#acquisition

https://about.att.com/aboutus/pressrelease/2026/att-lumen-deal-close.html

Lumen Completes Sale of Consumer Fiber-to-the-Home Business to AT&T

More info online

Personally, I think MicroFocus was already ruined financially before the acquisition, while OpenText has suffered taking on massive debt and legacy baggage that has stalled any momentum we had previously with Cloud and Cybersecurity.

Hearing some chatter that Dana may have sold its OpenECU business and few roles may have been impacted as a part of transition. No official confirmation yet.

Has anyone else heard anything or have more details?

Has anyone else heard anything?

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/private-equity/hitachi-is-said-to-seek-buyer-for-1-3-billion-data-storage-unit

After a decade of mismanagement, Hitachi Vantara will seize to exist. From Brian Householder, Gajen Kandiah, to Sheila Rohra and her buddy Octavian, a string of incompetent leaders have eroded the company to a tired, irrelevant, skeleton with employees waiting for their turn at the chopping block.

Question is who will be interested in a dying business with small margins… Private equity? Broadcom? The other verdors will certainly want to spend their acquisition budget elsewhere. And without the Hitachi name, who will be interested in just Vantara? And for what? Their fabulous storage products, enterprise address book?

The recent round of layoffs and integration of ITPro make sense all of a sudden! It’s very sad for the employees though…

The Titanic is finally going under and will fall to pieces below the surface. Bye, bye, Vantara!

There is something in water brewing with the IBM connection. I found it quite strange IBM speaking at the kick off given the past relationship. It looks quite clear the new CEO has been brought into to facilitate a takeover of some sort by IBM, clears the decks of what they don't want and make the takeover/transition easier and cleaner. He looks a safe pair of hands that IBM trust, there is simply no other reason you would give a man closer to retirement and has been semi retired for a number of years this gig.

With prices being dropped to get more customers in, ARPU falling and acquisition costs therefore going up…..margins and cash flow are falling and will continue to, and guess what’s next……yes, more major headcount reductions coming soon to try and improve the margins. It is simple P&L math, just watch…..

For everyone on here wanting to know departments, locations, that's the least of your worry. What you need to be seeing is the long term picture here for Cigna. Companies trim fat for multiple reasons. The reason everyone thinks is greed, that's partly true.

You can't sell a company as a whole or sell parts of it off if your numbers are horrible. Cigna is positioning themselves to be sold, the writing is on the wall. They need numbers to look good, number of employees to be good, everything has to line up 100% before they find a buyer for the company.

Mark my word, come back to this post later in. In less than a year this company is sold and part of it won't exist, other parts will. Those in the higher up spots will be compensated nicely b/c they made it profitable long enough for a sale.

Cisco enterprise networking SVP jumps ship to Nokia.

https://www.sdxcentral.com/news/cisco-enterprise-networking-svp-jumps-ship-to-nokia/

Oxy involved in a major divestment or is purchased as a reserves play?
Leadership direction and composition?
Stock price and fundamentals?
Overal morale and employee engagement?

Heard a rumor that Dell is trying to acquire the HP client business? Anyone else hearing this?

SAP in talks to buy or partner with N8N as its internal efforts to boost the next gen SAP Build falters big time with legacy platform. Existing products to be scaled down, retired and moved into support mode with external vendors until customer migration is complete. Teams to be reassigned/ laid off based on the location. Possbile news to be out in 2-4 weeks.
It gets even more critical to compete with lean AI first startups as SAP share price nose dives 17% after the announcement of financial results.

Any guesses who it is?

TIA!

I'm convinced (and have some evidence) that a big announcement is coming. I think everyone is expecting CEO announcement but I suspect it's were being SOLD either wholesale or in parts.

So with Boots being the biggest money maker for them, I heard rumors that they were going to maybe IPO Boots? What do you think (hypothetically) the plan would be for the other two? Since these 3 would be where Sycamore can extract value from, I assume Walgreens would be fattened with debt and left to be gutted? Unless they have any aspiration of trying to save it.......

What do you guys think? Trying to understand how a PE would try to extract value with this deal.

Another earnings call is just around the corner. How do you think Leahy and Miralles spin Q4, CY 25 and the lowest stock price in 5 years?

I'm sure we will hear they cracked the code with the new GTM strategy and "all-weather team".

From my perspective, the single, most important question that needs to be asked is, "Given all the acquisitions, all the layoffs and the all the restructuring, why should we believe this leadership team is the team to return CDW to profitable revenue growth?"

Germa producer of acetone cyclohex and others goes into administration.

Omnicom plans to lay off more than 4,000 workers and shut down several well-known advertising agencies after buying rival Interpublic Group for $13 billion. The advertising industry is under growing pressure as artificial intelligence changes how ads are made. Big tech companies like Meta are also making it easier and faster for businesses to create ads on a large scale.

