Today's Finance Pulse
Autodesk to acquire MaintainX for $3.6B, expanding into operations software
Autodesk announced a $3.6 billion purchase of MaintainX, a leader in operational‑phase software for the built environment. The deal extends Autodesk’s portfolio from design and manufacturing into ongoing building operation, creating an end‑to‑end data loop. CEO Andrew Anagnost said the acquisition unlocks a $40 billion total addressable market.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Pemberton Asset Management closes $3.7B fourth vintage fund
Eutelsat Completes Its Re-Financing Plan, Closing €1.5bn Bond Offering
Eutelsat announced the completion of its €5 billion financing plan by closing a €1.5 billion senior note issuance, the final step of a multi‑year equity and debt strategy. The proceeds will fund the deployment of OneWeb’s low‑Earth‑orbit satellites and support Europe’s IRIS² constellation, reinforcing the merged entity’s multi‑orbit capabilities. Earlier equity raises and a French export‑credit loan helped secure rating upgrades and a stronger balance sheet. Despite flat overall revenue, OneWeb’s 60% revenue surge highlights the growing importance of LEO connectivity within the group.
Fannie, Freddie Share Sale Likely After Midterms or Later
Wedbush analysts say any secondary share offering by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will likely be delayed until after the 2026 midterm elections, as the administration focuses on lowering mortgage costs. Low trading prices—around $5.88 for Fannie and $5.16 for Freddie—combined...
California Lithium Developer CTR to Go Public in US$4.7 Billion SPAC Deal
Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR) will go public through a $4.7 billion SPAC merger with Plum Acquisition, listing on Nasdaq as CTRH. The deal funds the Hell’s Kitchen geothermal‑lithium project in California’s Imperial Valley, starting with 25,000 t/yr lithium carbonate capacity and a...
The Hydrogen Stream: Atome Secures $420 Million Debt for Paraguay Plant
Atome secured a $420 million debt package to fund a $650 million low‑carbon fertilizer plant in Paraguay, targeting 260,000 tonnes of output per year and marking one of the first industrial‑scale green‑hydrogen fertilizer projects outside the EU. Meanwhile, Asahi Kasei began installing a 1 MW...
Sleep Number Issues Going Concern Warning, Says Bankruptcy Is Possible
Sleep Number disclosed a going‑concern warning, citing substantial doubt over its ability to meet debt obligations. The company’s 2025 results showed a 16% sales decline to $1.4 billion, a 60‑point drop in gross margin, and a net loss of $132 million. New...
Investment Trusts Are Still a Good Place for Your Money
Investment trusts posted a 16.1% total return last year, outpacing the MSCI All‑Countries World index but lagging the FTSE All‑Share. The sector’s average discount to NAV fell to 12.5% as borrowing helped boost performance. Despite strong returns, £18.9 billion of net...
The Fed Is Readying to Punish Banks for Holding Bitcoin as US Crypto Tensions Boil Over
The Federal Reserve is set to vote next week on a revised Basel capital proposal that reshapes how large U.S. banks treat Bitcoin exposures. Under the current framework, unhedged crypto assets fall into a Group 2b bucket with a punitive 1250%...
US Debt, Geopolitics Top Advisors' Market Risks List Through 2028
A February 2026 FUSE Research survey of over 520 financial advisors shows government debt and fiscal policy are the top market risk for the next 12‑month horizon, rising to 56% for a three‑year outlook. Advisors are shifting client conversations toward...
Mapfre Raises ROE Target to Above 13% and Sets Improved CoR for 2026
Mapfre announced an upgraded Strategic Plan for 2026, raising its return on equity target to above 13% and aiming for a combined ratio between 93% and 94%. The insurer posted a record 2025 year, with net earnings surpassing €1 billion and...
Megafunds Surge: Billions Raised Across Top VC Firms
It’s getting a little cliche over here to say but… Megafunds are riding high. If any week was proof of that, it was this one. First, TechCrunch reported Monday on Founders Fund’s rumored $6 billion growth fund that’s in the works. The same day,...
The Iran Crisis Is Making Markets Unpredictable – What Can Investors Do?
