The top 3 stories from today's briefing, narrated as a short audio episode.
Sign up free to listen. The briefing notes below are free to read.
Briefing Notes
M&A
BT/TalkTalk Public Interest Inquiry Enters Critical Phase as CMA Pre-Emptive Order Takes Effect and Secretary of State Deadline Looms
Invoking a new statutory public interest ground mid-deal signals government intent to expand its telecoms intervention toolkit permanently.
M&A
Skadden, A&O Shearman and Davis Polk Advise on Approximately $8.9 Billion Boots Group Acquisition
Three elite firms on a single $8.9bn re-sale within a year of acquisition signals private equity is cycling UK retail assets faster than ever.
Capital Markets
Airtel Money Prices Shares at £1.96 in London IPO Expected to Value Mobile Payments Firm at £5.3 Billion
London's biggest IPO in five years tests whether UK markets can compete for global listings.
Capital Markets
Nvidia-Backed AI Data Centre Firm Firmus Scraps Planned $30 Billion-Plus Australian IPO, Citing Market Volatility
Institutional investors pricing AI infrastructure at a 65% discount to the IPO ask is a structural correction, not a market blip.
M&A
CMA Considers Brink's Divestment Undertakings for NCR Atleos Acquisition as Phase 1 Deadline Nears
Remedies discussions at Phase 1 can avoid a full Phase 2 referral.
Disputes
Adidas Sues Australian Label White Fox in Federal Court Over Four-Stripe Design Alleged to Infringe Three-Stripe Trademark
Evidence of post-filing digital alteration of product images could transform a trademark claim into a contempt or spoliation issue.
International
Davis Polk Hires Skadden's Global Media Deals Chief to Build Out New Los Angeles Office
Davis Polk is building a full-service LA office by systematically extracting Skadden's top media dealmakers.
Regulation
CMA Subsidy Advice Unit Accepts Two New Referrals Covering North East Infrastructure Subsidy and Government EV Charging Scheme
The SAU is the UK's post-Brexit gatekeeper for public subsidy, its reach is expanding fast.