US Merger & Acquisition SEC Filings — August 20, 2026

20-08-2026

Santander Holdings USA, Inc. completed its acquisition of Webster Financial Corporation on August 20, 2026, creating a leading U.S. retail and commercial bank with a pro forma balance sheet of approximately $327 billion in assets, $185 billion in loans, and $172 billion in deposits. The combined entity serves nearly eight million customers and aims to achieve around 18% return on tangible equity (RoTE) in the U.S. by 2028. While the acquisition expands Santander's scale and capabilities, integration risks and potential cost overruns remain, and most customer banking experiences are expected to stay unchanged in the near term.

• · The acquisition was first announced in February 2026 and completed following receipt of required shareholder and regulatory approvals.
• · Webster's former headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, is now a corporate hub for Santander in the U.S., alongside hubs in Boston, New York, Miami, and Dallas.
• · Santander is recognized as a top-10 auto lender and top-10 multifamily bank lender and servicer in the U.S.
• · The filing includes extensive forward-looking statements highlighting risks such as integration difficulties, potential failure to realize synergies, and adverse market reactions.

20-08-2026

Rising Dragon Acquisition Corp. (RDACU) received a Nasdaq Staff notice on August 19, 2026, that its Market Value of Listed Securities (MVLS) has been below the $35 million minimum for 30 consecutive business days, failing the continued listing standard under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(2). The company also does not meet the Equity Standard (Rule 5550(b)(1)) or the Net Income Standard (Rule 5550(b)(3)). It has 180 days, until February 16, 2027, to regain compliance, during which its securities will continue trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market. However, there is no assurance that the company will be able to regain compliance or avoid eventual delisting.

• · The company is a blank check (SPAC) incorporated in the Cayman Islands with executive offices in Taiyuan, China.
• · The company also fails to meet the alternative listing standards under Nasdaq Rules 5550(b)(1) (Equity Standard) and 5550(b)(3) (Net Income Standard).
• · If compliance is not achieved by February 16, 2027, Nasdaq will issue a delisting notice, which the company may appeal to a Hearings Panel.
• · The company may evaluate options including trying to comply with the Equity Standard (Rule 5550(b)(1)).

20-08-2026

Plum Acquisition Corp. IV, a SPAC, filed an 8-K on August 19, 2026, disclosing an updated investor presentation for its proposed business combination with Controlled Thermal Resources Holdings Inc., a lithium and geothermal energy company. The presentation supersedes the prior version filed in March 2026. The filing does not contain any quantitative financial data or period-over-period comparisons, and no additional performance metrics are reported.

• · The updated investor presentation was furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this 8-K filing.
• · The business combination agreement was originally disclosed in a March 12, 2026 8-K filing.

20-08-2026

Webster Financial Corp was acquired by Banco Santander, S.A. in a transaction valued at 2.0548 Banco Santander American Depositary Shares and $48.75 in cash per share of Webster common stock. The acquisition closed on August 20, 2026, resulting in Webster becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Banco Santander and its delisting from the NYSE. All of Webster's directors and executive officers ceased to serve in their roles, while certain officers joined the boards of Santander Holdings USA and Santander Bank.

• · The acquisition was structured through a series of mergers and a share exchange, culminating in Webster Virginia merging into Santander Holdings USA.
• · Webster's common stock and preferred stock were delisted from the NYSE effective August 20, 2026.
• · Webster's directors and executive officers departed as of the effective time of the Reincorporation Merger, with no disagreements cited.
• · John R. Ciulla, Luis Massiani, Frederick J. Crawford, and Maureen B. Mitchell became members of the boards of Santander Holdings USA and Santander Bank.

20-08-2026

Ares Acquisition Corporation III announced on August 20, 2026, that holders of its units may elect to separately trade the underlying Class A ordinary shares and warrants, effective immediately. Each unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-tenth of one redeemable warrant exercisable at $11.50 per share. Separated shares and warrants will trade on the NYSE under symbols 'AAC' and 'AAC WS', respectively, while units continue to trade under 'AAC.U'.

• · No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation; only whole warrants will trade.
• · Holders must have their brokers contact Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company to separate units.
• · The company is an emerging growth company and has not elected to use the extended transition period for complying with new or revised financial accounting standards.

20-08-2026

RF Acquisition Corp II (RFAIR) held an extraordinary general meeting on August 19, 2026, where shareholders overwhelmingly approved all six proposals related to the business combination with Nanyang Biologics Pte. Ltd. Each proposal received 6,765,584 votes in favor and 440,604 against, representing approximately 93.9% approval of votes cast. However, preliminary redemption requests for 3,956,323 ordinary shares (about 47.4% of outstanding shares) were submitted, which could significantly reduce the cash available from the trust account and dilute the post-completion public float.

