Latest Corporate News News
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern file $85 billion merger application
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern submitted an ~7,000-page application to the U.S. Surface Transportation Board seeking approval for an $85 billion merger to create a coast‑to‑coast freight railroad, prompting regulatory review and competitor scrutiny. The STB opened a 30‑day period to request more information as other rail operators evaluate competitive impacts
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Mega‑mergers resurgence in 2025 — deal volume and headline transactions
2025 saw a reemergence of megadeals with 63 transactions worth $10 billion+ through November, surpassing prior highs and including standout deals such as Union Pacific/Norfolk Southern and Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros.. Private equity activity also accelerated, with record LBOs and large buyouts driving deal value toward ~$2 trillion for the year
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Netflix completes $82.7 billion acquisition of Warner Bros.
Netflix announced and closed an $82.7 billion transaction to acquire Warner Bros., one of 2025’s largest media megadeals that reshaped the streaming and studio landscape. The deal is cited among the year’s major transactions that helped fuel a broader wave of large-scale M&A
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Palo Alto Networks acquires CyberArk for $25 billion
Palo Alto Networks closed a major cybersecurity industry acquisition, buying CyberArk for approximately $25 billion as part of a consolidation trend in security software and services across 2025. The transaction contributed to the year’s pronounced M&A activity in tech and security sectors
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BioMarin to acquire Amicus Therapeutics for $4.8 billion
BioMarin agreed to buy Amicus Therapeutics for about $4.8 billion to expand its rare‑disease portfolio, a transaction advised by Kirkland & Ellis and positioned to strengthen BioMarin’s commercial pipeline. The deal adds two therapies to BioMarin’s offerings and represents consolidation in specialty biopharma
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Trump Media & Technology Group merges with fusion company TAE Technologies in $6+ billion deal
Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. completed a landmark all‑stock merger with fusion energy developer TAE Technologies valued at over $6 billion, creating one of the world’s first publicly traded fusion companies, with DLA Piper advising the transaction. The deal signals investor interest in advanced energy alongside media/tech corporate strategies
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Capital markets: American Drive Acquisition Company closes $230 million IPO
American Drive Acquisition Company closed a $230 million initial public offering, increasing SPAC and capital‑markets activity in late 2025 and providing financing channels for acquisitions and growth transactions. The offering reflects continued investor demand for deal vehicles despite broader market volatility
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Burke & Herbert to acquire Linkbancorp in $354 million all‑stock deal
Burke & Herbert Financial Services entered a definitive agreement to acquire Pennsylvania’s Linkbancorp in an all‑stock transaction valued at about $354.2 million; the combined holding company would have roughly $11 billion in assets and expected earnings benefits. KBRA and others have already commented on the proposed transaction in credit and regulatory briefs
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Top executive‑search M&A deals highlight human‑capital consolidation
Executive search firms completed notable M&A in 2025, including Egon Zehnder’s acquisition of The Prince Houston Group and ZRG’s acquisition of Aspen Leadership Group, reflecting consolidation in talent advisory services and sector‑specific expansion. These transactions underscore continued strategic M&A within professional services despite macro headwinds
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Major private‑equity leveraged buyouts reshape gaming and healthcare sectors
2025 featured several headline PE LBOs, notably Silver Lake, PIF and Affinity Partners’ $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts and Blackstone/TPG’s $18.3 billion purchase of Hologic, signaling PE’s aggressive capital deployment into gaming and healthcare. These buyouts contributed materially to the year’s elevated private‑equity deal volume forecasts
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Hostile and unsolicited takeover activity rises in 2025
The year saw an uptick in hostile or unsolicited offers — including bids from Paramount Skydance for Warner Bros. Discovery and Novo Nordisk for Metsera — driven by valuation shifts and shareholder exit opportunities. The trend contributed to an active and occasionally contentious M&A backdrop across sectors
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Recruiting and HR tech consolidation: Bullhorn acquires TargetRecruit
Recruiting software provider Bullhorn acquired TargetRecruit to deepen its Salesforce‑based recruitment solutions and expand its user base, illustrating ongoing consolidation in HR technology and services. The acquisition increases Bullhorn’s footprint among Salesforce customers and strengthens front‑ and middle‑office offering integration
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