China Minmetals plans capital increase to acquire 51% stake in Guangxi Key Metals Group; control of Huaxi Nonferrous to change

S&P Global agreed to acquire on-chain security assessments platform OpenZeppelin, one of a series of deals reported across sectors this week. Pearson announced the acquisition of ITS, a Baltimore-based assessment technology provider specializing in the management, delivery, and reporting of testing programs, with financial terms not disclosed. GE HealthCare Technologies is in advanced talks to acquire Sofie Biosciences for about $1 billion, a move that would expand its presence in radioactive diagnostic agents used with medical scans, according to the Financial Times. Brookfield agreed to acquire plumbing products manufacturer Reliance Worldwide for about $2.9B in an all-cash deal, valuing Reliance at $3.38 per share, equivalent to A$4.75 per share, a roughly 32% premium to its August 17 closing price. Mistras Group agreed to be acquired by investment firm H.I.G. Capital in an all-cash deal with an $866M enterprise value, including debt, while Aethlon Medical shares soared 346% premarket after it agreed to an all-stock merger with North Immunology, and Reuters reported that state-owned China Rare Earth Group is in talks to acquire Shenghe Resources.

Denmark and Greenland have confirmed that the security agreement being drafted with the United States will not affect the sovereignty or territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark, after President Donald Trump said the deal would give the US a long-term controlling role in Greenland's security. The agreement will open the way for the US military to significantly expand its role and presence in Greenland, while imposing restrictions to prevent countries the US regards as rivals from establishing military bases or investing in ventures deemed sensitive without US approval. The US already holds rights to overflight, access and basing in Greenland under an agreement dating from 1951, and the new deal will upgrade those rights to a more permanent character, covering restrictions on non-NATO countries establishing bases in Greenland as well as screening of certain types of investment. A formal signing is expected during next week's United Nations General Assembly. Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen stressed that the agreement still affirms sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the right of Greenland's people to determine their own future. NATO said it welcomed the agreement, seeing it as helping to strengthen security, stability and cooperation in the Arctic region. Earlier, the European Union announced a 200 million euro investment plan for Greenland, or about 232 million US dollars, focused on critical minerals, satellite communications and renewable energy, and offered to raise its support budget for Greenland over the 2028-2036 period to 530 million euros, up from 225 million euros under the current budget framework.

China Rare Earth Group, a state-owned rare earth giant, is in talks to acquire Shenghe Resources, according to two people familiar with the matter. The talks began this year, and China Rare Earth Group wants to take a controlling stake, the sources said. If a deal is reached, Shenghe's holdings in overseas companies would be transferred, including a 3% stake in US rare earth company MP Materials, which would put China Rare Earth Group in the position of investing in MP, whose largest shareholder is the US Department of Defense. A successful acquisition would bring one of China's last major privately owned rare earth mining and refining companies under China Rare Earth Group, ending a decades-long effort to consolidate the sector under state control. Shenghe acquired Australia's Peak Rare Earths last year. According to one of the sources, a deal would make it easier for Shenghe to secure the quotas the Chinese government uses to manage supply. China Rare Earth Group, Shenghe Resources and China's Ministry of Commerce did not respond to requests for comment.