September 2024 witnessed a flurry of high-profile mergers and acquisitions (M&A) across diverse industries, marking a pivotal month in the business world. Here’s a brief look at some of the most significant deals:

• Rogers Communications Acquires Bell Stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment for $4.7 Billion

Rogers Communications made waves by purchasing a significant stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) from Bell, cementing its leadership in the Canadian media and sports entertainment market. This strategic move strengthens Rogers’ foothold in professional sports, notably in owning teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs and Raptors.

• Flutter Entertainment Buys Snaitech for $2.6 Billion

In a strategic push to expand its European footprint, Flutter Entertainment acquired Italian-based Snaitech for $2.6 billion. This acquisition enhances Flutter’s presence in Italy’s growing gaming market and solidifies its position as a leading global gambling operator.

• CACI Acquires Azure Summit Technology for $1.27 Billion

CACI International, a defense technology company, expanded its capabilities by acquiring Azure Summit Technology for $1.27 billion. The deal focuses on enhancing CACI’s signal intelligence and electronic warfare portfolio, aligning with its national security solutions growth strategy.

• Playtika Holding Corp Acquires SuperPlay for $700 Million

Playtika, a leader in mobile gaming, strengthened its portfolio by acquiring SuperPlay for $700 million. Known for its creative mobile games, SuperPlay’s addition allows Playtika to diversify its offerings and boost its position in the global mobile gaming market.

• DSV Acquires Schenker, Deutsche Bahn’s Logistics Arm, for $15.85 Billion

DSV, a Danish transport and logistics giant, announced one of the largest deals of the year with the $15.85 billion acquisition of Schenker, Deutsche Bahn’s logistics arm. This mega-deal catapults DSV into the top echelon of global logistics providers, significantly expanding its presence across Europe and North America.

• Mastercard Acquires Recorded Future for $2.65 Billion

Mastercard made a substantial investment in the cybersecurity space by acquiring Recorded Future for $2.65 billion. The deal reflects Mastercard’s commitment to enhancing its data intelligence and fraud prevention capabilities amid growing cyber threats.

• AngloGold Ashanti Acquires Centamin for $2.5 Billion

Gold mining giant AngloGold Ashanti expanded its global footprint by acquiring Centamin, an Egypt-based gold mining company, for $2.5 billion. This acquisition strengthens AngloGold’s position in the African mining sector, particularly in the lucrative Sukari Gold Mine.

• Lactalis & Sodiaal Acquire General Mills’ European Yogurt Business for $2.1 Billion

In the food and dairy industry, Lactalis and Sodiaal teamed up to acquire General Mills’ European yogurt operations for $2.1 billion. The deal helps both companies broaden their reach in the competitive dairy market while expanding their brand portfolios across Europe.

• Sentry Insurance Buys The General for $1.7 Billion

Sentry Insurance made a major acquisition by purchasing The General for $1.7 billion. The move is part of Sentry’s strategy to diversify its insurance offerings, particularly in the automotive sector, strengthening its competitive position in personal insurance.

• Verizon Acquires Frontier Communications for $20 Billion

Verizon struck a landmark deal by acquiring Frontier Communications for $20 billion. The acquisition bolsters Verizon’s broadband network, especially in rural and underserved areas, while enhancing its ability to deliver 5G services on a national scale.

• Blackstone Acquires AirTrunk for $16.1 Billion

Blackstone continues its push into the data infrastructure sector with its $16.1 billion acquisition of AirTrunk, a leading data center provider in the Asia-Pacific region. This move reinforces Blackstone’s strategic focus on the high-growth digital infrastructure market, tapping into the rising demand for cloud services and data storage.

• Salesforce Acquires Own Company for $1.9 Billion

Salesforce bolstered its business software capabilities by acquiring Own Company for $1.9 billion. The acquisition enhances Salesforce’s ability to provide specialized cloud-based solutions to businesses looking for integrated customer relationship management tools.

• First Majestic Silver Corp Buys Gatos Silver for $970 Million

First Majestic Silver Corp expanded its mining operations with the $970 million acquisition of Gatos Silver. This deal strengthens First Majestic’s silver production portfolio, particularly in Mexico, where Gatos Silver holds significant mining assets.

• Nano Dimension to Acquire Markforged for $115 Million

Nano Dimension, a leader in 3D printing technologies, agreed to acquire Markforged for $115 million. This acquisition further enhances Nano Dimension’s advanced manufacturing capabilities, especially in the additive manufacturing and digital fabrication sectors.

• Masdar Acquires Saeta from Brookfield for $1.4 Billion

Renewable energy giant Masdar announced its acquisition of Saeta, a Spanish renewable energy company, from Brookfield for $1.4 billion. The acquisition aligns with Masdar’s vision of expanding its portfolio of clean energy assets, especially in solar and wind power.

• Blackstone and Vista Equity Partners Acquire Smartsheet for $8.4 Billion

Blackstone and Vista Equity Partners teamed up to acquire Smartsheet, a leading software maker, for $8.4 billion. This acquisition strengthens both private equity firms’ foothold in the software-as-a-service (SaaS) space, capitalizing on Smartsheet’s workflow automation tools.

• Affinity Agrees to a $658 Million Carveout of Lumus Imaging

Affinity Equity Partners announced its $658 million carveout of Australia’s Lumus Imaging, a leading medical imaging provider. This acquisition allows Affinity to further penetrate the healthcare services market and expand its healthcare portfolio in Australia.

Conclusion

September 2024 has proven to be a landmark month for M&A activity, with deals spanning sectors such as telecommunications, gaming, logistics, and cybersecurity. Companies are leveraging acquisitions to strengthen market positions, expand product offerings, and secure their foothold in high-growth industries. As these transactions reshape global markets, they underscore the ongoing importance of M&A as a key strategy for corporate growth.