October 11, 2016: Euronet Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:EEFT), a leading global electronic payments provider, has completed the acquisition of UK-based ATM operator YourCash Europe Limited. The acquisition includes approximately 5,000 ATMs across the UK, Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland.

With the addition of YourCash, the combined businesses will operate independent ATM networks in 21 European countries. YourCash provides Euronet with additional experience and resources in key Western European markets and a greater access to retailers, particularly in the UK and Netherlands. YourCash will benefit from Euronet’s leading ATM processing capabilities, large-scale operational expertise, additional capital for ATM deployments, as well as a best-in-class technology platform, which will enable more value-added products on their ATMs and diversify the value propositions to their merchant and bank partners.

“YourCash has a management team that shares our vision of bringing financial convenience to customers, and has a proven track record of delivering strong growth in new and existing markets,” said Nikos Fountas, Euronet’s Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer – EFT Europe. “This is a great opportunity to leverage the benefits that each organisation brings to the partnership in order to expand Euronet’s ATM coverage across Europe, create additional value for all of our customers, accelerate revenue growth and achieve market synergies across the businesses.”

Jenny Campbell, CEO and principal shareholder of YourCash, said, “We are excited to join the Euronet family. After years of excellent organic growth and expansion into new markets, we are excited to be able to leverage Euronet’s global scale, value added product portfolio, technology, industry expertise and financial strength to further expand our business.”

YourCash generated approximately £29.0 million in 2015 revenues and is expected to be accretive to Euronet’s Adjusted Cash Earnings per Share by approximately $0.07 – $0.08 in the first full year of operations.

Not including the ATMs of YourCash, Euronet operates nearly 26,000 ATMs across 50 countries and provides services to approximately 185,000 ATMs around the world.

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September 15, 2016: Avis Budget Group, a leading provider of vehicle rental services, announced it has agreed to purchase France Cars, a privately-held vehicle rental company based in France, to significantly expand its presence in the French market. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

This purchase will give Avis Budget Group the second-largest light commercial vehicle fleet in France. It is also a key step in affirming the company’s commitment to the local market, further increasing its ability to serve customers of all sizes, from entrepreneurs to multinationals to leisure travelers. The acquisition will add 8,000 cars, vans and light trucks to the Avis Budget Group fleet and will also add more than 60 locations to the Company’s rental network. France Cars generates vehicle rental revenues of approximately €60 million annually.

Mark Servodidio, President, International, Avis Budget Group, said, “We’re excited to announce our agreement to acquire France Cars.  We are committed to strengthening our presence in the local market, and this acquisition will complement our existing operations in the country. France Cars will bring a strong presence in the French local market business and a leading position in the light commercial vehicle segment.”

This transaction represents continued execution on Avis Budget’s strategy to expand its presence in urban and suburban markets within Europe. Last year, the Company acquired Maggiore Group, Italy’s fourth-largest vehicle rental business.

Thierry Jardin, Chief Executive Officer of France Cars, commented, “We are excited by Avis Budget Group’s commitment to acquire France Cars and are looking forward to working closely together.”

Closing of the acquisition is subject to consultation with France Cars’ employee representatives and customary conditions, including merger control clearance, and is expected to be completed prior to the end of 2016. This acquisition does not affect Avis Budget Group’s previously announced intention to repurchase $350 to $400 million of its stock in 2016.

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But even after the deal is sealed, LinkedIn will continue to function independently

June 14, 2016: Microsoft on Monday announced a $26.2 billion deal to acquire professional networking platform LinkedIn for $196 per share.

The market gave a mixed reaction to the announcement. While shares of LinkedIn surged 47 percent to near $193, Microsoft’s stock was down 3.2 percent.

After the deal was announced, Moody’s Investors Service placed Microsoft’s “AAA” rating under review for downgrade. Standard & Poor’s though, reaffirmed its “AAA” rating, and said it maintains all other ratings and a “stable outlook” on the company.

Jeff Weiner will continue to serve as CEO of LinkedIn and will report to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. The deal is expected to close by the end of the year. The acquisition is subject to approval by LinkedIn shareholders and regulators.

“The LinkedIn team has grown a fantastic business centered on connecting the world’s professionals,” Nadella said in a statement. “Together we can accelerate the growth of LinkedIn, as well as Microsoft Office 365 and Dynamics as we seek to empower every person and organisation on the planet.”

LinkedIn is the world’s largest and most valuable professional network and continues to build a strong and growing business. Over the past year, the company has launched a new version of its mobile app that has led to increased member engagement; enhanced the LinkedIn newsfeed to deliver better business insights; acquired a leading online learning platform called Lynda.com to enter a new market; and rolled out a new version of its Recruiter product to its enterprise customers. These innovations have resulted in increased membership, engagement and financial results.

Weiner said little is expected to change as LinkedIn will continue to operate in the same manner and employees will enjoy the same job titles. “The one exception: For those members of the team whose jobs are entirely focused on maintaining LinkedIn’s status as a publicly traded company, we’ll be helping you find your next play,” Weiner said. “In terms of everything else, it should be business as usual. We have the same mission and vision; we have the same culture and values; and I’m still the CEO of LinkedIn.”

This is Microsoft’s first big acquisition since Nadella took over as the CEO two years ago. “This deal brings together the world’s leading professional cloud with world’s leading professional network,” said Nadella. “We are in pursuit of a common mission centred on empowering people and organisations. The deal is key to our bold ambition to reinvent productivity and business processes.”

Experts feel the deal, though inflated at $26.2 billion, will help Microsoft gain a foothold in the social networking space.

Sanchit Vir Gogia, CEO, Greyhound Research, says, “The deal will help Microsoft compete in the enterprise space and go beyond attracting just CIOs. Majority of LinkedIn buyers are chief human resource, chief marketing officers, and the new IT spend is coming from them. So it makes complete sense.”  Additionally, there is no overlap in terms of product portfolio.

“The deal makes sense for both parties – it gets Microsoft into content,” said an analyst from Gartner.

Microsoft will finance the transaction primarily through the issuance of new debt. Upon closing, Microsoft expects LinkedIn’s financials to be reported as part of Microsoft’s Productivity and Business Processes segment.

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