The escalating Iran crisis is driving sharp, hourly swings in oil prices, with Brent crude moving nearly $30 in a single day. While the broader equity markets have remained relatively calm, European stocks are under pressure compared with resilient US...
Unlocking Hidden Value: How Corporate Language Reveals the Future of Intangible Investment
A new study introduces an "intangible intensity" metric that gauges how much corporate language in 10‑K filings focuses on knowledge, customer, and organization capital. By applying large‑language‑model text analysis to over 10,000 public firms from 2002‑2023, the researchers link higher...
‘Buffer’ ETFs Prove a Decent Bond Alternative in War-Hit Markets
Buffer ETFs, a $80 billion defined‑outcome fund category, are emerging as a bond alternative amid volatile markets and rising Treasury yields. The largest vehicle, FT Vest Laddered Buffer ETF, fell only 1.4% in March versus a 2.7% drop in the S&P 500,...
Post Office on the Brink of Collapse
South Africa's communications minister Solly Malatsi called premature the rescue practitioners' intent to file for liquidation of the state‑owned Post Office. The practitioners argue that without a R3.8 billion funding tranche, the rescue plan cannot succeed, and the company has been...
Parliamentary Panel Calls For MDR On UPI To Ensure Sustainability
A parliamentary standing committee on finance has recommended re‑introducing a merchant discount rate (MDR) on UPI transactions, arguing that the zero‑MDR regime strains government finances and limits fintechs’ ability to fund long‑term infrastructure. The committee notes that current government incentives...
P3 Backers Urge Easing of Tax-Exempt Bond Rules on Asset Leases
Public‑private partnership advocates are urging the IRS to scrap the defeasance rule that forces tax‑exempt bonds to be retired when a government leases an asset to a private operator. They argue the regulation inflates financing costs and discourages asset‑recycling deals...
Tax Nudges Lead 5 Million Taxpayers to Revise Returns; Refund Claims Drop ₹2,000 Crore
The Central Board of Direct Taxes reported that more than five million income‑tax returns were revised after the department nudged taxpayers to correct bogus deduction claims, chiefly under Section 80G. This proactive approach cut refund claims by roughly ₹2,000 crore, even as...
ConnexPay Launches Payment Valet to Streamline B2B Payments
ConnexPay unveiled Payment Valet, a managed services platform that automates the last‑mile of B2B payments. The solution centralizes payee network management, delivery fulfillment, preference portals, and branded support, handling payouts via virtual cards, ACH, and checks. It targets vertical SaaS...
Federal Reserve Board Issues Enforcement Actions with Former Employee of Equity Bank and Former Employee of First State Bank of...
The Federal Reserve Board issued two consent prohibition orders on March 13, 2026, targeting former employees of regional banks. Cassandra Grayson, ex‑employee of Equity Bank in Andover, Kansas, was barred for embezzling bank funds. Sandra Adams, former staff at First...
Oracle Discloses $2B Stake in TikTok U.S. Joint Venture
Oracle disclosed a 15% equity stake in the TikTok US Data Security Joint Venture, part of a $2.2 billion non‑marketable investment portfolio. The joint venture, valued at roughly $14 billion, includes equal stakes from Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi’s MGX, while ByteDance...
Mobilizing Africa’s Capital for African Development
Africa faces a $2.8 trillion financing gap for climate action by 2030, yet ample capital exists within the continent’s savings pools and sovereign wealth funds, plus global yield‑seeking investors. The article argues that fragmented markets prevent this capital from reaching needed...
Fitch Raises Oklahoma's Rating a Notch to AA-Plus
Oklahoma’s sovereign credit rating was raised by Fitch to AA‑plus with a stable outlook, marking the state’s third upgrade since 2024 after similar moves by S&P and Moody’s. The agency cited sustained fiscal discipline, robust operating reserves and low long‑term...
Public Banks And Municipal Bonds
The article critiques the notion that municipal governments can substantially expand fiscal space by having local public banks purchase their own bonds. It argues that a new bank must first raise equity, limiting its initial balance sheet, and that banks...
