Latest Corporate News News

📅February 19, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Major corporate mergers reshape asset management and payments sectors, while AI partnerships, acquisitions, and energy deals drive global business momentum.
1

Nuveen Acquires Schroders for $13.4 Billion to Create $2.5 Trillion Asset Manager

U.S.-based Nuveen is acquiring U.K.-based Schroders for £9.9 billion ($13.4 billion), creating one of the world's largest active global asset managers with nearly $2.5 trillion in assets under managementSource 2. The combined firm will offer expanded capabilities across equities, fixed income, multi-asset, infrastructure, private capital, real estate, and wealth managementSource 2. The deal is expected to close in the final quarter of 2026 and is subject to shareholder and regulatory approvalsSource 2.

2

Google Wins Unconditional Approval for $32 Billion Wiz Acquisition

The European Commission granted Google unconditional approval for its $32 billion acquisition of cybersecurity firm Wiz on February 10, with regulators determining it would not raise competition concernsSource 3. EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera stated that customers will continue to have credible alternatives and the ability to switch cloud providersSource 3. This represents Google's biggest deal everSource 3.

3

Nvidia Shares Surge on Meta AI Infrastructure Partnership

Nvidia shares rose more than $3 per share following news of a multi-year AI infrastructure partnership with MetaSource 1. The deal features Meta's first large-scale rollout of Nvidia's Grace CPUs, future Vera CPU adoption, expanded Spectrum-X networking, and GB300 systems for data centersSource 1. The partnership also includes Nvidia confidential computing to enhance AI privacy features in WhatsAppSource 1.

4

Amazon Appears to Have Bottomed Out, Morgan Stanley Reiterates Overweight

After weeks of decline, Amazon shares appear to have stabilized and begun recovering, with the stock oversold on multiple technical indicatorsSource 1. Morgan Stanley reiterated its overweight rating, citing AWS and Retail as under-appreciated GenAI winners with AWS projected to grow 30%+ in 2026-2027Source 1. Analysts highlighted Amazon as an agentic winner with leverage from AI partnershipsSource 1.

5

Global Payments Appoints Former Albertsons CEO to Board

Global Payments Inc. announced the appointment of Vivek Sankaran, former Albertsons CEO, to its Board of Directors effective February 19, 2026Source 5. The payment technology company cited Sankaran's expertise in technology and digital transformations as valuable to the company's integration of Worldpay and advancement of commerce solutionsSource 9. Global Payments has completed its Worldpay acquisition and now serves over 6 million merchant locationsSource 5.

6

Blackstone Nears $2.5 Billion Acquisition of Champions Group

Blackstone is on the brink of finalizing a $2.5 billion acquisition of Champions Group, a landscaping and outdoor services company, according to Bloomberg NewsSource 4. Service-oriented businesses have increasingly attracted private equity firms due to their ability to generate predictable income streams amid market uncertaintySource 4. The transaction specifics regarding financing structure and timeline remain undisclosed, with the deal not yet finalizedSource 4.

7

S&P 500 Up Ahead of Federal Reserve Minutes Release

The S&P 500 (SPY) is up approximately 0.16% as markets await the latest Federal Reserve minutesSource 1. The Nasdaq has risen 0.26%, while the Dow increased 0.2%Source 1. Gold prices increased by $88.50 to $4,970, while Bitcoin declined about $210 to $67,263.14Source 1.

8

Oil Prices Surge on Iran Nuclear Negotiations Uncertainty

Oil prices rose 2.7% to $64.04 following Vice President JD Vance's statement that Iran did not address U.S. red lines in nuclear talksSource 1. President Trump reserved the right to use military force and has deployed a second aircraft carrier, which could jeopardize the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil shipping routeSource 1. Trump stated, "If we don't have a deal, we'll need it," regarding the deploymentSource 1.

9

Middle East M&A Activity Gains Strong Momentum in 2026

Mergers and acquisitions in the Middle East have accelerated with global deal values rising 36% in 2025, though deal volumes increased only 1%, indicating concentrated activitySource 6. Intra-regional transactions rose to 320 deals, accounting for roughly 50% of total activity, with investment concentrated between the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and EgyptSource 6. Key sectors driving growth include AI, digital infrastructure, sports, entertainment, healthcare, and clean energySource 6.

10

SM Energy Agrees to Sell $950 Million in South Texas Assets

SM Energy Company has agreed to sell approximately 61,000 net acres and 260 producing wells in its southern Maverick Basin position in Webb County, Texas to Caturus Energy for $950 millionSource 12. The sale includes related support facilities with an effective date of February 1, 2026, and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026Source 12. Skadden is advising SM Energy on the transactionSource 12.

11

M Evo Global Acquisition Corp II Commences Separate Trading of Units

M Evo Global Acquisition Corp II announced that holders of units from its February 2 IPO can now separately trade Class A ordinary shares and warrants on the Nasdaq beginning February 19, 2026Source 7. The special purpose acquisition company is focused on identifying merger targets in the critical minerals sector that are fundamental to U.S. economic and national security interestsSource 7. The company was formed as a Cayman Islands exempted company for effecting business combinationsSource 7.

Back to News