- M&A News
M&A News: Global M&A Deals Week of March 17 to 23, 2025
- IMAA
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The Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances (IMAA) provides a detailed weekly roundup of mergers and acquisitions news, highlighting the most significant global M&A deals. This essential update offers a snapshot of the latest movements and trends within the M&A market, showcasing the top transactions that stand out in the corporate world. Through this coverage, IMAA aims to furnish M&A professionals and enthusiasts alike with a comprehensive overview of the week’s M&A activities, helping them stay informed about the evolving landscape of global mergers and acquisitions.
The global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market saw heightened activity from March 17 to March 23, with 590 deals announced, amounting to a total value of USD 83.95 billion. Among these, 25 transactions surpassed USD 500 million each, collectively accounting for USD 74.11 billion—representing 88% of the week’s total deal value.
Topping the list is Google’s USD 32 billion all-cash acquisition of cybersecurity firm Wiz, the largest in the company’s history. This move reinforces Google’s expansion into cloud computing amid the rapid growth of artificial intelligence. The rising demand for AI-driven data centers has intensified competition among Google, Microsoft, and Amazon. Wiz will be integrated into Google Cloud, furthering its investments in two key AI-era trends: strengthening cloud security and expanding multicloud capabilities. Wiz, known for its AI-driven cloud security solutions, has grown rapidly, generating an estimated USD 500 million in annual recurring revenue in 2024.
Other major deals during the week include SoftBank’s USD 6.5 billion acquisition of Ampere Computing and the USD 6.1 billion purchase of the Boston Celtics, led by William Chisholm and Sixth Street Partners.
Week-over-week data reflects an 11% increase in deal volume, rising from 530 to 590 transactions. Total deal value surged by 69%, jumping from USD 49.76 billion to USD 83.95 billion, driven by several multibillion-dollar transactions.
Top 5 M&A Deals for the Week
Here are the top 5 M&A Deals for the week of March 17 to 23, 2025 in detail:
Deal No. 1: Google LLC to Acquire Wiz, Inc. for USD 32.00 Billion
Deal No. 2: SoftBank Group Corp. to Acquire Ampere Computing LLC for USD 6.50 Billion
Deal No. 3: A consortium led by William Chisholm and Sixth Street Partners, LLC to Acquire Boston Celtics for USD 6.10 Billion
Deal No. 4: BlackRock, Inc.; Allianz SE; T&D Holdings, Inc. to Acquire Viridium Holding AG for USD 3.82 Billion
Deal No. 5: Bajaj Finserv Ltd. to Acquire Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company Limited/Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Limited for USD 2.80 Billion
Deal No. 1:
Google LLC to Acquire Wiz, Inc. for USD 32.00 Billion
Google is acquiring cloud security firm Wiz for USD 32 billion in cash, making it the company’s largest acquisition to date. The deal reflects Google’s focus on enhancing its cloud security capabilities as cyber threats grow more sophisticated.
Wiz offers security solutions for cloud environments, including AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, and Kubernetes. Its platform helps organizations detect vulnerabilities and security risks that could expose cloud infrastructure to cyberattacks. Since its launch in 2020, Wiz has grown rapidly, building a strong presence among Fortune 100 companies and becoming a key player in cloud security.
The acquisition is expected to strengthen Google Cloud’s security offerings, particularly as AI-driven cyber threats become more advanced. Once finalized, Wiz will be integrated into Google Cloud, enhancing its multicloud security capabilities and accelerating the adoption of AI-powered cybersecurity solutions. The deal also has the potential to drive greater adoption of multicloud strategies while fostering innovation and competition in cloud computing.
The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
Deal No. 2:
SoftBank Group Corp. to Acquire Ampere Computing LLC for USD 6.50 Billion
SoftBank Group has announced plans to acquire Ampere Computing in an all-cash transaction worth USD 6.5 billion, further expanding its AI infrastructure investments.
Ampere Computing develops energy-efficient, high-performance processors designed for cloud and data center workloads. Its Arm-based server chips offer scalability and lower power consumption, positioning them as an alternative to traditional x86 processors. Major cloud providers, including Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure, rely on Ampere’s technology to support AI, big data, and cloud-native workloads. With backing from investors such as Oracle, the company continues to drive innovation and strengthen its position in the data center market.
This acquisition aligns with SoftBank’s strategy to expand its AI-focused portfolio, which includes ventures like Cristal Intelligence and Stargate. By leveraging Ampere’s expertise, SoftBank seeks to enhance its AI infrastructure capabilities and accelerate growth in the sector.
