Today's Investment Banking Pulse
Blackstone commits up to $1.3bn to Apogee’s skin‑drug program
Blackstone is providing up to $1.3 billion in structured financing to Apogee Therapeutics, split between $800 million of equity and $500 million of debt with royalty‑linked returns. The capital will accelerate development of the atopic‑dermatitis candidate that recently met its Phase II primary endpoint.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Credit Agricole raises $670M via Samurai bond
SEC Reaches Partial Settlement with Consultant of Failed Bond-Financed Arizona Sports Park
The SEC reached a partial settlement with Jeffrey Puzzullo, the construction consultant who helped fabricate financial projections for the $284 million Legacy Cares municipal bond offering in Arizona. Puzzullo pleaded guilty to conspiracy, securities fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, admitting he created false revenue forecasts and forged letters of intent. The settlement permanently bars him from participating in any securities activities, while monetary restitution remains to be determined. The case follows earlier convictions of Legacy Sports executives and highlights systemic fraud in the municipal bond market.
![[Update] SEDEMAC IPO Closes With 2.68X Oversubscription](https://inc42.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=90/https://asset.inc42.com/2026/03/SEDEMAC-social.jpg)
[Update] SEDEMAC IPO Closes With 2.68X Oversubscription
SEDEMAC’s IPO closed with a 2.68X overall oversubscription, as investors bid for 1.51 cr shares against the 56.32 lakh on offer. Qualified institutional buyers led the demand, oversubscribing their 16.07 lakh quota by 8.46X, while non‑institutional and retail investors lagged, subscribing only 77%...
Broker’s Call: Hyundai Motor India (Reduce)
Hyundai Motor India posted an 8% YoY rise in Q3FY26 EBITDA to ₹2,020 crore, but the figure fell 17% quarter‑on‑quarter, missing both the broker’s and Bloomberg forecasts. Management highlighted GST‑driven demand and a dealer inventory below four weeks, projecting 5‑6% domestic...
California School Bonds Retain Resilience Despite Headwinds
California school‑district municipal bonds remain a solid risk‑adjusted investment despite mounting headwinds such as declining enrollment and exposure to child‑sex‑abuse lawsuits. Strong state backing via Proposition 98 and first‑lien tax claims underpin the sector’s credit quality, with most districts holding A‑rating...
From Labs to Listings: IIT Start-Ups Ride the IPO Wave
Indian Institutes of Technology are emerging as powerful engines of deep‑tech entrepreneurship, with several alumni‑founded companies recently completing high‑profile IPOs. Sedemac Mechatronics, an IIT‑Bombay spin‑out, listed at a ₹6,000 crore valuation, while Ather Energy’s IPO gave IIT‑Madras incubators a 5 % stake...
Yangzijiang Maritime Development Gets Shareholder Approval for Share Buyback at EGM
Yangzijiang Maritime announced that shareholders approved a share‑buyback mandate at its extraordinary general meeting, allowing the company to repurchase up to 10% of its issued shares. The resolution garnered votes representing roughly S$1.6 billion, or 99.9% of the shares present. The...
Advent Discloses Rejected $1.52bn Bid for UK Aerospace Supplier Senior
Advent Capital disclosed that its $1.52 billion offer for Senior, a UK aerospace components supplier, was turned down by the target's board. The rejection comes amid a competitive auction that includes Arcline Investment Management. Senior’s decision highlights valuation gaps between private‑equity...
Eclipse Re Issues Its First Private Cat Bond of the Year, $100m Series 2026-1A
Eclipse Re Ltd., a Bermuda‑based special purpose insurer, issued its first private catastrophe bond of 2026 – a $100 million Series 2026‑1A note listed on the Bermuda Stock Exchange. The bond, likely covering property catastrophe reinsurance or retrocession, matures on December 31 2027, making...
Jio IPO Timeline Nears as $4 Billion Listing Looms
Reliance Industries is preparing Jio Platforms' mega‑IPO, slated for early 2026, targeting a $4‑4.5 billion raise by selling a minimum 2.5% free float. Analysts argue the tiny public float could force the shares to trade at a premium, potentially neutralising the...
