Today's Investment Banking Pulse
Autodesk to acquire MaintainX for $3.6B, expanding into operations software
Autodesk announced an all‑cash $3.6 billion purchase of MaintainX, a mobile‑first maintenance and operations platform. The transaction is funded with cash on hand, new debt and includes a $150 million restricted‑stock grant to retain staff. CEO Andrew Anagnost said the deal unlocks a $40 billion addressable market and extends Autodesk’s portfolio beyond design into building operations.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Credit Agricole raises $670M via Samurai bond issuance
Nashville to Price About $502 Million in Midst of Growth
The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County is set to price about $502 million of general‑obligation refunding bonds on March 19, led by BofA Securities and Morgan Stanley. The Series 2026D issue carries AA‑plus ratings from S&P and KBRA and yields ranging from 2.62% to 4.25% across three tranches. Recent property‑tax reassessments have boosted urban revenue by 26% and suburban revenue by 39%, while municipal spending rose 15.9% year‑over‑year. The proceeds will refinance older GO bonds and fund a tender offer, keeping total direct debt near $6.1 billion.
Senior Deals Earn Fees, Then Face Distressed Capital
The 2024 SteerCo playbook: Go super-senior, get fees, get paid. The 2026 SteerCo playbook: Go super-senior, get fees, get stuck with new money that’s now also distressed.
Evernorth Files SPAC Merger, Launches $1B XRP Treasury
BIG: Evernorth files Form S-4 for SPAC merger to go public and launch $1B XRP treasury on Nasdaq
Delaware Supreme Court Guidance on ADR Provisions to Resolve Earnout Disputes—Stillfront
The Delaware Supreme Court in Fortis Advisors v. Stillfront held that an ADR clause labeling an accounting firm as an "Arbitrator" grants it broad authority to resolve all earnout‑related disputes, including legal and bad‑faith claims, not just calculation issues. The...
HSBC Mulls Up to 20,000 Job Cuts in AI‑Driven Overhaul
HSBC is evaluating a plan that could eliminate as many as 20,000 positions, roughly 10% of its global staff, as CEO Georges Elhedery pushes an AI‑focused efficiency drive. The proposal, still under review, targets non‑client‑facing middle and back‑office roles and...
InsideArbitrage Event Driven Monitor – March 19, 2026
The March 19 InsideArbitrage Event Driven Monitor highlighted several high‑profile merger‑arbitrage moves, including SunOpta’s April 16 shareholder meeting following an Ontario court order and Saltchuk’s cash tender offer for Great Lakes Dredge’s 5.25% senior notes due 2029. The Department of...
Leveraged Loan Insight & Analysis – 3/16/2026
U.S. primary market leveraged loan yields rose to 8.09% in March, the highest level since April 2025. The increase reflects broader pricing pressure on first‑lien institutional term loan Bs with a three‑year repayment horizon. Single‑B rated credits led the yield...
How Precise Can Your Coverage Be without Unified and Real-Time Data?
Investment banks are confronting a widening precision gap caused by fragmented data across inboxes, spreadsheets, and legacy CRMs. Leaders recognize that unified, real‑time client, sponsor, and portfolio visibility is essential for sharper interactions, smarter prioritization, and faster execution. Platforms such...
JPMorgan’s First Taiwan ETF in over Decade Faces Crowded Market
JPMorgan Asset Management is launching its first Taiwan‑focused ETF since 2010, entering a market valued at about US$260 billion. The fund will employ an active strategy that combines cash equities with covered‑call options to boost cash distributions. Taiwan’s ETF sector is...
Index Backs YC Alum Parallel in $20m Series A to Bring AI Agents to Hospitals
Parallel, a Y Combinator alumnus, announced a $20 million Series A round led by Index Ventures. The capital will be used to develop AI‑driven software agents that automate routine administrative tasks in hospitals, such as scheduling, billing, and records management. Parallel aims...
