprise value of $1.6 billion.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2U00EP
    
    ** Australian healthcare firm Virtus Health Ltd  VRT.AX 
said it received a A$608.9 million ($439.56 million) buyout
proposal from European private equity firm CapVest Partners.
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2U006N

 (Compiled by Rajarshi Roy and Kannaki Deka in Bengaluru)
 ((Kannaki.Deka@thomsonreuters.com))