The IPO Buzz: MiniMed (MMED) Prices IPO at $20 – 20 Percent Below Range – & Stock Falls
MiniMed priced its IPO at $20 per share, a 20% discount to the low end of its $25 range, raising $560 million and valuing the company at $5.62 billion. The stock opened below the IPO price and closed its first NASDAQ session...
Antitrust: Trump 2.0’s “Deal Friendly” Merger Review
The DOJ and FTC under the Trump‑era “Deal Friendly” approach have shifted toward expediting non‑problematic mergers, reviving early termination practices, and favoring structural remedies such as divestitures. In 2025, agencies filed 12 enforcement actions, with nine settled via consent orders,...
Terminal Values Are Just DCF Shortcuts via Multiples
Terminal values are themselves short-hands for DCFs. This is because a terminal value is essentially a multiple. And a multiple is a short-cut for a DCF. More in the memo below 👇
Dunkin's Parent IPO Beats SpaceX and OpenAI
The year's most important IPO isn't for SpaceX or OpenAI. It would be for the parent company of Dunkin' (do I need SpaceX or OpenAI every day? nope. but my iced coffee is a nonnegotiable) https://t.co/6kXbsBReYh
The Boeing Company (BA): Our Calculation of Intrinsic Value
Each week we run a DCF model on Boeing, arriving at an intrinsic share price of roughly $85, far below the current market level near $230. The analysis uses a 10% discount rate, 2.5% terminal growth, and forecasts free cash...
MiniMed IPO Misses Expectations, Priced at $20
Oof. Only IPO of the week falls way short of expectations. MiniMed priced at $20 per share, versus $25-$28 range.
Axel Springer Snags Telegraph, Undermines RedBird‑IMI Deal
SCOOP: AXEL Springer to buy Telegraph, gate crashing an earlier deal RedBird IMI had with the Daily Mail. With dream team @DanielThomasLDN @ArashMassoudi https://t.co/JXU4G9iMuj
A Community-Bank Director Quits with a Parting Blast
Glen Herrick, a senior advisor and former CFO, resigned from MVB Financial’s board after just 14 months, publicly criticizing the bank’s executive‑compensation structure and lack of focus on recurring earnings. His departure is one of only four outspoken director resignations...
Apollo Launches Fundraising for 11th Flagship Vehicle
Apollo Global Management has opened fundraising for its 11th flagship private‑equity vehicle, aiming to secure capital after the previous fund fell short of its target. The firm is emphasizing its superior Distributions to Paid‑In (DPI) ratio to persuade limited partners...
Nexstar Moves Forward With TEGNA Tender Offer Following FCC Visit
Nexstar Media Group announced a cash tender offer to repurchase its 5% senior notes due 2029, a move directly tied to the pending acquisition of TEGNA. The offer, managed by BofA Securities, J.P. Morgan, and Goldman Sachs, will remain open...
Top 3 SPAC Targets – Agriculture
The column revives its Top 3 SPAC Targets list, spotlighting Costa Group, Amber Wave and Better Beef as prime agricultural merger candidates. It ties renewed SPAC activity to shifting trade policies, notably the Supreme Court’s removal of Trump‑era tariffs, and...
States Struggle to Get a Grip on Growth of Prediction Markets
Prediction‑market trading is booming, with 2025 activity surpassing $44 billion and state officials racing to regulate the sector. The CFTC, under Michael Selig, argues federal jurisdiction, while dozens of states file lawsuits claiming gambling violations. Florida’s bond finance chief Ben Watkins...
UMG Puts US Listing Plans on Hold
Universal Music Group announced it is putting its planned secondary listing on a U.S. exchange on hold, citing turbulent market conditions that have created a valuation dislocation. The decision follows a confidential Form F‑1 filing and a $500 million commitment from Pershing...
Find Burnt‑Out Profitable Owners Ready to Seller‑Finance
There are businesses generating $600K profit right now with owners who: • Haven’t had a holiday in 3 years • Have no succession plan • Would seller-finance the whole deal just to escape You just need to know how to find them and what...