CLOs Don’t Count Against Fund of Fund Caps
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued new guidance stating that collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) are not considered fund‑like investments for the purpose of fund‑of‑fund (FoF) investment caps. The clarification means that FoF managers can allocate to CLOs without those...
UOB Prices Rmb5bn Panda Bond; DB and BNP Paribas Also Issue Bonds in March
Singapore’s United Overseas Bank (UOB) priced a three‑year panda bond worth RMB 5 billion at a 1.83% yield on March 18, marking a notable entry into China’s offshore yuan market. In the same month, Deutsche Bank and BNP Paribas each issued panda bonds exceeding RMB 5 billion,...
Liability Management’s Limited Runway: Corporate Restructuring Today
Recent research on coercive, non‑pro rata liability management exercises (LMEs) shows they provide only a brief, fragile runway for distressed firms. Within a year, fewer than half avoid a second default, and after two years just 22 % remain out of...
Rollover Equity: Considerations for a Seller
John Jenkins highlights key considerations for sellers contemplating equity rollovers in M&A transactions. The blog stresses that call options embedded in buyer agreements can allow the acquirer to repurchase the seller’s rolled‑over stake, often at below‑market prices and over extended...
How Mega IPOs Could Take All the Money Away From Smaller IPOs | Pitchbook
Pitchbook warns that upcoming mega IPOs could dominate market liquidity in 2026. SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic are rumored to go public, potentially becoming the three largest VC‑backed IPOs ever. Their combined valuation may surpass the total value of all VC‑backed...
CLNs-the-Winner
Credit‑Linked Notes (CLNs) are being hailed as the premier tool for capital‑relief trades in the structured credit market. Recent commentary highlights their ability to off‑load credit risk while preserving balance‑sheet efficiency. The piece situates CLNs amid a shifting regulatory landscape,...
Kraken Pauses IPO After $20B Valuation Surge
Kraken raised at a $20 billion valuation in November. Four months later, it's shelving its IPO plans. 📋 Read More: https://lnkd.in/ekYqtFtm
Capteris Equipment Leases Support $436.9 Million
Capteris Equipment Finance is set to sell a $436.9 million asset‑backed securities (ABS) transaction, Series 2026‑1, backed by 216 commercial equipment leases from 57 obligors. The deal issues six tranches, with senior A1 and A2 notes receiving the bulk of capital and...
JPMorgan Halts Qualtrics $5.3 Billion Debt Deal
JPMorgan Chase and a syndicate of banks have paused a $5.3 billion debt financing for Qualtrics International after the software firm failed to attract sufficient investor interest. The slowdown reflects heightened market anxiety over artificial‑intelligence disruption and a broader pullback from...
Moody's Downgrades the Met and The New School
Moody's downgraded New York's Metropolitan Opera Association to Caa1 from B3, pushing it deeper into junk territory, and lowered The New School's rating to Baa1 from A3. The Met faces a $120 million endowment draw, $178 million debt, and liquidity constraints with...
OpenAI’s Strategy Shift Ahead of IPO
The Motley Fool Money team discusses OpenAI's strategic pivot ahead of a rumored 2026 IPO, noting the company's shift from consumer‑focused side projects like a browser and video app to enterprise‑grade products such as the expanded Codex platform. They explore...
Liquidity, Not Credit, Drives Crises; Public BDCs Undervalued
If you read one thing on private credit today, make it Sixth Street's investor letter. The highlights: “Crises don’t happen because of credit issues, they happen because of liquidity issues. "If you believe in efficient markets, public BDCs trading at significant discounts...
New SPAC: AmperCap Acquisition Company (APMCU) Files for $125M IPO
AmperCap Acquisition Company (ticker APMCU) filed its S‑1 to launch a $125 million special purpose acquisition company IPO. The filing, submitted on March 18, 2026, positions AmperCap among the latest wave of SPACs seeking to capitalize on renewed investor appetite. The...
PREPA Parties Discuss Path Forward
U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain urged the Puerto Rico Oversight Board to consider a contingent vehicle instrument (CVI) in its PREPA plan of adjustment as parties grapple with the size of bondholders' secured claim. The board has offered bondholders...
