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
KPMG Starts Tax AI Accelerator Program
KPMG has launched a Tax AI Accelerator Program to help corporate tax departments adopt generative AI. The initiative provides hands‑on training, a secure Azure OpenAI‑based sandbox called Digital Gateway, and access to KPMG’s “Think, Prompt, Check” framework. More than a dozen firms, including Fortune 150 Duke Energy, are participating in the pilot. The program aims to upskill tax professionals, accelerate AI‑driven compliance solutions, and address talent gaps in the tax function.
MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin Bet Costs More Than Gold
Did MicroStrategy Make a Bad Bet on Bitcoin? Bitcoin made the headlines, but MicroStrategy’s numbers? Not so pretty. I’d have preferred gold, silver, or even interest-bearing cash. Opportunity cost matters — don’t get caught chasing hype. Bitcoin #PeterSchiff #CryptoNews #Investing #GoldVsBitcoin #FinanceTalk...
Report Finds Trump’s Tariffs Cost U.S. Households $1,000 on Average in 2025
The Tax Foundation reports that Trump‑era tariffs added an average $1,000 to U.S. household expenses in 2025, rising to $1,300 in 2026. A weighted average tariff rate of 13.5% pushed the effective rate to 9.9%, the highest since 1946. Companies...
Deloitte: Shining a Spotlight on Strategic Internal Audit
Deloitte’s internal audit leader Mike Schor argues that internal audit must shed its "gotcha" image and become a strategic partner to the CFO. He recommends a proactive branding effort that showcases audit capabilities and aligns the function with finance’s broader...
19 States Offer Tax Credits for Private School Scholarship Donations
Eighteen states now offer tax credits for donations to scholarship‑granting organizations that fund private‑school tuition, mirroring Ohio's program. Ohio’s credit, introduced in 2021, has cost the state over $80 million in lost revenue and reduced tax collections by $21 million in fiscal 2024...
Unlock Tax‑Free Wealth: Use a Stocks & Shares ISA
5 reasons why a Stocks & Shares ISA is the best way to build wealth in the UK 🇬🇧 1. Easy to open in minutes 2. You choose how much to invest 3. Access to global ETFs & funds 4. Withdraw anytime, no lock...
EPA Will Revoke 'Endangerment Finding' That Underpins All Climate Regulation This Week
The EPA announced plans to rescind the 2009 endangerment finding that declared greenhouse gases a threat to public health, a cornerstone of U.S. climate regulation. The move, submitted to the Office of Management and Budget, represents the Trump administration’s most...
Lee Touts Digital Subscriptions Strategy as Subscribers Churn; Co. Gets Debt Reprieve
Lee Enterprises reported a 10% drop in total operating revenue to $130 million for Q4 2025, while digital subscription revenue grew 5% to $22.7 million. Despite the revenue boost, the company’s digital‑only subscriber base shrank from 728,000 in March to 609,000 by year‑end,...
Who Wrangled the Best Trade Deal From Donald Trump?
President Donald Trump recently secured trade agreements with Argentina and India, offering limited tariff reductions to facilitate U.S. exports. Both deals faced immediate domestic backlash: Indian farmer unions called the pact a “total surrender” and French officials described the EU‑U.S....
Historical Base Rates Reveal AI Growth Realities
We have a new report out today, "Bayes and Base Rates: How History Can Guide Our Assessment of the Future." -We place projected sales growth rates of some artificial intelligence (AI) businesses in the context of history. - We review...
Join Free Hands‑on AI Workshop for Finance, Sales, Ops Leaders
If you lead a finance, sales, service, or ops team and you're still trying to figure out where agentic AI fits, this is the room you want to be in. I'm keynoting at Microsoft Times Square on Feb 26 with...
Sen. Bernie Sanders to Kick Off California Billionaire Tax Campaign
Senator Bernie Sanders will launch a campaign to place a one‑time 5% billionaire tax on California’s November ballot. The measure seeks to raise funds to offset federal healthcare cuts, protecting over 3 million working‑class residents. Supporters must collect roughly 875,000 signatures...