Avoid All 8 IPOs: Market Conditions Signal
My Final Decision for All IPO : Avoid ❌ So, Out of 8 IPO - I personally asked to avoid all 8 IPO 🥲 It was best decision as per market conditions and situation. 🔴 Because, all of these IPO listed -ve @champ_trader
Aptiv Subsidiaries Begin $1.5bn Notes Offering for EDS Spin-Off
Aptiv’s subsidiaries have launched a $1.5 bn private senior notes offering tied to the planned spin‑off of its Electrical Distribution Systems (EDS) unit. The notes, due in 2031 and 2034, will be held in escrow until the separation is finalized. In...
Chamath's SPAC Commands 10.5% NAV Premium, Out
Believe it or not but @chamath's current SPAC, $AEXA, trades at the highest NAV premium of all pre-deal SPACs (by a long shot). $AEXA trades at a 10.5% premium to NAV, while the next highest valued are below a 2.5% premium. Despite...
Firms Use Repo‑Like Loans to Hide Debt
“The firms are using repo-like loans from one particular investment bank to mask debt, the letter says.” https://t.co/YLQH5cPi6f
Tikehau Capital: Information Relating to the Total Number of Voting Rights and Shares as of 28 February 2026
Tikehau Capital filed a regulatory notice on 5 March 2026 detailing its share capital as of 28 February 2026. The company reported 175,247,840 total shares, each carrying a voting right, resulting in identical notional voting rights. After accounting for treasury shares, exercisable voting rights...
Goldman Banker Hides Employer; Barclays Banker Doesn’t.
The Goldman banker was smart enough not to let them print that he works there. The Barclays banker though... https://t.co/XQUyhDbCNS
Exploring SpaceX IPO, Covid Legacy, iPod's Music Revolution
✍️ Longform links: a look at a potential SpaceX IPO, the long-term health impacts of Covid, and how the iPod changed our relationship with music. https://t.co/6bSrheJuzD image: https://t.co/vMSvzVUcJK https://t.co/8bTwTklNAR
Bridgepoint Mulls Options for Defence Investing Strategy
Bridgepoint is evaluating how to position its capital in Europe’s burgeoning defense sector. A recent Carlyle Group white paper projects that the continent could allocate up to €14 trillion to defense and related infrastructure over the next ten years. The magnitude...
Marriott Monterey Hotel Receives $75M Refi
Sunshine‑Eichner arranged a $75 million non‑recourse first‑mortgage loan to refinance the Marriott Monterey hotel in downtown Monterey, California. The five‑year, interest‑only loan carries a fixed rate with an all‑in cost below 6% after securing a low‑200s credit spread among 19 competing...
Delayed Coverage of $20 Million Loan Write‑down Emerges
Not sure why the write-down of a $20 million loan that was disclosed nearly two months ago is news but here we are https://t.co/lfuuXrqdYg
Pasqal‑Bleichroeder Deal Targets $2B Valuation by 2026
Pasqal / Bleichroeder Acquisition II deal overview Quantum computing company $2.0 billion enterprise value Closing H2 2026 PR: https://t.co/Y8kjd8LJdO IR deck: https://t.co/27uxUkWA9t Disclosure: Long $BBCQ shares + warrants in $ARB.to https://t.co/EfgkoWpFiI
Irish-Founded Startup Evervault Raises €21 Million to Advance Encrypted Data Orchestration
Irish‑founded Evervault announced a €21 million Series B round, led by Ribbit Capital with Sequoia Capital and Index Ventures participating, bringing its total financing to €39 million. The developer‑first platform encrypts and orchestrates sensitive data, chiefly for card‑payment workflows, and now processes over...
Five Unexpected Companies That Could Acquire PayPal
Who Should Acquire PayPal? 5 Potential Acquirers Nobody’s Talking About PayPal is now considered to be a prime acquisition target. Who besides Stripe would be a good acquirer? Here are 5 potential candidates. Try to keep an open mind. https://t.co/rrD4BdDrG8
Rentomojo Sets Stage for IPO with Public Entity Conversion
Rentomojo has formally converted from a private to a public limited company, clearing a regulatory hurdle ahead of its anticipated IPO in FY27. The Bengaluru‑based rental platform now serves over 220,000 active subscribers, manages more than 770,000 items, and operates...
