Ricoh USA bought AV technology supplier Cenero with the aim of expanding its hybrid workplace offerings and “collaborative meeting experiences for on-premises and remote employees alike," said the buyer Wednesday. The acquisition “will help Ricoh support its customers with their growing number of offices, meeting rooms, and learning spaces that are quickly being modified to support hybrid working and learning models,” it said. Cenero’s team will report to Ricoh North America, it said. Transaction terms weren’t disclosed.

Google closed on its $5.4 billion buy of cybersecurity platform Mandiant in an all-cash deal (see 2203080002), said the buyer Monday. It will incorporate Mandiant into Google Cloud and keep the Mandiant brand, it said. Combining Google Cloud’s existing security portfolio with Mandiant’s cyberthreat intelligence “will allow us to deliver a security operations suite to help enterprises globally stay protected at every stage of the security lifecycle,” blogged Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian Monday.

Amazon and One Medical each received a “second request” Friday from the FTC for “additional information and documentary materials” in connection with the agency’s review of Amazon’s proposed $3.9 billion telehealth company buy (see 2207210003), said One Medical in an 8-K filing at the SEC. The FTC’s request extends the Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period until 30 days after the companies comply with it, unless the agency terminates the waiting period sooner, said the filing. Amazon and One Medical “expect to promptly respond” to the FTC and to continue “to work cooperatively” with the agency in its review of the transaction, it said. One Medical scheduled a Sept. 22 virtual special meeting for shareholders to vote on the proposed Amazon buy.

NortonLifeLock now expects its acquisition of Czech digital security and privacy company Avast to close Sept. 12, the buyer Friday. The August 2021 transaction cleared one of its last major hurdles when U.K. regulators issued their report approving the deal, it said.

Nielsen got shareholder approval for a private equity consortium of Evergreen Coast Capital and Brookfield Business Partners to buy the company for $16 billion in an all-cash deal, it said Thursday. The transaction is expected to close next month, said Nielsen. When it does, Nielsen will become a private company, and its shares will no longer be traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

Microsoft’s $68.7 billion Activision Blizzard buy (see 2201180009) is still “most likely” to close in Microsoft’s fiscal year ending in June, though, “as we said from the outset, this is a long process,” said Activision CEO Bobby Kotick in an open letter to employees Thursday. The deal got regulatory approvals in “a couple of countries,” and the process with all the regulators “is generally moving along as we expected,” he said. The transaction entered the second phase of its U.K. review, “and we will continue to fully cooperate with the regulators there, and everywhere approvals are required,” he said. “As our industry continues to see numerous companies investing aggressively in gaming, including many of the world’s largest technology and media companies, government regulators are taking appropriate and deliberate steps to better understand our industry and the growing competition from around the world.”

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) signed a definitive agreement to buy Savage Game Studios, a mobile games developer specialist based in Helsinki and Berlin, said Sony Monday. SIE’s PlayStation Studios “must continue to expand and diversify our offering” beyond content for the PS5 console, said its global head, Hermen Hulst. Buying Savage “is another strategic step towards that goal,” he said. Savage will become part of PlayStation Studios’ newly created mobile division, which operates independently of console games development, said SIE. Transaction terms weren’t disclosed.

Walmart is proposing to spend 6.4 billion South African rands ($378.6 million) to buy the 47% of South African retailer Massmart it doesn’t already own and take it private, said Massmart Monday. The transaction, if finalized, “represents a positive vote of confidence in South Africa by the world’s leading retailer,” it said. Walmart has a 12-year “operational history” in South Africa, and its 100% ownership in Massmart “could stimulate investor interest and confidence in the face of depressed local and international investor sentiment, thereby assisting in the economic recovery of the country,” it said. The deal would provide Massmart “with needed access to ongoing financial and operational support from Walmart” to sustain Massmart’s turnaround, “which has been impeded by external factors,” including COVID-19 “trading restrictions” and the “challenging economic environment,” said Massmart. “These factors have exacerbated liquidity risk at Massmart, which Walmart’s financial support has helped to mitigate.” Walmart loaned Massmart 4 billion rands ($237.2 million) in April 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 lockdowns, half of which was converted to Walmart’s majority equity interest in Massmart in December 2021. The company does business under the banner, “Massmart powered by Walmart.”

Schneider Electric confirmed Wednesday it’s considering a “possible offer” to buy the 41% stake in the British software company Aveva that it doesn’t currently own. “No proposal has been made” to Aveva, “and there can be no certainty that any offer will be made,” said Schneider. Under U.K. merger and takeover rules, Schneider has until the close of business Sept. 21 to announce a “firm intention to make an offer” for Aveva or declare its plans to walk away, said the company. Schneider believes a “full combination” of Aveva and the software business of Schneider will “reinforce” Aveva, “and enable it to execute its growth strategy faster,” it said.

EBay said Tuesday it bought myFitment, a provider of tools and support for online sellers of automotive parts and accessories. The acquisition “is an important step in growing eBay's key parts and accessories category,” it said. “EBay is home to more than half a billion parts and accessories globally,” said eBay Motors Vice President Chris Prill. “As we look to elevate the user experience within this category, it is critical we provide innovative tools to help shoppers find the right parts at the right price.” Transaction terms weren’t disclosed.