Mergers and Acquisitions

Businesses spent $1.74 trillion on mergers and acquisitions involving U.S. companies during the first six months of the year—the highest amount in more than four decades—as finance chiefs tapped into cheap funding options to acquire technologies, services and other assets.

U.S. equity markets battled higher Thursday and oil hit its highest level in almost three years as the second half of the year got underway.

Efforts to defend Duke Energy from a proxy campaign led by billionaire Paul Singer have recently taken two quiet steps backwards.

Beachbody Company Inc. swung between gains and losses Monday after going public through a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC.

Shapewear giant Spanx has reportedly put out feelers over the prospect of selling, according to a report from The New York Times.

The Federal Trade Commission on Friday ordered 7-Eleven to sell over 200 retail outlets following its $21 billion acquisition of the Speedway fuel chain from Marathon Petroleum.

The Federal Trade Commission will be the agency to review Amazon. com Inc.’s proposed acquisition of Hollywood studio MGM, according to people familiar with the matter, just as the commission gets a new chairwoman who has been critical of the online giant’s expansion.

Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has agreed to buy 10% of Universal Music Group for about $4 billion.

U.S. equity markets were pressured Friday as the Fed signaled rate hikes could come as early as next year.

Private-equity firm Platinum Equity has struck a deal to buy McGraw Hill from Apollo Global Management Inc., according to people familiar with the matter.

Brazil's digital bank operator Nu Pagamentos SA said Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

The U.S. Senate passed a bill on Tuesday that would increase fees that companies planning the biggest mergers pay to government antitrust agencies and give those agencies bigger budgets.

Staples said on Friday it had offered to buy Office Depot owner ODP Corp's consumer business for $1 billion, the latest effort by the office supplies retailer to acquire its rival's assets.

Etsy Inc. said on Wednesday it would buy Generation-Z focused fashion resale company Depop for $1.63 billion, seeking to attract younger shoppers and bolster its position in a booming market in vintage or used clothing.

Anoka, Minnesota-based Vista Outdoor is acquiring the hunting athletic-wear brand, Venor, which focuses on clothing for women; will also take ownership of electric bike company QuietKat, which designs and manufactures e-bikes meant for outdoor sports, such as camping, hunting and fishing.

Amazon's purchase of MGM is the company's second-largest acquisition after Whole Foods.