The transaction is expected to be finalized in the second half of 2025, after which Ampere will become a wholly owned subsidiary while retaining its name.
Deal No. 3:
A consortium led by William Chisholm and Sixth Street Partners, LLC to Acquire Boston Celtics for USD 6.10 Billion
The Boston Celtics, 18-time NBA champions, are being acquired by a consortium led by William Chisholm and private equity firm Sixth Sense Partners for USD 6.1 billion, marking the highest price ever paid for a U.S. professional sports team.
In 2024, the franchise was valued at approximately USD 6 billion, ranking as the fourth-most valuable NBA team. With a strong roster, the Celtics are aiming to win consecutive championships for the first time since 2018. The team currently holds the league’s third-best record and is expected to enter the playoffs as the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed behind the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Chisholm, co-founder of Symphony Technology Group, is a longtime Celtics fan and originally from Massachusetts. The acquisition is also backed by billionaire Robert Hale, a minority stakeholder in the team, Bruce Beal Jr., president of Related Companies, as well as global investment firm Sixth Street.
The Grousbeck family, which has owned the Celtics since purchasing the team for USD 360 million in 2002 alongside partner Steve Pagliuca, had been considering a sale in 2024 or 2025. The transaction represents a substantial return on investment for the ownership group. Despite the change in ownership, Wyc Grousbeck will remain Celtics CEO and Governor, overseeing team operations through the 2027-2028 season.
The sale is pending approval from the NBA Board of Governors and is expected to be finalized in the summer of 2025.
Deal No. 4:
BlackRock, Inc.; Allianz SE; T&D Holdings, Inc. to Acquire Viridium Holding AG for USD 3.82 Billion
A consortium comprising Allianz, BlackRock, and T&D Holdings is set to acquire Viridium Group, a prominent European life insurance consolidation platform, for USD 3.82 billion.
Viridium is Germany’s largest life insurance consolidator and ranks among the top 10 globally. The company manages EUR 67 billion in assets and oversees 3.4 million policies. Following the acquisition, Viridium will continue operating as an independent platform under its current management, maintaining its exclusive focus on consolidating and managing life insurance portfolios while serving as a long-term partner to the European insurance sector.
The transaction is expected to drive growth in the European closed-life market, offering insurers greater flexibility in managing closed-life books. Backed by the consortium’s strong financial resources, Viridium is well-positioned to expand while ensuring long-term stability for both existing and future policyholders.
The consortium’s extensive asset management expertise, spanning various asset classes—including private market strategies—will support Viridium’s ability to generate competitive returns for policyholders while maintaining financial strength. Combined with the consortium’s extensive insurance experience and Viridium’s advanced, scalable IT infrastructure, the company is poised to capitalize on opportunities in Europe’s fragmented life insurance market.
The consortium’s structure also allows for the inclusion of additional long-term financial investors. Ownership is divided among consortium members and financial investors, with T&D Holdings holding the largest stake. Generali Financial Holdings and Hannover Re will continue as investors.
The acquisition is expected to close in the second half of 2025, pending regulatory approvals.
Deal No. 5:
Bajaj Finserv Ltd. to Acquire Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company Limited/Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Limited for USD 2.80 Billion
Bajaj Finserv will acquire Allianz’s 26% stake in their two Indian joint ventures for approximately USD 2.80 billion (INR 2.42 trillion), securing full ownership of Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company (BAGIC) and Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company (BALIC). This transaction marks the conclusion of a 24-year partnership between Bajaj and the German insurer.
BAGIC and BALIC, both subsidiaries of Bajaj Finserv, were established as joint ventures with Allianz SE. BAGIC offers a range of non-life insurance products, including health, motor, home, and commercial insurance, while BALIC specializes in life insurance and investment-linked plans such as term policies, ULIPs, endowment plans, and retirement solutions. Both companies rank among India’s top insurers, leveraging Bajaj Finserv’s extensive market presence and Allianz’s global expertise to develop innovative, technology-driven insurance solutions.
Under the agreement, Bajaj Finserv will acquire approximately 1.01% in each company, while Bajaj Holdings and Investment Ltd will secure a 19.95% stake, and Jamnalal Sons Pvt. Ltd will take 5.04%. Full ownership is expected to enhance value creation for Bajaj shareholders by streamlining decision-making and operations.
For Allianz, India remains a key growth market, and the company plans to explore new opportunities to strengthen its presence, not only as an investor but also as an operator.
The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
This concludes our M&A news coverage of the top global mergers and acquisitions deals for the week of March 17 to 23, 2025. For continuous and detailed insights into the evolving landscape of M&A news, we invite you to follow the Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions, and Alliances (IMAA).
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