Analysts Keep Aggressive Targets After NBIS Capital Raise
Yesterday $NBIS announced a large capital raise. Despite that, Northland Securities reiterated their Price Target of $232, 99% above today's price. $150 ➡️ $200 D.A. Davidson Increased Price Target $169 Citi initiated a Price Target
Iran War Isn't Spooking Muni Buyers yet, but They're Keeping Eye on Transportation Credits
Municipal bond investors remain unfazed by the Iran‑Israel‑U.S. conflict, viewing munis as a domestic safe‑haven despite rising oil prices and Treasury yields. New‑issue issuance dipped below $10 billion this week, yet demand stayed strong, with several deals oversubscribed. Transportation‑related credits, especially...
U.S. Bank Hires Alan Flanagan to Oversee Global Investment Service
U.S. Bank appointed Alan Flanagan as head of its global investment services division, overseeing fund services, corporate trust, CLOs and alternative investments. Flanagan brings nearly two decades of experience from BNY Mellon, where he led client coverage for asset servicing....
Top 3 SPAC Targets – Alternative Fuels
The SPAC market is reviving as oil prices stay near $100 and geopolitical tensions keep supply tight, creating a sweet spot for alternative‑fuel producers. Renewable natural gas, ethanol and renewable diesel firms can charge commodity‑level prices while offering domestic, low‑carbon...
Private Capital Advisory: “M&A Lite” Or the Highest-Growth Area in Investment Banking?
Private Capital Advisory (PCA) groups, which specialize in secondary transactions for limited partners and continuation funds for general partners, have become one of the fastest‑growing segments of investment banking. Deal volume in private‑equity secondaries has risen about 20% CAGR from...
Municipal Bankruptcy Stays Rare, but Credit Stress Keeps Chapter 9 in Focus
The municipal bond market faces heightened credit stress in 2026, but actual bankruptcies remain uncommon. While the ratio of upgrades to downgrades tightens, sector‑specific risks are emerging in project finance, housing, and healthcare issuances. Chapter 9 remains limited to municipalities, with...
Kraken Shelves IPO Plans Amid Market Headwinds: CoinDesk
Kraken has suspended its planned initial public offering after filing a draft S‑1 in November 2025 that targeted a $20 billion valuation. The decision reflects broader market headwinds that have made crypto‑focused IPOs increasingly risky. While the exchange had been exploring...
UBS Nears Full Credit Suisse Integration by Finishing IT Project
UBS has finished migrating roughly 1.2 million former Credit Suisse clients onto its own platforms, marking a pivotal step in the three‑year integration that began after the 2023 rescue acquisition. The bank now enters the final integration phase, focusing on decommissioning...
SPAC Fallout, Accrual Battles, and the Long Tail of De-SPAC Risk
The Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the Delaware Chancery Court’s ruling that the standard three‑year statute of limitations applies to fiduciary‑duty claims arising from de‑SPAC transactions. The court applied Delaware’s long‑standing occurrence rule, holding that the limitations clock starts when the...
EIB Provides €100 Million Loan to Dolmen Solar for Four Irish PV Projects
The European Investment Bank has granted a €100 million project‑finance loan to Dolmen Solar Ltd, a Power Capital holding, to build four utility‑scale solar farms in Ireland. The €260 million investment will deliver 395 MWp of capacity, generate 367 GWh a year and create...
How Private Equity ACTUALLY Buys Companies
In this episode of the Private Equity Funcast, co‑founder Ryan Milligan walks through the end‑to‑end process of buying a company, from sourcing deals to closing them. He explains how deal sourcing has evolved from simple phone calls in the 70s...
Cat Bond Issuance Could Set New Records for Both February and March in 2026
Catastrophe bond issuance in the first quarter of 2026 is projected between $6.34 billion and $6.54 billion, making it the second‑largest Q1 on record. February 2026 already broke the $2 billion threshold and March is on track to exceed $3 billion, setting new monthly...
