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Kroger, Albertsons need more time to close on $25bn proposed merger.??

Italy clears Telecom Italia’s €22bn grid sale to KKR.

BlackRock to acquire Global Infrastructure Partners for $12.5bn.?

GIP eyeing up to 49% stake in Malaysian port operator, could value MMC Port at $6bn.

EQT and KKR are among suitors for $5bn Broadcom asset.?

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Kroger, Albertsons need more time to close on $25bn proposed merger.?

Grocers Kroger and Albertsons plan to close the proposed $24.6bn merger in the first half of Kroger's fiscal 2024 instead of early 2024,?Reuters?reported.

The merger, first announced in October 2022, has drawn the ire of US lawmakers and an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission due to antitrust concerns, with worries piling up that the deal would lead to higher prices for consumers, store closures and loss of jobs.

Kroger is advised by 花旗 (led by Brian J. Anton, CPA ?and David Finkelstein ), 富国银行 , Arnold & Porter and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP (led by Michael J. Aiello , Megan Pendleton , Jeffrey Osterman ?and? Sachin Kohli ) and Joele Frank . Cerberus Capital is advised by Dechert LLP (led by Eric Siegel ?and Mark Thierfelder ) and FGS Global (led by Devin Broda ?and Andrew Cole). Albertsons is advised by 瑞信 , 高盛 (led by?Timothy Ingrassia), Debevoise & Plimpton (led by Ted Hassi ), Fried Frank (led by Philip Richter ), Jenner & Block , Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz (led by Zachary Podolsky?and Adam Emmerich ), White & Case LLP (led by George Paul ), 博然思维集团 . Financial Advisers are advised by Alston & Bird (led by Stuart Rogers ), Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP (led by?Robert Townsend?and Sanjay Murti ) and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (led by Phillip Mills ?and Cheryl Chan ).

Italy clears Telecom Italia’s €22bn grid sale to KKR.?

Italy has cleared the blockbuster €22bn ($23.9bn) sale of TIM ’s landline grid to KKR . After a review process on an asset deemed to be of strategic value to the state,?Bloomberg?reported.

Telecom Italia shares roses as much as 3% in early trading in Milan, giving the company a market value of €6.3bn.

KKR is advised by 花旗 , J.P. 摩根 , LionTree (led by Jake Donavan ), 摩根士丹利 (led by Dominique Cahu ?and Nicola Savoini ), 瑞银集团 , Clifford Chance (led by Jan-Hendrik Horsmeier ), 富而德律师事务所 (led by Michael Hilton and Nicola Asti ) and Community Group (led by? Pasquo Cicchini ). Telecom Italia is advised by 高盛 (led by?Francesco Pascuzzi), UniCredit (led by Andrea Petruzzello ), VITALE (led by Orlando Barucci ), Gatti Pavesi Bianchi Ludovici (led by?Francesco Gatti) and Community Group (led by? Auro Palomba ). Financial Advisers are advised by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (led by Stephen Kotran ). CDP Equity is advised by Chiomenti (led by Filippo Modulo ?and?Marco Maugeri).

BlackRock to acquire Global Infrastructure Partners for $12.5bn. (FS)

BlackRock, an American multinational investment company, agreed to acquire Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), an independent infrastructure fund manager, for $12.5bn.

"Infrastructure is one of the most exciting long-term investment opportunities, as a number of structural shifts re-shape the global economy. We believe the expansion of both physical and digital infrastructure will continue to accelerate, as governments prioritize self-sufficiency and security through increased domestic industrial capacity, energy independence, and onshoring or near-shoring of critical sectors. Policymakers are only just beginning to implement once-in-a-generation financial incentives for new infrastructure technologies and projects," Larry D.Fink, BlackRock Chairman and CEO.

Global Infrastructure Partners is advised by Evercore. Debevoise & Plimpton and Kirkland & Ellis (led by Lavon-Krein Daniel and Christopher M. Gandia ). BlackRock is advised by Perella Weinberg, Fried Frank and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates (led by David Hepp and Brian V. Breheny ).

GIP eyeing up to 49% stake in Malaysian port operator, could value MMC Port at $6bn.?

Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) is in talks to buy up to a 49% stake in MMC Port Holdings Sdn Bhd in a deal potentially valuing Malaysia's biggest port operator at around MYR30bn ($6.4bn),?Reuters?reported.?

The infrastructure investor has begun seeking financing for the potential acquisition of a stake in MMC Port, part of the MMC conglomerate controlled by Malaysian tycoon Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary.?

EQT and KKR are among suitors for $5bn Broadcom asset. (FS)

EQT Group and KKR are among private equity firms interested in acquiring a software business being sold by Broadcom in the wake of its takeover of VMware, Bloomberg reported.

Thoma Bravo has also been studying a possible bid for the so-called end-user computing unit. The business, which provides software enabling users to access desktops and applications remotely, could be valued at roughly $5bn including debt.

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