Ed Hammond

Bloomberg News

In Gloomy Deal Arbitrage, a Rare Bright Spot Emerges

By: Ed Hammond

Emerson Electric’s pursuit of National Instruments could brighten the prospects for those who bet on mergers.

Bloomberg News

Illumina CEO’s Grail Hunt Runs Into a Quagmire

By: Ed Hammond

Francis deSouza has been fighting regulators and shareholders for three years to hold on to a flawed deal. How much longer can that last?

Bloomberg News

Another Crack at Chamath Palihapitiya’s Letter to SPAC Investors

By: Ed Hammond

The promoter of now-spiraling blank-check companies missed a golden opportunity.

Bloomberg News

Drugmakers Forced to Pay Up for R&D Neglect

By: Ed Hammond

With patents expiring and few new products in the pipeline, big US companies are having to acquire their way out of trouble with large premiums.

Bloomberg News

Scary Activist Investors Aren’t That Scary Anymore

By: Ed Hammond

Shareholder agitators have been leaning more on their reputations lately than on any concrete actions.

Bloomberg News

UK’s Antitrust Regulator Threatens Innovation and M&A

By: Ed Hammond

The Competition and Markets Authority’s coming decision on Microsoft’s takeover of Activision Blizzard has the power to kill several deals and distort competition.

Bloomberg News

Economic Reality and Antitrust Theory Paralyze M&A

By: Ed Hammond

Dealmakers need to have a handle on today and optimism about tomorrow. Right now they have neither.

Bloomberg News

Icahn the Hunter Has Become the Hunted

By: Ed Hammond

A short seller’s attack on the activist investor’s company could weaken him for future offensives.

Bloomberg News

A SPAC Might Make Sense Now If Not for the Carnage

By: Ed Hammond

The market dynamics exist for blank-check companies, but private businesses and investors are skeptical after the excess of the last few years.

Bloomberg News

US Needs More Bank M&A. Somebody Pick Up the Phone.

By: Ed Hammond

Deal activity among regional lenders has been lackluster in large part because of so-called social issues. Put more simply, few want to give up control.