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
FHFA VantageScore Savings Sized up, FICO Expands in Mortgage
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) plans to adopt VantageScore 4.0 alongside FICO’s 10T score as part of a mandated modernization effort. A Deep Future Analytics study projects that competitive use of VantageScore could cut mortgage credit‑score fees by more than $600 million in the first year, potentially reaching $649 million. FICO disputes the study’s pricing assumptions and argues key market participants were omitted. If realized, the savings could pressure FICO’s pricing and reshape mortgage‑lending economics.
Side Letter: Here Be Zombies
Zombie‑style private‑equity funds are projected to manage roughly $1 trillion in net asset value by 2030, reflecting a surge in aging, ill‑liquid portfolios. The article outlines how managers must adjust to a “new era” where exits are scarce and capital recycling...
US$28,74m Write-Down as Sibanye-Stillwater Reassesses Mimosa’s Long-Term Economic Outlook
Sibanye‑Stillwater recorded a $28.74 million impairment on its Zimbabwean Mimosa platinum operation after revising long‑term economic assumptions. The new model assumes an eight‑year life‑of‑mine, higher working and capital costs, and incorporates a 10 % beneficiation tax, reducing projected cash inflows. Despite a...
Crowe Reports Global Revenue of $6.5 Billion in 2025
Crowe Global reported $6.5 billion in revenue for its 2025 financial year, marking a 12% increase over the prior period and continuing a 10% growth streak. The network posted strong regional gains, led by Europe at 21% and the Middle East...
Astera Labs: Fiscal 4Q25 and FY25 Financial Results
Astera Labs reported record FY2025 revenue of $852.5 million, a 115% year‑over‑year increase, and a Q4 revenue of $270.6 million, up 17% sequentially. GAAP operating margin reached 20.3% for the year, while non‑GAAP margin was 39.2%, reflecting strong profitability. The company began...
Corporate Report: Statement of Excesses 2024-25
HM Treasury released the Statement of Excesses for the 2024‑25 financial year on 25 February 2026. The 16‑page document asks Parliament to approve any departmental outlays that exceeded the original estimates. It details spending that fell outside the plans set...
FG Nexus Sells Another $14M in Ether as Losses Mount on Treasury Bet
FG Nexus, a publicly listed Ethereum treasury firm, sold 7,550 ETH worth roughly $14 million, adding to a series of disposals that have locked in over $80 million in losses. The company originally accumulated 50,770 ETH at an average price of $3,860 per coin...
Remarks by Chair Atkins on Capital Formation and the INVEST Act
Chairman Paul Atkins highlighted the steep 40% drop in U.S. public companies and outlined a three‑pillar strategy to revive capital formation. He praised the bipartisan INVEST Act and the Empowering Main Street in America Act for introducing “test‑the‑waters” IPO pilots,...
SEC Adds Flexibility to M&A, Proxy, and Tender Offer Rules with New Interpretations
On January 23 2026 the SEC’s CorpFin issued new Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations that broaden flexibility for M&A, proxy and tender‑offer rules without formal rulemaking. The revisions permit lock‑up agreements without meeting traditional prospectus conditions, allow privately placed shares to be registered...
SEC Adds Flexibility to M&A, Proxy, and Tender Offer Rules with New Interpretations
On Jan. 23, the SEC’s CorpFin division issued new Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations that loosen proxy‑broker search timing, broaden lock‑up registration on Forms S‑4/F‑4, and add leeway for cross‑border tender offers. The staff also reversed its stance on voluntary Notices of...
Press Release: Finastra Teams up with CargoX to Further Adoption of Digital-at-Source Electronic Trade Documentation
Fintech leader Finastra announced a strategic partnership with blockchain document‑transfer platform CargoX to embed electronic trade documents (eTD) into its Trade Innovation solution. The integration, delivered via Finastra's open API and Trade Innovation Nexus, supports over 65 eTD types and...