Demand for Analysts Grows as Equities Market Gains Momentum: Industry Players
Singapore’s equity market reforms by SGX and MAS are reviving analyst demand, prompting banks and brokerages to expand research desks. Maybank Securities, OCBC, iFast and others have added headcount to deepen small‑ and mid‑cap coverage. Job postings show salaries between...
S&P Global Remains Negative on WPP
S&P Global reaffirmed its negative “BBB” rating on WPP, citing ongoing challenges such as stagnant organic revenue, weak profitability, and uncertainty around strategy execution. The rating agency projects a 2‑4% like‑for‑like net revenue decline for 2026, well below peers like...
CFOs On the Move: Week Ending March 13
A wave of chief financial officer changes swept across multiple industries this week, with Nissan naming George Leondis as its new CFO, Planet Fitness installing interim CFO Tom Fitzgerald, and Peloton appointing Saqib Baig as interim finance chief. Angi promoted...
Hong Kong to Expand 'Name and Shame' List to IPO Lawyers and Auditors
Hong Kong will broaden its name‑and‑shame regime to include IPO lawyers, auditors, consultants and SPAC promoters. Under the new Enhanced Return Mechanism, any professional party linked to a filing deemed “not substantially complete” will be publicly identified. The change comes...
Swire Pacific Raises HK$1.79bn, Keeps 45% Cathay Stake
Swire Pacific has sold 153,059,000 shares in Cathay Pacific, with the net proceeds expected to reach HK$1.789 billion. Swire will retain 45.12% ownership of the airline after the sale. HKEX filing: https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2026/0313/2026031300119.pdf
Selina Hotels: When the Digital Nomad Dream Met Financial Reality
Selina Hotels rode a wave of digital‑nomad hype, launching via a $1.2 billion SPAC merger in 2022 and expanding to 163 destinations. The rapid rollout delivered only a 47% occupancy rate, while an asset‑light, lease‑heavy model inflated operating costs and debt....
Building Resilient Trading Frameworks in an Uncertain Market Era
Brian Ferdinand, Portfolio Manager at EverForward Trading, stresses structured frameworks to manage execution risk amid heightened market uncertainty. The firm’s system evaluates liquidity, volatility and cross‑market signals before authorizing exposure, embedding predefined risk parameters into every trade. This disciplined approach...
🌍 6,232 Subscribers Across 134 Countries
The newsletter announced that its subscriber base has grown to 6,232 members spanning 134 countries, with over 1,200 new sign‑ups in the past month. It promotes a disciplined Elliott Wave 2.0 framework that delivers more than 45 structured video updates...
The Clog in PE’s Exit Pipeline Is Getting Tougher to Clear
Private‑equity firms are finding it increasingly difficult to exit portfolio companies, even those acquired before the recent market froth. Elevated interest rates, a slowdown in IPO activity, and a thin strategic‑buyer pool have created a bottleneck in the exit pipeline....
Sebi Sets New Conditions for Intraday Borrowing by Mutual Funds From April 1
India's securities regulator SEBI introduced new rules governing intraday borrowing by mutual funds, effective April 1. The framework lifts the 20% net‑asset borrowing cap for intraday loans that are secured against same‑day receivables from the government, RBI, and clearing corporation, and...
Bank Pull‑backs Expose Private‑credit Risk Like 2008
The part that rhymes with 2006-2008 is that Banks were providing warehouse lines to Mortgage Co.'s who would then originate mortgages & Wall Street would buy them, repackage them (MBS/CDO's) & sell them to the world. When delinquencies spiked, the...
What Finance Teams Should Know About the World of Subrogation
Finance leaders are being urged to grasp subrogation, a legal practice where insurers recoup payouts from at‑fault parties, as an untapped lever to curb soaring health‑care costs. Intellivo, a pure‑play subrogation firm, showcased the potential by recovering up to 1%...
RBI Net Buys Record $6.2 Billion Debt to Shield Bonds From War Shockwaves
The Reserve Bank of India purchased a record 572.10 billion rupees (about $6.2 billion) of government bonds in the week ending 6 March, marking its third straight week of net buying. The purchases are part of a broader liquidity infusion strategy aimed at...