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2026-01-27/paramount-warner-bros-deal-how-would-it-cut-costs

Wireless used to be a great company and I loved working there until the Vodafone buyout. Once the telecom executives got a hold of wireless they started the RIF/outsource/off-shore march. The Telecom side hasn't been profitable for decades so you can downsize as your business shrinks. This strategy does not work for wireless when you're adding 250k-1M customers a quarter. Verizon doesn't know how to run a successful business. The telecom senior management removed all the Wireless execs and proceeded to turn Verizon Wireless into Verizon Telecom which was a death sentence. Verizon has never bought a business that they haven't destroyed with the same failed strategy of RIF/outsource/off-shore. That's the only thing they know and it has never worked. They did the same to YAHOO, American online and countless other acquisitions. As soon as I heard about the Vodafone deal, I said within 10 years, wireless will be ruined and I was right. When I left, I tried to transfer my concession number to my private phone (after approvals). I was totally offline for 4 days and ended up just having my non-concession number restored. Because I recently bought a new phone on a promotion, it was also cancelled as they tried to change my number. Took me another 6 months to get my billing corrected. They RIF'd everyone on the wireless side who knew what they were doing. These id--ts never learn. They keep doing the same thing expecting a different outcome. Sounds like insanity to me. I took a VSP but I feel really bad for the folks still trying to hold on. My advice... if you're under 50 years old take a RIF and find a company that appreciates you. If you're 50 or older, find something first. It's not easy finding a comparable job and salary once you get into your 50's.

https://www.fintechfutures.com/job-cuts-new-hires/wells-fargo-hires-faraz-shafiq-as-head-of-ai

Expect more layoffs as AI is adopted on a large scale. Amazon is laying off 20,000 highly paid corporate workers today, many of whom have AI skills.

Global sportswear giant Nike has expanded its presence in India by leasing 126,000 sq ft of premium office space in the Olympia Building at Bagmane Tech Park, Bengaluru. This strategic move highlights Nike’s commitment to strengthening its corporate operations in one of India’s most competitive commercial real estate markets.

Bagmane Tech Park, located in C V Raman Nagar, is a leading business hub hosting multinational technology firms, consumer brands, and professional service providers. Nike’s new leased space allows the company to access top talent and modern office infrastructure, aligning with the growing demand for large, contiguous office spaces in Bengaluru.

While lease terms and financials remain undisclosed, the acquisition signals Nike’s long-term commitment to India’s growing market. Bengaluru continues to attract multinational companies seeking Grade A commercial properties, ideal for regional offices, technology teams, and operational hubs.

This transaction is comparable to prominent Bengaluru real estate projects such as Sobha Galera in Kannamangala and Prestige Evergreen in Whitefield, which have drawn attention for their prime locations and modern amenities. Nike’s lease also mirrors the trend of investing in pre-launch projects, where corporates secure high-quality office and commercial spaces ahead of market competition.

By taking this step, Nike reinforces Bengaluru’s position as a preferred destination for global expansions, emphasizing the city’s role as a hub for talent, innovation, and corporate growth. The move also strengthens the appeal of business parks like Bagmane Tech Park, which continues to attract multinational tenants seeking premium infrastructure and connectivity.

Lot of chatter among bankers about big M&A coming. Anyone hearing similar?

Investor-backed Mycrogrid is acquiring Renova Energy. Layoff notices were issued to 20 to 30 employees. The company had furloughed over 300 staff members in 2024. Vincent Battaglia, Renova Energy's CEO, also leads Mycrogrid. Mycrogrid anticipates reopening in April with new positions.

https://kesq.com/news/2026/01/23/exclusive-renova-energy-announces-acquisition-by-investor-mycrogrid/

"We respectfully urge the Commission to conduct a thorough investigation into the labor market consequences of this proposed acquisition, including EA’s existing wage-setting power, the likelihood of post-transaction layoffs, the degree of labor-market concentration in relevant geographic and occupational markets, and the role of cross-ownership in shaping labor outcomes," the letter read.

https://www.engadget.com/gaming/us-congress-members-call-for-thorough-review-of-eas-55-billion-sale-175851429.html

The people lamenting the departure of the Frontier executives have it backwards. Here’s what actually happened:
1- Frontier was loosing money and marketshare
2- Activist hedge funds took a stake in the ailing company and shepherded it through a bankruptcy which reduced its debt
3- They recruited John Stratton, Nick Jeffery and other executives to lead the company after emerging from bankruptcy. Those executives received significant awards of stock and RSUs. The RSUs would vest immediately upon sale of the company
4- Frontier’s situation improved under their leadership although it’s still losing money
5- The hedge funds and the executives got a big payday by selling the company for $20 billion in cash to Verizon. Stratton made about $100 million, Jeffery about $90 million and the hedge funds made billions in profits. The Frontier executives had to resign in order to maximize their payday. They would have been fools to stay.

https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/22/vimeo-starts-layoffs-after-acquisition-by-bending-spoons/

Vimeo is laying off some global staff members. This action follows its acquisition by Italian tech conglomerate Bending Spoons. Bending Spoons purchased Vimeo last year for $1.38 billion. The exact number of affected employees remains undisclosed. Reports indicate a large portion of the workforce is impacted.

