Insights | Meridian Research Group | Page 7

Mergers & Acquisitions

The companies are due to file HSR on October 28. The MA contains a provision that if the filing deadline falls on a date that the Premerger Notification Office (PNO) is not accepting filings, the HSR deadline will be extended to the business day after the PNO begins accepting filings again. While the PNO remains open during the government...

Mergers & Acquisitions

The transaction received a second request from the FTC on September 17. There is substantial risk this deal could be challenged by the FTC. According to industry participants (who are not involved in the deal) 365 Retail (365) and Cantaloupe are the largest players in three unattended retail market segments: micro-markets, smart markets, and...

Tech / Media / Telecom

AI/Semiconductors

While the Commerce Department recently tightened some pre-existing restrictions on chip sales to China, Trump’s more general policy has been to allow for sales of advanced chips (e.g., sales of Nvidia H20 to China and Gulf nations, comments suggesting openness to selling China the more advanced Blackwell chip.) This has generated concern among...

This morning, Secretary Bessent said there was substantial communication with the Chinese over the weekend to resolve the escalation in tensions the emerged on Friday. He also said that he still expects Presidents Trump and Xi to meet at the end of this month in South Korea. And, in the wake of his tariff escalation on Friday, Trump yesterday...

Government Shutdown

President Trump ordered DOD to pay U.S. troops this week, which eliminates a catalyst for resolving the current government shutdown. At this point, there is no indication either side feels significant pressure to concede. Democrats continue to insist that an extension of enhanced ACA subsidies gets resolved before they will support a “continuing...

Trump/Pulte Housing Supply Comments, GSE Policy, Regulatory Reforms

President Trump posted earlier this week that he feels homebuilders are not building a sufficient volume of housing, despite having been permitted for 2m lots, and that he’s asking the GSEs to “get [Big Homebuilders] going.” FHFA Director Pulte echoed Trump’s complaint about homebuilders and said the GSEs will “do just that.” Trump/Pulte’s...