Press Release - Mortgage Loan
SAJA Real Estate SOCIMI announced the execution of a €200 million mortgage loan with a five‑year maturity and a fixed 3.2% interest rate. The financing is earmarked for strategic portfolio acquisitions and refinancing existing debt. By securing the loan, SAJA bolsters...
QTR & Adam Taggart: Private Credit, Valuations, Favorite Sectors
In a recent interview with Adam Taggart, the author warned that market optimism masks deepening fragilities, especially in private credit. He highlighted rising redemptions and gating in private credit funds as a precursor to a broader credit event. While equity...
Local Currency Checkout Boosts International SaaS Revenue 20‑40%
Worked with 60+ startups and a common repeated mistake that left a lot of money on the table: Charging international users in USD The data is pretty clear — local currency checkout increases international conversion by 20-40% SaaS founders can now do this...
Creator Launches Open-Source AI Hedge Fund for All
This guy made an AI Hedge Fund... Then open-sourced it for everyone to use. This is the story.
How M&A Can Supercharge Your Startup’s Success
The article argues that mergers and acquisitions (M&A) can accelerate a startup’s growth more efficiently than an IPO, especially for deep‑tech and fast‑moving consumer sectors. It cites Korean examples—Stylenanda, Woowa Brothers, and Have & Be—each achieving multibillion‑dollar exits through strategic sales to...
Intangibles Outvalue Factories; Investors Must Adapt
Intangible assets—things like brand reputation, proprietary knowledge, and organizational capabilities—have become more valuable than physical factories and equipment...how are investors capturing this information? by @larryswedroe https://t.co/CW1mUsiweK https://t.co/Hu32LLmXw8
Public Record Undermines Lazy Valuation, Raises Premium Bid Stakes
New on $MAPS: I think the public record is now strong enough to reject lazy, tape-anchored valuation—and strong enough to make a future “premium” bid answer much harder questions than management might like. Linked below. 1/2 https://t.co/ApS7y2tctJ
DB Pension Endgame Options: Beyond the Buy-Out
UK defined benefit pension schemes are seeing a strategic shift as new regulations unlock roughly £260bn of surplus previously funneled to insurers in buy‑outs. The reforms let sponsors and members reclaim surplus, prompting interest in alternatives like captive insurance structures...
Cambricon Announces First Dividend After 2025 Profit
Cambricon to pay maiden dividend after turning profitable in 2025 The Shanghai-listed chip designer will distribute a cash dividend of 15 yuan for every 10 shares, its first since listing in 2020 https://t.co/c1zpgVUBl1 via @scmpnews
Master Your Metrics: Investor Trust Starts With Data Confidence
Founders, know your numbers inside and out. Be ready to answer detailed questions about your financials. Confidence in your data builds investor trust and shows you have a firm grasp on your business’s metrics.
Departments’ Use of Banking-Style Anti-Fraud Checks Set for Review
HM Treasury announced a cross‑government review of how departments use the "confirmation of payee" (CoP) anti‑fraud check, a safeguard mandatory for banks offering Faster Payments and CHAPS. Introduced in 2020, CoP verifies recipient account details against a central register, yet...
ESMA Data Reveals ETF Settlement Failures Spiked on 2025 Liberation Day
ESMA data shows a sharp spike in ETF settlement failures in mid‑April 2025, coinciding with the U.S. “Liberation Day” market turbulence. At the height, fails represented over 50 % of the total value of ETF settlement instructions, far above rates in...
Capsol Technologies ASA - Approval and Publication of Prospectus and Launch of Subsequent Offering
Capsol Technologies ASA received Norwegian Financial Supervisory Authority approval on 13 March 2026 for a prospectus covering a subsequent offering of up to 3.5 million new shares at NOK 5.20 per share. The offering follows a private placement that raised roughly NOK 45 million and is...
Germany’s Clarified Framework for Enforcement and Recoveries
Germany has issued a clarified enforcement framework that revises its auction rules for collateral sales. The updated regime accelerates liquidation timelines and introduces more transparent valuation criteria. It reshapes intercreditor hierarchies by granting senior lenders clearer priority and forces a...