All entries located in Brussels Capital (Belgium), newest first. tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:en:en/regions/brussels-capital 2026-09-03T06:00:00Z Eurotrack tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:627d6d2a:en 2026-09-03T06:00:00Z

Belgium's Volkswagen Group importer D'Ieteren Automotive presented its works council on 3 September 2026 with a 2026–2030 strategic transformation plan that could cost up to 344 jobs (around 12% of the workforce according to trade press); several sites could close and functions be merged. This opened the consultation under Belgium's 'Renault law' — the cuts are an intention, not yet a decided plan; a follow-up meeting with the unions was scheduled for 11 September 2026. The company cites electrification, digitalisation/AI, tougher competition and new-car sales that have declined since the pandemic; the business model is to shift from new-car sales to mobility services (La Libre, Transportmedia, 3 September 2026). — Source: https://www.moniteurautomobile.be/actu-auto/economie/dieteren.html

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:69714bb9:en 2026-07-23T06:00:00Z

On 23 July 2026 the European Commission unconditionally cleared the acquisition of sole control over Electronic Arts by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund PIF (together with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners) under the EU Merger Regulation. Given the limited overlaps in the markets concerned, the Commission found no competition concerns and reviewed the $55bn deal under the normal procedure. The transaction still requires approvals in the United States before it can close. Second source: Euronext news feed (Reuters syndication). UPDATE (30 July 2026): With clearance from the US CFIUS review, Electronic Arts says all required approvals are now in place; completion is scheduled for 4 August 2026 after market close (source: Variety). Update (4 August 2026): Completion has taken place — Electronic Arts announced the closing of the takeover by the consortium of PIF, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. Shareholders receive $210 per share, the EA share was delisted from Nasdaq, and the company is now privately held (source: EA Newsroom). — Sources: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/saudi-arabia-s-polarising-ea-buyout-approved-under-eu-merger-rules · https://www.ea.com/news/ea-announces-completion-of-acquisition

tag:eurotrack.ai,2026:e2a1949b:en 2026-07-22T06:00:00Z

On 22 July 2026 the European Commission granted conditional clearance for Paramount Skydance's takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery: Paramount must divest its EEA stake in the theatrical distribution joint venture United International Pictures (with Universal) within 13 months and may not enter new distribution agreements with Universal for ten years; the Commission found sufficient competition in production and streaming. The deal also covers European TV assets such as Warner's Polish TVN Group. Background: Paramount prevailed after nine offers in a bidding war — Netflix's $83bn acquisition agreed in December 2025 collapsed after the WBD board deemed Paramount's cash offer superior on 26 February 2026 and Netflix withdrew; WBD shareholders approved in April and US antitrust clearance (DOJ) followed in May. Still open are, among other things, a lawsuit by 12 US states (hearing 3 August); from 30 September a 'ticking fee' of around $7m per day applies. Second source: Reuters/US News. Update (24 July 2026): Paramount and the twelve suing US states agreed to cancel the preliminary-injunction hearing scheduled for 3 August. In exchange Paramount is suspending completion of the acquisition until June 2027 — or five days after a ruling, whichever comes first. A joint statement on the timetable for the main proceedings is due by 31 July; Paramount is pushing for a November 2026 trial date, while the states had proposed April 2027. The closing horizon therefore effectively moves into 2027. Update (4 August 2026): Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín (U.S. District Court, Northern District of California) set the trial date in the antitrust case — neither Paramount's preferred November 2026 nor the plaintiffs' proposed April 2027: the trial starts on 2 March 2027 and is scheduled for twelve court days ending no later than 19 March 2027, with written closing briefs due by 5 April 2027. The suit by twelve US states is led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Update (6 Aug 2026): The UK Competition and Markets Authority cleared the acquisition unconditionally, and the UK government (DCMS) declined to issue a public interest intervention notice. That removes one of the last major regulatory hurdles — the parties report clearances in 66 further jurisdictions. The US antitrust case brought by twelve states (trial starting 2 March 2027) is unaffected. Update (21 Sept 2026): The twelve plaintiff US states led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta reached a settlement with Paramount and are dropping their antitrust lawsuit; the Writers Guild also settled its suit. Paramount commits, among other things, to 30 theatrical films a year and an independent editorial board for CBS News and CNN (within 180 days of closing). WBD CEO David Zaslav expects the deal to close no later than early October 2026; the trial scheduled for March 2027 is thus off (CNN, 21 Sept 2026: https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/21/media/paramount-wbd-settlement-cnn-ellison-bonta-lawsuit). Update (30 Sep 2026): A California federal judge formally approved the settlement with the states, removing the last hurdle; according to a joint statement the takeover is expected to close on 6 October 2026, with Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz joining as co-CEO alongside David Ellison from 5 October (NBC News, 30 Sep 2026). Update (06.10.2026): Paramount has completed its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery; WBD shareholders receive about $31.02 per share in cash. The combined group is named Skydance Corporation, trades on the NYSE under the ticker SKYD and is targeting annual run-rate synergies of more than $6bn within three years (Paramount, press release filed with the SEC, 06.10.2026). Update (06.10.2026): Poland's Ministry of State Assets has opened an administrative procedure after closing to examine whether Paramount Skydance's indirect control of broadcaster TVN threatens public order or security; TVN has been on the list of state-protected companies since December 2024. The authority has 90 days from receipt of the notification; at worst it can bar the exercise of voting rights, and an order to sell the shares is also on the table (Rzeczpospolita, 06.10.2026; Bankier.pl, 06.10.2026). — Sources: https://www.clickorlando.com/business/2026/07/22/european-union-gives-its-greenlight-to-paramount-and-warners-mega-merger-with-some-conditions/ · https://www.nbcnews.com/business/media/judge-allows-paramount-close-110-billion-takeover-warner-bros-discover-rcna600780 · https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0002041610/000110465926113913/tm2626659d7_ex99-1.htm · https://www.rp.pl/polityka/art45262541-rzad-przeswietli-przejecie-tvn-przez-paramount-skydance-w-grze-nakaz-sprzedazy-akcji · https://www.bankier.pl/wiadomosc/Minister-Aktywow-Panstwowych-zajmie-sie-przejeciem-TVN-przez-grupe-Paramount-Skydance-9208480.html