• · The record date for the meeting was May 20, 2026, with 8,343,765 ordinary shares outstanding.
• · A quorum of 7,206,188 shares (86.36%) was present.
• · Each of the six proposals received identical vote counts: 6,765,584 For, 440,604 Against, 0 Abstain (except Proposal 3A had 1 abstention).
• · Proposals included: Business Combination, Merger, three Advisory Governance provisions, Nasdaq issuance approval, Incentive Plan, and Adjournment.
• · The Business Combination involves RFAC merging into PubCo, with PubCo surviving, and Amalgamation Sub merging into Nanyang Biologics, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary of PubCo.
• · Preliminary redemption requests of 3,956,323 shares were submitted, subject to withdrawal or reversal with RFAC's consent before Closing.
• · Final redemption results, per-share redemption price, and post-closing cash/public float will be disclosed after Closing.

20-08-2026

Charter Communications completed its acquisition of Liberty Broadband and a transformative transaction with Cox Communications, creating the leading U.S. broadband and video company. The all-stock deal with Cox valued at approximately $15 billion (including $4 billion cash, $5 billion in common units, and $6 billion in convertible preferred units) gives Cox Enterprises a 26% stake in the combined entity. While the transaction expands Charter's footprint to 45 states and promises customer benefits like free mobile lines and U.S.-based service, it also adds approximately $12 billion of Cox debt and finance leases to Charter's balance sheet.

• · Charter will change its parent company name to Cox Communications within a year but continue to operate as Spectrum across all markets.
• · Charter will remain headquartered in Stamford, CT, keeping a significant presence in Atlanta, GA.
• · Cox Enterprises appointed two additional directors (Dallas Clement and Mark Greatrex) to Charter's 13-member board.
• · Advance/Newhouse retains its two board seats.
• · Liberty Broadband ceased to be a direct shareholder and no longer designates directors.
• · Charter, Cox Enterprises and Advance/Newhouse entered into an amended and restated stockholders’ agreement with preemptive rights, voting caps, and transfer restrictions.
• · Spectrum will offer Cox internet customers a free mobile line for one year starting today.
• · Spectrum plans to launch its full product suite in former Cox markets in mid-September.
• · Cox customers will benefit from Spectrum's Customer Service Commitments within the next year, including 100% U.S.-based service, same-day technician dispatch, and outage credits.
• · Spectrum will apply its sales and service workforce model to Cox markets over the next 18 months and fully return Cox's customer service to the U.S.
• · All employees will earn a starting wage of at least $20 per hour.
• · Spectrum's TV Select plans include ad-supported streaming apps providing up to $127 of monthly retail value at no extra cost.
• · The Spectrum TV App is the highest-rated pay TV streaming app and the most viewed streaming service in the U.S. on an hours per household basis.

20-08-2026

NorthStrive Acquisition Corp I. announced the pricing of its $100 million initial public offering (IPO) of 10,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit, with each unit consisting of one Class A ordinary share, one redeemable warrant, and one right to receive one-fourth of one Class A ordinary share upon a business combination. The units are expected to trade on Nasdaq under the ticker 'NSAIU' beginning August 18, 2026, with the offering expected to close on August 19, 2026. The company is a blank check company focused on acquiring a target in the manufacturing sector, including aerospace and defense, industrial technology, and critical supply chains, but has not yet selected any target.

• · The company is a newly organized Cayman Islands exempted company and has not selected any business combination target.
• · The underwriter has a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,500,000 units to cover over-allotments.
• · The registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on August 17, 2026.
• · The company intends to focus its search on companies in the manufacturing sector serving high-growth demand markets, including aerospace and defense, industrial technology, and critical supply chains.

20-08-2026

Bleichroeder Acquisition Corp. II issued a press release reminding shareholders of the extraordinary general meeting on August 25, 2026, to vote on the proposed business combination with Pasqal Holding SAS. The meeting is a key milestone in the SPAC merger process, with shareholders of record as of August 5, 2026, eligible to vote. The filing does not provide any financial results or performance metrics, focusing solely on the procedural reminder for the upcoming vote.

• · Extraordinary general meeting scheduled for August 25, 2026
• · Record date for shareholder voting is August 5, 2026
• · Registration statement for the business combination was declared effective by the SEC on August 5, 2026
• · The company's securities trade on Nasdaq under symbols BBCQU (units), BBCQ (ordinary shares), and BBCQW (warrants)
• · The business combination involves a merger with Pasqal, a French quantum computing company

20-08-2026

Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has amended its Secured Promissory Note with Abuse Deterrent Pharma, LLC, adding new loans from Loan #51 through Loan #64, bringing the total aggregated principal to $11,094,279 as of August 14, 2026. The amendment reflects continued borrowing from an existing credit facility, with loan amounts ranging from $100,000 to $200,000 per tranche. This filing updates the outstanding debt obligation but does not represent a new acquisition or merger.

• · The original loan schedule from November 10, 2022, had a principal of $2,319,279.
• · An additional $7,075,000 was aggregated from Loans #1 through #50 (Dec 22, 2022 to Dec 31, 2025).
• · Loans #51 through #60 were each $100,000, and Loans #62, #63, #64 were each $200,000.
• · No new loan is recorded for the period between Loan #60 (May 29, 2026) and Loan #62 (June 24, 2026); Loan #61 was $100,000.