Private Equity Still Vital to CalPERS’ Strategy Under TPA: CEO
At NEXUS 2026, CalPERS CEO Marcie Frost announced that the pension fund’s revitalized private‑equity program will operate with a degree of independence from its newly adopted total‑portfolio approach (TPA). The move signals a renewed commitment to private‑equity as a core return...
Aave Governance Dispute Escalates as ACI and Aave Labs Publish Dueling Reports
A governance dispute has erupted in the Aave ecosystem as the Aave Chan Initiative (ACI) and Aave Labs released conflicting reports on the protocol’s historical funding and contributions. ACI’s transparency report estimates $86 million in lifetime capitalization for Aave Labs and...
Budget 2026: Godongwana Talks up AI, Data Infrastructure
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana used the 2026 budget launch to declare data and artificial intelligence infrastructure as critical as electricity, ports and transport. He announced plans to expand data‑centre capacity, citing 55 existing facilities and R50 billion of investment expected over...
Nelson Peltz Flags WEN Undervaluation, Potential Buyout
$WEN targeted by LT shareholder & former Chairman Nelson Peltz (13D filed). - Says shares are undervalued and strategic options incl. a buyout may be explored. - He looked at a deal in 2022 but walked. - Stock at ~8x...
Harvard Study Shows AI Stock Trading Rivals Many Picks Made by Fund Managers
A Harvard Business School working paper finds that artificial intelligence can predict about 71% of mutual fund managers’ trade directions, and for some senior managers in less competitive categories the prediction rate approaches 100%. Predictability is higher for managers with...
Hayward Holdings Reports Fourth Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Results and Introduces 2026 Guidance
Hayward Holdings reported a strong fourth‑quarter FY2025, with net sales of $349.4 million, up 7% year‑over‑year, and a gross margin of 48.5%, a 160‑basis‑point improvement. Operating income rose 14% to $87.3 million, delivering a 25% operating margin, while net income increased 25%...
EU Market Integration Proposal: What Asset Managers Need to Know
The European Commission released a Market Integration Legislative proposal on 4 December 2025 to end the long‑standing fragmentation of the EU’s single market for investment funds. The draft consolidates cross‑border marketing rules for UCITS and AIFs into an expanded Regulation (EU) 2019/1156, shifting from...
AI Disruption: Does the Software Selloff Create Contrarian Buying Opportunities?
Software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies are experiencing a sharp sell‑off as investors worry AI models could erode their high‑margin business models. The rout has driven trailing P/E multiples to extreme levels, with Salesforce down more than 30% this year despite its 150,000‑customer...
Wint Wealth Revenue Jumps 2.6X in FY25; Cuts Losses by 60%
Wint Wealth, the Bengaluru‑based debt investment platform, posted operating revenue of Rs 44.5 crore in FY25 – a 2.6‑fold increase from the prior year – while narrowing its losses by more than 60% to Rs 8.2 crore. Interest income from debt securities, which now...
Mondi Becomes Latest FTSE 100 Firm to Form Guernsey Captive
UK‑based packaging giant Mondi plc has established a single‑parent captive insurance company in Guernsey, completing the launch at the end of 2025. The move follows a growing trend among FTSE 100 companies to use offshore captives for risk retention and capital...
What Is Post-Trade Settlement and How Does It Work?
Post‑trade settlement comprises confirmation, clearing, instruction matching, and the final exchange of securities and funds. The process, managed by clearing corporations, custodian banks, and central securities depositories, is essential to render trades legally complete. Delays or failures expose firms to...
Oppenheimer Hires Former Stern Brothers Managing Director Vien Le
Oppenheimer has added former Stern Brothers managing director Vien Le to its public finance investment‑banking group in Los Angeles. Le brings more than two decades of municipal finance experience, having advised the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the state...
Summer Hot Spot Eyes Transfer Tax on $1 Million Sales To Fund Local Housing
Barnstable County’s Assembly of Delegates approved a home‑rule petition to impose a real‑estate transfer tax on sales exceeding $1 million, lowering the original $2 million threshold and allowing municipalities to set rates between 0.5% and 4% on the amount above the threshold....