PE Overvalued Saa
Entrepreneurs: private equity firms OVERVALUED SaaS companies during 2020-21. NOW, those “overvalued” companies are getting marked down 30-60% 🤯 If you’re an investor = BUY distressed assets LOW If you’re a startup founder = CASHFLOW CASHFLOW
StanChart CFO Abruptly Exits for Apollo
Standard Chartered announced that group CFO Diego De Giorgi is leaving immediately to join Apollo Global Management as a partner and head of EMEA. Peter Burrill, the bank's group head of central finance, will serve as interim CFO while a permanent replacement is...
Iconic Bourbon, Vodka Brands Spared From Chapter 7 Liquidation
A Texas bankruptcy judge ordered Chapter 11 trustees to take over Stoli USA and its bourbon affiliate Kentucky Owl, halting a planned conversion to Chapter 7 liquidation. The move followed objections from senior lender Fifth Third Bank and a negotiated settlement among...
Washington’s Millionaires Tax Advances in State Senate with Some Changes
Washington Senate Ways and Means Committee approved a revised millionaire’s tax bill, preserving a 9.9% levy on earnings above $1 million starting in 2028. The measure is projected to generate roughly $3.5 billion annually from about 30,000 high‑income taxpayers. Amendments include expanding...
Corruption Index: Yep, Things Are Bad
Transparency International released its 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, showing the global average score slipping to 42 and 122 of 182 countries falling below the 50‑point threshold for widespread public‑sector corruption. Only five nations now score above 80, a sharp decline...
Blue & Co. Joins Forces with D & Co. In Texas
Blue & Co., a top‑60 accounting firm, announced the acquisition of Texas‑based D & Co., adding more than 40 healthcare‑focused employees and six directors to its roster. The deal, effective Feb. 1, expands Blue & Co.’s footprint into Lubbock, Dallas, Fort Worth and Waco,...
How Is New Paid Family Leave Law in Minnesota Holding Up?
Minnesota’s paid family and medical leave program launched on Jan. 1 and delivered over $30 million in benefits during its first month, approving 13,700 claims. Early demand was buoyed by a surge of child‑bonding applications, a phenomenon known as the “baby bump.”...
China’s US Treasurys Exit Could Limit Japan’s Military Spending
China is directing state‑owned banks to cut U.S. Treasury holdings to roughly $750 billion by 2025, halving its 2010 peak. The reduction removes a major buyer from the market, shifting the financing burden toward Japan, the world’s largest foreign‑reserve holder. Japan’s...
Leah Partners with PwC UK on Agentic AI
Leah, the creator of Leah Agentic OS, has teamed up with PwC UK to embed its enterprise‑grade, domain‑native agentic AI platform into global business services. The partnership combines PwC's industry and functional expertise with Leah's OS to design, deploy, and...
CFOs to Prioritize Growth Functions, Technology and AI in 2026
CFOs are reshaping 2026 budgets to favor growth‑driving functions, technology and artificial intelligence, according to Gartner’s survey of over 300 finance leaders. More than half plan higher spending on sales and IT, with 28% targeting double‑digit growth, while marketing follows...
LMI Invests in Ara Partners’ Energy and Infrastructure Investment Platforms
LMI has announced a strategic investment in Ara Partners' energy and infrastructure investment platforms. The partnership will allow both firms to co‑invest and share deal flow across their respective mandates. By aligning with Ara Partners, LMI aims to deepen its...
Permira Acquires A Majority Stake in TeamViewer
Private equity firm Permira has completed a majority acquisition of Germany‑based enterprise software provider TeamViewer through a public tender offer, while the company remains listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The deal, finalized in January 2026, gives Permira control to...
Coca-Cola Forecasts Modest Growth Amid Demand Concerns
Coca‑Cola projects 2026 organic revenue growth of 4%‑5% and comparable earnings per share growth of 7%‑8%, despite a modest decline in overall beverage demand. Quarterly results showed adjusted earnings of 58 cents per share and net sales of $11.82 billion, slightly...
