Rappler's latest stories on acquisition
PCC speeds up review of qualified deals by 15 days
The Philippine Competition Commission will fast-track the review process for certain transactions starting July 2

Facebook has plans to acquire a cybersecurity company – report
Following the breach that exposed 29 million users, Facebook attempts to shore up its online defenses
Landbank offers Philippine Stock Exchange P472M for PDSHC stake
The state-run bank takes another stab at gaining control of the country's bond trading market

Razer planning to acquire online currency firm MOL Global
The merger, says Razer CEO Min Liang-Tan, would create 'one of the largest virtual credits platforms for gamers in the world'

Foxconn subsidiary to buy Belkin International for $866 million
FIT Hon Teng says its merger with Belkin will give it access to the company's sales networks, technology, and production capabilities, along with more than 700 patents.

Gokongwei-led RRHI acquiring Rustan’s supermarket chain
Robinsons Retail Holdings announces a P18-billion share swap deal to purchase the grocery chain operator from the Dairy Farm Group

Navy frigates: Rejected Dutch supplier writes to Alejano
Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano says the letter also confirms how Hyundai Heavy Industries employed the 'bait and switch' stratey to win the bid. It offered known and top caliber systems – including Tacticos – but later switched to cheaper systems.

Empedrad OK'd controversial provision in frigates deal
New Philippine Navy chief Rear Admiral Robert Empedrad says it was a collegial decision of the Technical Working Group to give the shipbuilder 'sole right' to choose makers of the subsystems of the frigates

Mercado: Navy did not approve Hanwha Systems as 'substitute'
Ousted Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Ronald Mercado said it was the joint venture company Hanwha Thales that was subjected to post-qualification assessment before the contract was awarded to Hyundai Heavy Industries

Lorenzana: Frigates mess former Navy chief Mercado's fault
The defense chief pins the blame on the Navy officer he sacked, insisting that Mercado did not follow the law, usurped powers, and failed to follow commands

PH Competition Commission doubles threshold for review of mergers
With inflation going up, the country's antitrust body adjusts the threshold for reviewing merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions to P2 billion, from P1 billion

Ayala Corp acquires U.S.-based solar tech firm
Ayala's AC Industrials now has a controlling stake in Merlin Solar Technologies, with plans to establish manufacturing facilities in the Philippines in the future

Senate probe exposes root of frigates deal mess
(UPDATED) Senators fail to probe deeper into why the defense department and the Navy did not come to a compromise

5 nagging questions after the Senate frigates probe
If the innocence of Bong Go depended on a vote among the warm bodies inside the Senate compound, he would have won hands down. But the probe failed to pursue questions that would have given more light on the frigates issue.
PH Competition Commission eyes raising threshold for merger review
The country's antitrust body is reviewing its existing P1-billion threshold, taking into account that inflation hit a 3-year high last January

Qualcomm boosts bid for NXP as it fends off bid from Broadcom
By moving closer to a tie-up with NXP, Qualcomm could make it more difficult for Broadcom, which is pressing ahead with a record $121 billion offer despite opposition from Qualcomm's board

Rappler statement on Bong Go's 'fake news' accusation
Is 'fake news' the new defense of public officials against public scrutiny?

Manila Water expands into Thailand
The Ayala-led water distributor takes an 18.72% stake in Thailand's East Water which holds concession contracts to operate in 11 locations


DOCUMENTS: How Bong Go is linked thrice to frigates deal
The big-ticket modernization project of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is embroiled in controversy following the ouster of former Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Ronald Mercado in December 2017

TIMELINE: PH Navy's P15.7-B frigates acquisition project
The problem begins during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, after the P15.7-billion deal was signed in October 2016

Jollibee takes bigger bite out of U.S.-based Smashburger
The homegrown fast-food giant will acquire an additional 45% stake in the American burger chain for $100 million

Ousted PH Navy chief welcomes transparent frigates probe
'The hearing will shed answers and more information on the Frigates Acquisition Project,' says former Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Ronald Mercado

Combat Management System not the only issue in frigates deal – ousted Navy chief
Vice Admiral Ronald Mercado maintains that Thales is the technology preferred by many navies around the world

Cancel P15.5-B project to acquire warships for PH Navy – Alejano
'By all means, we should cancel the frigate project contract before it is too late,' says Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano

