In keeping with our mission to provide comprehensive advertising analysis, MediaRadar puts together a report of the most important mergers and acquisitions news each week. Stay in the loop, whether you sell advertising space or focus on business development. 

This week, Microsoft acquired Unified Data Control Access provider BlueTalon, WeWork is in talks to acquire SpaceIQ and EssilorLuxottica continues to expand its dominance over the global eyewear market. 

Microsoft Acquires Key Data Security Player

Amid heightened security concerns over the protection of user data, Microsoft has acquired the Unified Data Control Access solution provider BlueTalon. 

With its plethora of IP experts and talent, BlueTalon will be used by Microsoft’s Azure data management team to advance simplification of its management, analysis and usage of multivariable data across a variety of its platforms.

The combined effort will ideally diminish any problematic security blind spots that may exist on the platform. No details of the completed transaction were made publicly available. 

WeWork Tires to Beef Up Its Tech Credentials 

CNBC is reporting that WeWork is in exclusive talks to acquire the real estate analytics and management software start-up SpaceIQ. 

With an eye toward a potential IPO announcement, WeWork is hoping to convince weary Wall Street investors it is a viable technology company. Its official debut set for September. 

While WeWork was last valued at an estimated $36 billion, investors are still skeptical of high cash-burning companies that raise billions mostly through private capital. Nonetheless, SpaceIQ’s addition in WeWork’s expanding portfolio fits into their larger mission to convince such skeptics while growing its own portfolio of accounts.  

EssilorLuxottica Expands Again

Formed in a merger deal between Essilor and Luxottica last year, the company is looking to expand its reach again. 

It will acquire Netherlands-based eye-care retailer GrandVision NV in a deal that values the smaller company at as much as $8 billion. 

With the acquisition, European eye-wear chains like Vision Express will officially be brought into the same family as notable brands Ray-Ban, Lenscrafters, and Pearle Vision.

 While the deal is a play to cement EssilorLuxottica’s place as the global leader, it is not without complications. It is almost inevitable that the deal will face fierce scrutiny from regulators; the multi-billion dollar EssilorLuxottica merger itself was only approved after a protracted legal fight. 

In Other News

• FIS Global has officially acquired the global payments leader Worldpay, Inc. in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $43 billion, establishing one of the world leaders in payment solutions. 

• Pfizer has officially announced the completion of its acquisition of the pharmaceutical company Array BioPharma, Inc. 

• The Ferrero Group has officially completed its acquisition of much of Kellog’s snacking business. Some of the brands acquired include Murray’s, Keebler and Famous Amos, greatly feeding into Ferrero’s growing North American presence.  

• Fiserv Inc. has completed its $22 billion all-stock acquisition of First Data Corporation. Fiserv is a provider of back-end processing for banks and other financial organizations, while First Data is a leader in point-of-sale transactions. 

• Fox Restaurant Concepts is being acquired by The Cheesecake Factory in a deal worth $353 million. The restaurant group owns 45 restaurants under theCulinary Dropout, Blanco, North Italia, Flower Child, and The Henry brands.  

• According to sources, Pfizer is engaged in ongoing discussions to merge it’s off-patent drugs business with global generic and specialty pharmaceuticals company Mylan.