ACCA Future-Proofs Finance Professionals with New Tech-Focused Certificates
The episode explains ACCA's launch of a four‑part Technology in Finance certificate series, aimed at equipping accountants with practical skills in data analytics, cybersecurity, AI, and organisational transformation. It highlights that 50 % of finance leaders worry about skill gaps as...
Disappointing Holiday Season: December Retail Sales Were Flat, Falling Well Short of Estimate
December retail sales were flat month‑over‑month, missing the 0.4% gain economists expected after a 0.6% rise in November. Year‑over‑year sales rose 2.4%, trailing the 2.7% inflation rate, indicating real spending erosion. The slowdown was driven by harsh weather, lingering tariff...
Sources: Crypto Exchange Kraken Has Fired Its CFO, Stephanie Lemmerman, Ahead of Its Long-Awaited IPO; Lemmerman Joined Kraken From Dapper...
Kraken, the New York‑based crypto exchange, has terminated CFO Stephanie Lemmerman just weeks before its long‑awaited initial public offering. Lemmerman, who came from Dapper Labs in November 2024, was responsible for steering the firm’s financial reporting and regulatory compliance. The...
First Quantum Credit Outlook Improves on Cobre Panama Progress
S&P Global Ratings upgraded First Quantum Minerals' credit outlook to positive, citing tangible progress toward restarting the Cobre Panama copper mine. The agency now expects the mine to resume operations in the first half of 2026, with a production ramp‑up later...
SPS Commerce Embeds Agentic AI Into Supply Chain Execution
Supply chain network SPS Commerce launched MAX, an agentic AI suite embedded in its platform, to automate and coordinate retail trading workflows. MAX offers Chat, Monitor, and Connect capabilities that surface risks, guide resolutions, and interact with external systems via...
Tax Advice Has Become a Deal Risk Discipline — Not a Cost-Saving Exercise
Tax advice has moved from a cost‑saving exercise to a core deal‑risk discipline, with large corporates and private‑equity sponsors demanding certainty over clever tax tricks. Advisors now focus on historic tax positions that can surface during acquisitions, IPOs or refinancings,...
Lightyear Capital Eyes Demand for Mobile Parking; New Catalyst Provides Capital to Ferghana, as Private Markets Firms Continue to Team...
Lightyear Capital announced plans to carve out PayByPhone, the mobile parking platform, from its current owner Corpay. The move reflects growing private‑equity interest in technology‑driven parking solutions as cities seek smarter street‑parking management. At the same time, New Catalyst has...
CVS Tops Quarterly Estimates, Reaffirms Profit Outlook as Turnaround Plan Takes Effect
CVS Health posted fourth‑quarter earnings that beat expectations, with adjusted EPS $1.09 versus the $0.99 forecast and revenue $105.69 billion versus $103.59 billion expected. The company reaffirmed its 2026 profit guidance of $7‑$7.20 per share and a revenue target of at least...
Jim Cramer Says “You Better Believe NVIDIA (NVDA)’s Getting a Big Cut” Of the AI CapEx By Mega-Cap Tech
Jim Cramer highlighted NVIDIA as the primary beneficiary of the massive AI‑focused capital expenditures announced by mega‑cap technology firms. He noted that while some spend will go to Broadcom and Marvell, the bulk will flow to NVIDIA, helping the stock...
Michael Saylor Downplays Strategy Credit Risk as Bitcoin Tumbles: 'We'll Refinance the Debt'
Strategy Investment, led by Michael Saylor, holds 714,644 bitcoins valued at roughly $49 billion, making it the largest corporate Bitcoin owner. Despite Bitcoin’s recent 15% slide to $60,000, Saylor dismissed credit‑risk concerns, saying the firm will refinance its $8 billion debt and...
Inside the Deal: Eudia’s $105M Series A to Transform Legal Work Through AI-Powered Augmented Intelligence
Eudia, a Palo Alto‑based legal‑tech startup, closed a Series A round of up to $105 million in February 2025, led by General Catalyst and backed by a slate of prominent investors. The funding follows an 18‑month stealth period and comes as the company...
I only Shop for 2, but Buying in Bulk Saves Me Money. Here Are 10 Things I Always Get at...