San Miguel buys Masinloc coal power plant for nearly $2 billion
San Miguel Corporation tops other major power players in the Philippines for the facility, which has an installed capacity of 630 megawatts and is set to add another 300 by mid-2019

Blockbuster: Disney to buy 21st Century Fox assets for $52.4 billion
The deal poses a challenge to Netflix and other emerging platforms

Robinsons Retail invests in BeautyMNL operator
The Gokongwei-led firm takes a 20% stake in the operator of the e-commerce site for an undisclosed amount

U.S. drugstore chain CVS to buy medical insurer Aetna for $69B
The merger between CVS and Aetna comes amid rising medical costs for many citizens and employers, including prescription medicines

U.S. sues to block $85-B AT&T-Time Warner merger
'This merger would greatly harm American consumers,' says Makan Delrahim, head of the US Justice Department's antitrust division

Dennis Uy's Phoenix Petroleum inks deal to buy FamilyMart
The planned acquisition of FamilyMart's Philippine franchise from Ayala Land and the SSI Group would mark Phoenix Petroleum's entry into the fast-growing domestic convenience retail market

Lacson questions DPWH budget for right-of-way acquisitions
'Clearly the pattern shows that the bloated budget for [right-of-way acquisitions] is the biggest source of insertions and realignments being made by legislators,' says Senator Panfilo Lacson

Google to buy part of Taiwan smartphone maker HTC for $1.1B
(UPDATED) The agreement will give Google more control of its mobile handset hardware as it seeks to bolster its presence in a market dominated by Apple and Samsung

After 2GO, SM group not looking to buy other logistics firms
The president of SM Investments Corporation says their plate is 'full' when it comes to the logistics sector

Jollibee eyeing British food chain Pret a Manger – report
Jollibee is reportedly in talks for a possible $1-billon takeover of British sandwich chain Pret a Manger

After 2 hearings, Mariano not worried about fate at CA
Wala po talaga akong nararamdamang kaba o pag aalala says Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano after facing the Commission on Appointments for the second time

PSE plans to offer more shares to bring PDS merger closer
The operator of the country’s stock exchange also announces a net income drop of 7 to P345 15 million for the 1st half of this year

Phoenix Petroleum seeks $126-M acquisition of Petronas Energy, Duta
Before acquiring the two firms Phoenix Petroleum must secure the approval of the Philippine Competition Commission

MVP group still keen on GMA-7 stake
We are open anytime but the offer must be acceptable to us says Manuel V Pangilinan

Global Business Power to acquire 50% stake in Alsons
Through its deal with the Alsons group Global Business Power will now reach the Mindanao market

How SM Investments acquired stake in 2GO
The Sy led conglomerate acquires a 34 5 stake in 2GO s parent company for 124 50 million

Apple, Google, Amazon looking to acquire Toshiba's memory chip unit – report
Toshiba is the world s number two supplier of memory chips for smartphones and computers behind South Korea s Samsung

VR guru Palmer Luckey leaves Facebook
The co founder of Oculus Facebook s VR acquisition in 2014 is out of the company

Jollibee craves for more stake in Smashburger
Acquiring more stake in Smashburger will allow Jollibee to take advantage of Americans increasing appetite for upmarket fast food chains

Ayala Corp takes 43.3% stake in Zalora PH
This acquisition is part of Ayala s strategy to invest in innovative businesses especially in the digital space

PCC: P1B threshold stays for reviewing mergers, acquisitions
The Philippine Competition Commission says the country s threshold is reasonable and similar to those in economies of comparable size

Kraft Heinz withdraws $143B takeover bid for Unilever
Strong resistance from Unilever reportedly persuades Kraft Heinz to back out

MVP open to reviving talks with GMA
Manuel V Pangilinan reacts to GMA Network s major shareholders pronouncement that they are open to selling their shares at the right price

Gozon open to sell GMA's controlling stake in 2017
The GMA Network chief says his camp and the Duavit and Jimenez groups are willing to sell all their shares if the price is right

Asahi says paying $7.7B for AB InBev's eastern European business
The takeover – also the largest by a Japanese beer company – includes popular Czech beer Pilsner Urquell and other businesses in Hungary Poland Romania and Slovakia