Investor Skepticism Creates Opportunity
An asset manager’s bonds are priced 50‑75 basis points wider than those of its major peers. Rating agencies signal potential upgrades, while the bond market doubts the firm’s credit health. The company’s fourth‑quarter results revealed record fundraising, growing margins, and...
This Airline Stock Is the Most at Risk From Higher Jet Fuel Prices as U.S.-Iran War Continues, Says Rothschild
Rothschild & Co Redburn downgraded American Airlines to neutral and cut its price target to $12.5 from $17, citing heightened exposure to jet‑fuel price spikes amid the ongoing U.S.–Iran conflict. The analyst highlighted that a 10‑cent per‑gallon increase in fuel...
OCC's GENIUS Implementation Draft Rule Keeps Yield on the Table
The OCC has issued a draft implementation rule for the GENIUS Act that establishes a rebuttable presumption that stablecoin issuers and their affiliates may not pay interest or yield on payment stablecoins. While the language appears to ban direct yield,...
SpaceX's $1.75T IPO Dream Defies $20B Revenue Reality
SpaceX provably has revenues of less than $20bn and loses money after the merger with xAI, but is targeting a $1.75 TRILLION IPO. So FTAV explored how Musk might try to pull off what could be the biggest bagholder operation...
ITV Remains in Sky Deal Talks, Posts Slight Full-Year Studios Profit Drop, Ad Revenue Falls 5 Percent
ITV confirmed it is still negotiating a potential sale of its Media & Entertainment unit to Sky for about £1.6 billion, while reporting a modest decline in ITV Studios profit and a 5% drop in advertising revenue for 2025. Total external...
7 Out of Last 8 Mainboard IPOs Delivered Negative Listing Gains. What Is Going Wrong with India’s IPO Market?
India’s IPO market has stalled, with seven of the last eight main‑board listings debuting below their issue prices. The Nifty’s 6% year‑to‑date decline and heightened volatility have curbed investor appetite for new issues. Overpriced offerings such as Omnitech Engineering and...
New Broker Search CDI Will Facilitate Shareholder Approval of Deals
The SEC’s Corporate Finance Division issued a new Compliance Disclosure Interpretation (CDI) that relaxes the 20‑business‑day rule for broker searches ahead of shareholder meetings. The guidance lets companies set record dates earlier, giving them more flexibility when seeking shareholder approval...
The Pros and Cons of IPOs and SPAC Mergers
The article examines whether fast‑growing firms should go public via a traditional IPO or a SPAC merger, emphasizing the role of forward‑looking statements. SPAC deals historically allow more detailed projections, which can attract both sophisticated and unsophisticated investors. The SEC’s...
China to Inject 300 Billion Yuan Into State Banks, Deepen Reform of State Financial Firms
China announced a 300 billion yuan capital injection into state‑owned banks via a special treasury bond, coupled with deeper reforms of state financial firms. The move targets major lenders such as ICBC and Agricultural Bank of China to shore up capital...
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust to Ally with US Firm Raymond James
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group announced a strategic alliance with U.S. brokerage Raymond James, aiming to combine expertise in finance, M&A, real‑estate and asset management. The partnership gives SM Trust access to Raymond James' $1.8 trillion in client assets and its network...
UOBKH’s ‘Alpha Picks’ Outperform STI in February; Keppel, Singtel Added for March
UOB Kay Hian’s Alpha Picks portfolio outperformed the Straits Times Index in February, delivering a 3.9% equal‑weighted gain versus the STI’s 1.8% rise. The brokerage rebalanced for March, adding defensive large‑caps Huating Global, Keppel and Singtel while trimming exposure to...
Sony Divests Whisper Stake
Sony Pictures Television is selling its 30% share in The Whisper Group after five years of partnership. The divestiture returns Whisper to private ownership, with external financing to fund its strategy and an employee equity plan. During Sony’s tenure, Whisper’s...