Longtime Costco shopper Rebecca Kaplan outlines how buying in bulk for a two‑person household slashes grocery costs. She highlights ten staple items—eggs, chicken nuggets, canned tuna, white bread, toilet paper, laundry and dishwasher detergent, drinks, protein pasta, and novelty snacks—along...
Investing: Underwriting the Searcher
The blog explains why underwriting the searcher— the entrepreneur‑operator— is critical in search‑fund investing, where small businesses rely heavily on leadership grit. Unlike private‑equity deals that focus on scale and industry, search funds often lack seasoned CEOs, making operator quality...
Car Dealers Worry Prices Are Getting Too High for Shaky Economy
Car dealers warn that rising new‑vehicle prices threaten sales in 2026. Average new‑car price now $50,000, monthly payment $750, loan terms 70 months, while consumer confidence hits an 11‑year low. Dealers plan to increase inventory of cheaper trims and used...
Clayton On FCPA Enforcement
Jay Clayton, former SEC chair and U.S. attorney, reiterated his long‑standing criticism of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), arguing that aggressive U.S. enforcement can unintentionally boost corruption abroad. He cited the act’s high compliance costs as a driver for...
What CFOs Can Do to Close the Cyber-ERM Integration Gap
A new APQC study shows only 41% of firms integrate cybersecurity into enterprise risk management (ERM), leaving a critical visibility gap. The report highlights that merely 23% apply unified risk structures to suppliers, despite third‑party breaches rising. CFOs can close...
U.S.-UK Transatlantic Taskforce Hosts Industry Engagement in London
HM Treasury hosted U.S. Treasury officials and regulators in London on 26 January 2026 for senior‑level industry engagement of the Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future. The dialogue explored ways to tighten capital‑market links and coordinate on digital‑asset policy. The Taskforce,...
Excel Pros Must Learn Python to Trust Copilot
I've been doing analytics for 14+ years. And I'm a Microsoft Excel MVP. It's 2026 and top Excel users know better than making this mistake: Ignoring Python. Because Copilot in Excel uses Python to work it's magic with your data. Even if it doesn't tell...
Falling Software Valuations Demand 409A Repricing Decisions
Software valuations are falling which means 409As that are getting updated now will fall too. Should you reprice underwater stock options? Here is everything to consider: https://t.co/VumYhlVzRr
Corporate Report: Supplementary Estimates 2025-26
HM Treasury released the Supplementary Estimates for the 2025‑26 fiscal year, presented to the House of Commons on 10 February 2026. The documents request parliamentary authority for voted expenditure across all government departments, covering resources, capital projects and cash needs....
AI Threatens S&P's Analytics, Not Its Core Ratings
About 65% of $SPGI's (down >20% over past month) pre-tax earnings come from ratings & indices. The potential challenge that AI poses to S&P's analytics/consulting/intel business is something I get. But I don't understand AI's bear case for ratings & indices,...
Candle Media Sells ATTN Back to Founders, Retains Minority Stake
Exclusive: @candlemedia sells ATTN: back to founders Matthew Segal & Jarrett Moreno —Candle will maintain a minority stake —Segal and Moreno acquiring majority stake alongside a new investor group that includes Shari Redstone, Paul Wachter & more @axios https://t.co/MvQQNtTm26
Michigan Governor Floats ‘Sales Tax Holiday’ for School Supplies, Property Tax Refund for Seniors
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is set to unveil a budget proposal that includes a sales‑tax holiday on school supplies and a property‑tax refund for seniors. The holiday would suspend the 6% sales tax on clothing, classroom items and computers, while...
Paramount Raises WBD Bid, Adds $2.8 B Fee
NEW: #Paramount updates hostile takeover bid for @WBD —Will pay the $2.8 billion termination fee WBD would owe Netflix if deal collapsed —Will pay a $0.25 per share "ticking fee," to WBD shareholders for each Q transaction has not closed after...
Stripe Eyes $140B+ Tender Offer Valuation
Stripe is in talks to launch a tender offer that could value the payments company at more than $140 billion, Axios Pro has learned from multiple sources. https://t.co/ZdKZhv7qn6 https://t.co/uSM0o6lKUo