Both Microsoft and Oracle are increasing their stock price massively to increase their market capitalization. They are also laying off employees to be less cash poor.

On the other hand, SAP is performing several steps to prepare for an acquisition. there have been share buybacks to negotiate a better deal. There are regular layoffs planned to stabilize the share price to negotiate for a better deal. HPOM and other reorganizations are bringing SAP closer to how Microsoft, Oracle and Salesforce operate. SAP is also cutting down salary hikes and benefits to match those at Microsoft and Oracle. The new performance management system is a vehicle for moving away from role-based compensation and adopt region-based compensation. This is in line with what Microsoft and Oracle does as they determine compensation based on zip code. The newer acquisitions by SAP are also inline with the offerings from Microsoft and Oracle. In fact, SAP is bridging the gap so existing SAP products and products from these acquisitions can be easily rebranded. SAP is also steering away from European worker protections and want a more Silicon Valley like approach where employees live in fear and the executive board makes millions to create more disparity and give them more power.

Do you think that all these actions are taking place to bring SAP into an acquisition mode for Microsoft or Oracle? What do you think the impact would be on SAP layoffs?

All these mass layoffs is perhaps to fund Stock buyback.

Not sure about layoffs but here we go...

GSK Acquires Rapt Therapeutics for $2.2 Billion

https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/astellas-ceo-bd-plan-takeda-us-layoffs-chugai-chase-name-recognition

The pharma industry saw several significant developments. GSK acquired Rapt Therapeutics for $2.2 billion, primarily for a phase 2 food allergy dr-g. Takeda is laying off 243 U.S. neuroscience employees ahead of Trintellix's patent expiry. Pfizer sold its 11.7% stake in ViiV Healthcare to Shionogi for $1.9 billion. Astellas CEO stated the company will not pursue "rescue BD" despite an upcoming patent cliff. Chugai seeks greater name recognition and external partnerships as part of its long-term strategy.

Bending Spoons Reduces Vimeo Workforce After Acquisition

https://sea.mashable.com/tech/41796/vimeo-hit-by-layoffs-after-acquisition

Vimeo recently experienced significant layoffs. This occurred after its acquisition by Bending Spoons. Bending Spoons confirmed the job cuts to TechCrunch. Former employees indicate a large portion of staff was impacted. Bending Spoons is known for acquiring companies and reducing their workforce.

Since the notorious 8/1 email, the stock is down 16%. In just the first month of this year, it’s already down 6%. That’s not volatility or bad luck, it’s sustained value destruction.

Billions lost on bad acquisitions, billions spent on buybacks at higher prices, rising operating costs from rigid RTO and unnecessary real estate, and now plans for even more capital intensive projects. None of it has produced better execution, stronger cash flow, or improved shareholder returns. The market sees it and has rejected it.

RTO didn’t create culture or discipline. It increased costs without creating value. You can’t talk your way into confidence or mandate your way into performance. Investors don’t reward slogans or control. They reward results. And the results, both in stock price and capital efficiency, are undeniable.

Most of us just got laid off. We knew Bending Spoons acquisition would be bad, we just didn't realize how bad it'll be. I'm not worried about my team. They're amazing engineers, everybody should be lucky to have them join their team. But that doesn't make this sting any less. And all for AI everybody hates.

Falling stock prices, increasing memories cost, eroding margin, sunset industry for Print, commodisation of PC biz, AI impact, failed business acquisition. HP is facing unprecident challenge across all front. Past earnings and cashflow putting into buying up own shares and increasing dividend is not working. Endless cost cutting through work force reduction and not investing to improve business is eating the company from within.

Rumours have been increasing on company splitting Print and PC up. CEO and multiple C-suite changes/leaving talks had been circulating wild. Staty tune for more cost cutting and business org change.

With the new frontier acquisition, do you think Verizon will conduct layoffs to be able to support all of the frontier employees?

What do you all think of Mikes email this morning that he won't won't serve as chairman after his term is up? I got to believe that the rest of the board and Ammit wanted it that way. Maybe paving the way for a sale?

Will.we hear anything from Dan?

The Verizon (VZ) and Frontier deal is expected to complete today, January 20, 2026, as Verizon announced it received all necessary regulatory approvals, including the final clearance from California regulators on January 15, 2026, clearing the path for closing. This acquisition combines Frontier's fiber network with Verizon's 5G, expanding fiber access to nearly 30 million locations across 31 states and D.C..

What’s the scuttlebutt on Repsol pricing the veil on Apache to realize that the liabilities far outweigh the assets…Repsol assuming North Sea and gulf of America is committing to a blank check…JC needs to sweat in 2026

Many senior folks like SVP and above left in last few weeks. Even some resigned from Altair acquisition. Whenever sales people jump a boat there is a sign...I know a director they hired a year ago in EDA side and has left as well. What's going on? Any insight is helpful...