Nippon Steel – U.S. Steel
Japan's Nippon Steel is pushing ahead with its $15 billion bid for full ownership of United States Steel, despite earlier roadblocks from the Biden administration. With the Trump White House reopening the national security review and a decision due by June 5, Nippon has upped the ante: a massive $14 billion investment plan, including a $4 billion mill, aims to woo regulators and align with Trump's industrial agenda. The company insists only full ownership - not a joint venture - will allow it to transfer core technology and strengthen the iconic American brand.

Levi Strauss – Authentic Brands Group
Levi Strauss is parting ways with Dockers, selling the khaki-clad legacy brand to Authentic Brands Group for $311 million, plus a potential $80 million in performance-based payments. For Levi's, this is a strategic wardrobe edit - trimming the fat to focus on its denim DNA - while ABG continues its relentless shopping spree, scooping up familiar names to expand its licensing empire.

Paramount Global – Skydance Media
The planned $8.4 billion merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media is taking on the feel of a political thriller. A $20 billion lawsuit from President Trump against CBS News has triggered scrutiny from lawmakers, with some questioning whether efforts to settle the case could amount to bribery aimed at smoothing the merger's path through the FCC. As newsroom leaders resign and editorial independence comes under fire, the future of the deal - and the media conglomerate itself - hangs in the balance.

Daimler Truck – Volvo
In Europe, Daimler Truck and Volvo have been given the green light by the European Commission to form a joint venture focused on developing next-generation software-defined platforms for commercial vehicles. While the deal sailed through under a simplified review, the implications are anything but small - pointing toward a digital-first future for heavy-duty transport across the continent.

GoTo – Grab (Proposed)
Indonesia's streets echoed with protests this week as drivers opposed a rumored merger between local tech heavyweight GoTo and rival Grab. While neither company has confirmed a deal, drivers fear layoffs, lower commissions, and monopolistic pricing. With ride-hailing deeply embedded in Southeast Asia's urban life, any merger would be transformative - but it may first need to clear a wall of grassroots resistance.

LondonMetric – LXi REIT
Fresh off its merger with LXi REIT, LondonMetric Property reported a near-tripling of annual profits. The integration brought £3 billion in assets under one roof, boosting revenue and driving a logistics-focused expansion strategy. With the portfolio now valued at £6 billion - and growing - LondonMetric is positioning itself as a heavyweight in urban warehousing, where rental growth looks poised to outpace traditional sectors.

PepsiCo – Poppi
PepsiCo has uncapped a $1.95 billion deal to acquire Poppi, the prebiotic soda brand that's been bubbling up in the functional beverage space. With wellness trends reshaping consumer tastes, the move lets Pepsi tap into a health-forward niche. The deal also includes $300 million in tax benefits and a performance-based earnout, giving this fizzy transaction a solid financial base.

TransDigm – Servotronics
TransDigm is adding Servotronics to its portfolio in a $110 million all-cash deal, continuing its strategy of acquiring niche aerospace suppliers with strong margins. At $38.50 per share, the acquisition tightens TransDigm's grip on the components market - an area where reliability, IP, and long-term defense contracts offer stable growth even in turbulent skies.

BT – Warner Bros Discovery
BT Group is nearing the finish line in a deal to sell its 50% stake in TNT Sports to Warner Bros Discovery. The divestiture is part of BT's broader retreat from international markets and comes amid a sweeping reorganization that could eventually see its non-UK operations sold or merged. For Warner, the acquisition consolidates its sports media footprint and clears the field for expanded streaming play.

Marfrig – BRF
Brazilian protein powerhouses Marfrig and BRF are joining forces in a long-anticipated merger that will create MBRF, a diversified meat giant with ambitions to list in the U.S. Marfrig already owned over 50% of BRF and is now offering a share swap to scoop up the rest. The deal promises nearly $142 million in annual synergies and positions the new entity as a serious global contender, especially as competitors like JBS eye international markets.

Charter Communications – Cox Communications
In a blockbuster $34.5 billion deal, Charter Communications is acquiring Cox Communications, rebranding the combined company under the Cox name while retaining Charter's Spectrum as its consumer-facing label. The merger creates a formidable player in broadband and cable - one big enough to rival Comcast - with the added political flourish of repatriating customer service jobs and promising cost savings of $500 million within three years.

Verizon – Frontier Communications
Verizon has sealed its $20 billion acquisition of Frontier Communications following FCC approval, marking one of the most significant infrastructure deals of the year. The telecom giant will replace Frontier's aging copper networks with new fiber lines across 25 states. In a move that stirred controversy, Verizon agreed to drop its DEI programs during the review process, highlighting the politicized terrain of big telecom mergers in 2025.