Kraken’s Strategic Move; Expanding Reach Through BCM Acquisition

Kraken, a prominent player in the cryptocurrency exchange arena, has unveiled plans to bolster its European presence by acquiring Coin Meester BV (BCM) in the Netherlands. Founded in 2017, BCM has become a respected Dutch crypto broker, offering services for staking, buying, and selling over 170 cryptocurrencies with robust local funding rails.
This strategic move will provide BCM clients with access to Kraken’s extensive product offerings, 24/7 live support, top-tier security, and market-leading liquidity. Kraken aims to tap into the Netherlands’ advanced crypto adoption and innovation culture, strengthening its foothold in Europe. While the financial details remain undisclosed, this acquisition has stirred enthusiasm within the Dutch crypto community, anticipating positive developments in the crypto landscape.
Germany’s Delivery Hero takes 5.1% stake in rival Deliveroo

Germany’s Delivery Hero (DHER.DE) has taken a 5.09% stake in online food delivery rival Deliveroo (ROO.L), driving the British company’s share price to its highest since listing on the stock market in March.
AIG to sell life and retirement unit stake to Blackstone, another with IPO

American International Group Inc (AIG.N)plans to use an IPO to sell part of its life and retirement business, while Blackstone Group Inc (BX.N)agreed to buy a sizeable stake, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Boral sells U.S. products business after rejecting Seven bid

Australia’s Boral Ltd (BLD.AX) said it would sell its North American building products business to a unit of NYSE-listed Westlake Chemical Corp (WLK.N) for $2.15 billion, throwing a spanner in the works of a takeover bid by Seven Group (SVW.AX).
Explainer: What’s at stake for markets as U.S. debt ceiling looms

The U.S. debt ceiling comes into effect at the end of July, putting pressure on the Treasury to reduce its cash balance ahead of the deadline. That means more injections of cash into a financial system already awash with liquidity, a scenario that could further sink short-term rates and cause undue distortion in the overnight repurchase market.
Walmart’s Flipkart in talks to raise $3 bln from SoftBank, others – Bloomberg News

Walmart Inc-owned (WMT.N) Indian e-commerce firm Flipkart is in talks to raise at least $3 billion from investors including Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp (9984.T) and several sovereign wealth funds, Bloomberg News reported on Monday.
Ackman reinvents SPAC in Universal Music deal talks

William Ackman’s Pershing Square Tontine Holdings (PSTH.N) said on Friday it was in talks to buy 10% of Universal Music Group at a 35 billion euro ($42 billion) valuation, in a departure from the playbook of special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs).
Italy’s Berlusconi family sells Mediobanca stake

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s family has sold its 2% stake in Mediobanca (MDBI.MI), in the latest change affecting the shareholder base of Italy’s top investment bank.
UK government lowers NatWest stake with $1.5 bln share sale

The British government has completed the sale of 1.1 billion pounds ($1.55 billion) in shares of NatWest (NWG.L), lowering its stake in the lender it bailed out over a decade ago to below 55%.