Jio IPO Set to Become India's Largest Offering
India Biggest IPO JIO IPO is coming soon.. IPO DRHP most probably will file in March. So, be ready for India's biggest IPO. #ipo #ipoalert #jio
FT‑Targeted Biotech Stocks Deliver Short‑Term Alpha
Good read on Biopharma M&A by RBC , little mention to Betaville, Bloomberg, FT , oand ofc the standout $RVMD Our biopharma team is out with an M&A discussion piece - given the importance of M&A to the sector, it is...
Guardian Metal Resources (GMTL) IPO Deck
Guardian Metal Resources (GMTL) filed an IPO deck outlining its strategy to explore and develop tungsten and polymetallic critical‑mineral projects in Nevada. The company positions tungsten as essential to U.S. national and economic security, leveraging recent policy focus on domestic...
McEwen Copper Targets $300M IPO for Argentina Project
McEwen Copper $MUX plans $300M IPO to finance Argentina project, executive says 📈📈https://t.co/fhxIiLErgw via @KitcoNewsNOW
SilverVarden‑Contango Merger Approved, JV Details Upcoming Changes
No drama here. @SilverVarden's merger with Contango just got the green light from shareholders. What changes now? JV breaks it down: https://t.co/Pn3csAb89P
Deutsche Bank CEO Warns Q1 Trading Revenue Dip as FX Headwinds Bite
Deutsche Bank chief Christian Sewing cautioned that first‑quarter 2026 trading revenue will likely fall, leaving overall investment‑banking revenue flat year‑on‑year. He added that private‑credit concerns remain noisy but non‑systemic, and the bank is poised to benefit from the Commerzbank takeover...
White House, Oracle, Silver Lake Dodge $10B TikTok Sale Questions
The White House, Oracle and Silver Lake won't answer questions about a $10 billion payment that was apparently required to secure the TikTok sale. It's unprecedented. And officially undisclosed. U.S. investors and biz leaders should want answers. https://t.co/Y0n8MTHFKa
RBC Flags Revolution, Xenon, Arrowhead as Top Biotech Takeover Targets
RBC: Revolution, Xenon, Arrowhead among top #biotech takeover targets https://t.co/h1toH9szrU by @realJacobBell $ARWR $XENE $RVMD $DYNE
UK Family Office, VCs Cash in on Swarmer’s Moonshot IPO
Drone software developer Swarmer completed a high‑profile IPO, attracting a consortium of UK investors. This group—including Theseus Capital Partners, D3 Venture Capital, Green Flag Ventures, R‑G AI and Radius Capital Ventures—now holds combined shares valued at $177 million. The IPO underscores...
EIB Funds 290MW Solar and 350MW Storage in Italy
EIB to finance 290MW solar PV and 350MW BESS Italian portfolio #energysky -- via pv-tech: https://t.co/ivC4mfMTQa
Bill Dudley’s Market Mix‑up Highlights Investor Confusion
If Bill Dudley still confuses First Brands and Tricolor with private credit, literally six months after all market participants realized they were in the broadly syndicated loan and asset backed finance markets, then what hope do regular people have? https://t.co/aA33Nc1928
Capital Tankers Corp. Lists on Euronext Growth
Capital Tankers Corp. debuted on Euronext Growth Oslo after a NOK 4.8 billion private placement, the largest western shipping listing in two decades. The company issued 131.05 million shares, with a greenshoe option to raise the total to 135.7 million. At market open the...
Altai Capital Presses OSUR Sale, Activ
$OSUR is a cash box with a diagnostic business attached. Altai Capital is pushing for a full strategic review/sale. Activist has also nominated two directors for the upcoming AGM. Altai's SOPT in the screenshot. https://t.co/tAJzNe8cMy
Credit Markets Tighten as Qualtrics Loan Stalls
While credit markets are open to many companies, they're starting to close for others. Qualtrics, which makes online survey tools, had to ice a $5.3 billion loan and bond deal due to lack of investor appetite. https://t.co/DE0BfMnHYT