OQ Technology Secures $30 Million From Europe for Satellite-to-Smartphone Expansion
Europe’s Investment Bank is providing €25 million (≈$30 million) to Luxembourg‑based OQ Technology to expand its direct‑to‑device satellite constellation. The debt will fund the launch of more than 20 small satellites, including OQ’s first C‑band satellite aimed at smartphone connectivity slated for...
Keurig Dr Pepper’s Split Plan Could Unlock Hidden Value
Keurig Dr Pepper posted a strong Q4, with revenue rising 10.5% to $4.45 billion and earnings beating forecasts. The company secured an additional $1.5 billion in preferred equity, lifting total preferred funding to $4.5 billion and eliminating the need for a partial IPO....
African Guarantee Fund: De-Risking Africa's Growth Story
The African Guarantee Fund (AGF) has leveraged nearly $3 billion in guarantees to mobilise $6.5 billion in loans for micro, small and medium enterprises across 44 African nations. By sharing credit risk with partner banks, the fund has reached more than 50,000...
Separate Ways II: The SMA Playbook for 2026
Separately managed accounts (SMAs) are now the dominant channel for institutional capital, driven by demand for customized exposure and fee transparency. A new report surveying 100 hedge fund managers and 50 allocators uncovers operational friction points, especially around data transparency...
Styx Blades of Greed Publishers Nacon File for Insolvency, Will "Assess All Possible Solutions" To "Protect Employees and "Preserve Jobs"
Nacon, the French publisher behind titles such as Styx: Blades of Greed and RoboCop: Rogue City, has filed for judicial reorganisation insolvency after its majority shareholder, Bigben Interactive, failed to make a partial bond loan repayment. The filing aims to...
BofA Records Highest Euro Allocation, Cuts US Exposure
Bank of America show the biggest positive allocation to #euro assets on record in an impressive global rebalancing. A net 22% say they hold a lower-than-benchmark allocation to US, from just 6% at end of 2025. The backlash appears to...
Press Release: Uber to Acquire Parking App SpotHero
Uber announced it will acquire SpotHero, the leading North American parking‑reservation platform, to embed parking services directly within the Uber app. SpotHero currently offers access to more than 13,000 garages, lots and valet locations across over 400 U.S. and Canadian...
Nearly 1,000 Russell 200
991 of the Russell 2000s companies have reported an aggregate y/y EPS acceleration of +24%
Exited Founder Podcast | Sean McKenna: How He Sold His HR Tech Startup to Dayforce in 16 Months
In this episode, Sean McKenna recounts how he founded Data Fusion HCM, a payroll and HR‑tech integration platform, and sold it to Ceridian (now Dayforce) within 16 months. He explains the strategic advantage of building a product that solved a...
Securities Dealers Call for Prudence as Nigerian Stocks Rally
The Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria (ASHON) warned investors to exercise prudence as the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) enjoys a sustained rally. While renewed confidence and stronger macro‑economic sentiment are fueling price gains, ASHON cautioned that many stocks...
Russia Moves to Bring Crypto Market Under Full State Control
Russia's central bank and finance ministry are drafting legislation to establish a fully regulated domestic cryptocurrency market. The bill, slated for Duma submission in March, would require licensed exchanges, depositories, brokers and asset managers under Central Bank supervision, taking effect...
Are You Taking Source of Funds Seriously?
The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s 2024‑25 AML report flagged source‑of‑funds checks as a persistent weakness, noting that 10% of reviewed files lacked any verification. Firms risk hefty fines, criminal prosecution, and reputational harm if they fail to match client funds with...
The EBA and ESMA Launch a Consultation on the Revised Suitability Assessment Framework for Banks and Investment Firms
The European Banking Authority (EBA) and European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) have opened a consultation on revised joint Guidelines for assessing the suitability of management body members and key function holders at large banks and investment firms. The initiative,...
