Merger mania, Brexit trade talks for Christmas, and the Pence assurance tour
Brussels blog 2017-03-12
Summary:
Mega-mergers are once again all the rage – just as protectionist currents are gaining strength. Corporate dealmakers are running headlong into some treacherous politics. Some combustible merger-related battles are already playing out in Europe.
Shortly before Kraft Heinz ditched its $143bn pursuit of Unilever on Sunday, Downing Street desperately thinking of ways to shield the Anglo-Dutch group from the US cost-cutters. EU law would have made that difficult. But the sentiment is clear. Britain’s historic open door is no longer so open.