SDK.finance Announces Top Transactional Ledger Software Solutions for 2026
SDK.finance released its 2026 list of top transactional ledger software, underscoring the shift from batch‑based bookkeeping to real‑time financial truth engines. The article defines transactional ledger software as the central double‑entry system that powers banks, digital wallets, marketplaces and cross‑border...
Grenergy Lifts EBITDA to €201m in 2025
Grenergy closed 2025 with revenues just over €1 billion, EBITDA €201 million (up 26%) and net profit €87 million (up 46%). Investment climbed 36% to €880 million, aligning with its €3.5 billion 2025‑2027 strategic plan. Asset‑rotation sales reached roughly US$1 billion, covering more than 60% of...
Credit Crunch: Around the World of Global Credit in 60 Minutes
The Bloomberg Intelligence FIC team examined global credit trends, focusing on a surge in Asian convertible bonds driven by higher rates, equity volatility, and issuer demand for cheap funding, while noting a slowdown in Chinese dollar bond issuance as firms...
What Is a Crypto Market Making Program and How to Choose the Right One
Crypto market‑making programs have moved from ad‑hoc trading to formalized partnerships between exchanges and professional liquidity providers. Platforms such as WhiteBIT set explicit performance metrics—spread width, order size, uptime—to ensure continuous quoting and stable order books. Infrastructure advances, especially crypto...
Unlocking Rs 40 Lakh Crore: Govt's Mega Bet on India's Infra Future
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched NMP 2.0, a second‑phase asset‑monetisation drive that targets over 2,000 public infrastructure assets across 12 ministries. The programme aims to generate Rs 16.7 lakh crore in total proceeds, with Rs 10.8 lakh crore expected between 2025‑26 and 2029‑30. Revenues will be recycled...
Sarah Hunter: Defining Full Employment and Its Intertwined Relationship with Inflation
Sarah Hunter explained that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) defines full employment as the highest sustainable job level compatible with low, stable inflation. She highlighted the intrinsic link between labour market balance and the RBA’s price‑stability mandate, noting that...
WFE Flags Settlement Risks in Push Toward 24/5 Trading
The World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) warns that extending equity trading to a 24‑hours‑five‑days (24/5) schedule introduces settlement and liquidity risks unless clearing, settlement and payment infrastructures are upgraded. U.S. venues such as NYSE Arca, Nasdaq and Cboe are piloting...
Bank of Japan Won’t Alter Its Policy Normalisation Path
The Bank of Japan affirmed its commitment to a gradual policy normalisation path, emphasizing data‑driven decisions despite the appointment of two dovish board nominees. While the new members are expected to voice opposition to tightening, the overall board composition remains...
DERIVSOURCE: The Pros and Cons of Client Clearing
Client clearing volumes jumped 67% in early 2026, driven by the uncleared margin rule and new structures like the European Agent Trustee Model. The OFR working paper highlights benefits such as reduced dealer gross exposure, lower collateral needs, broader dealer...
Foundations Before Acceleration - a Planning Aces Episode
In this Planning Aces episode, three CFOs—Kevin Rubin (Zscaler), Bruce Schumann (Universal Technical Institute), and Rizak Jalloh (Flowcast)—share how disciplined, foundation‑first approaches to planning and AI adoption drive growth and decision speed. Rubin emphasizes a centralized AI governance function that...
Cezanne HR Launches Cezanne Expenses, Giving Businesses Up to Three Hours Back Per Claim
Cezanne HR has introduced Cezanne Expenses, an integrated expense‑management module that promises up to three hours saved per claim. The solution combines mobile OCR receipt capture, mileage calculation and real‑time dashboards within the existing HR platform. Powered by Webexpenses, it...
BSNL Core Operating Profit Grows by 105% in 9-Month Period of FY26: Jyotiraditya Scindia
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited reported a core operating profit (EBITDA) of ₹4,858 crore for the nine months ending 31 December 2025, marking a 105% jump from the same period last year. Revenue rose 13% to ₹17,705 crore in FY 26’s first three quarters, while average...