Plata Raises $405M Series C at $5B Valuation
Mexican fintech Plata closed a $405 million Series C round, pushing its valuation to $5 billion. The round was led by Bicycle Capital with participation from Kora, Qatar Investment Authority and BTG Pactual. Plata, now a fully licensed digital bank, plans to expand lending, broaden its product suite and enter new geographies as it eyes a potential IPO. The company has grown to 3.5 million active credit‑card users and reports over $600 million in annualized revenue.
STAT+: Eli Lilly’s $3.25 Billion Acquisition of Kelonia Therapeutics Caps Startup’s Tortuous Ride
Eli Lilly announced a $3.25 billion acquisition of Kelonia Therapeutics, a small biotech focused on cell therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases. The deal may include additional payments if Kelonia meets clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestones. Kelonia, formerly Elcano Therapeutics, survived on...
Culture Due Diligence Is Real and Necessary
The article highlights a surge of more than 200 mergers, acquisitions, alliances and joint ventures among the top 100 CPA firms, driven by an aging partner base, stagnant organic growth, and talent shortages. While financial and operational due diligence is...
World’s Best Investment Banks 2026: Africa
The 2026 Global Finance ranking highlights Rand Merchant Bank, Standard Chartered, Chapel Hill Denham and Absa as Africa’s top investment banks. RMB delivered $939.2 million profit before tax and a 20.7% ROE while commanding a 16% South African M&A market share....
USA Rare Earth Boosts Western Supply with $2.8B Brazil Deal
USA Rare Earth (USAR) announced a $2.8 billion acquisition of Brazil’s Serra Verde Group, paying $300 million in cash and issuing 126.85 million shares. The deal brings the Pela Ema heavy‑rare‑earth mine—Latin America’s only producing operation—into a vertically integrated Western supply chain that also...
FCA Publishes Findings in Relation to Market Soundings in UK Equity Capital Markets
The FCA released a review of market soundings in UK equity capital markets, analysing transactions over £50 million (about $63 million) that ran between January 2023 and June 2025. It found that trading volumes fell roughly 13% during the sounding window, while key quality...
World’s Best Investment Banks 2026: Asia-Pacific
Asia‑Pacific investment banks are cementing dominance as deal flow surges across M&A, equity and debt markets. ICBC reported $121 billion operating income and led China’s merger financing and bond underwriting, while DBS facilitated a $1.1 billion brokerage merger in Singapore and multiple...
World’s Best Investment Banks 2026: Central & Eastern Europe
The 2026 Global Finance ranking spotlights four Central and Eastern European banks that dominated 2025 deal flow. PKO Bank Polski coordinated Allegro’s €677 million accelerated book‑build and issued a €500 million green bond, while Bank Pekao advised the €1.2 billion Packeta Group sale...
Kelonia Investor Venrock Will Clear a 45-Fold Return on Startup's Sale to Lilly
Venture capital firm Venrock is set to pocket roughly $900 million after its modest $20 million seed investment in Kelonia Therapeutics paid off. Kelonia agreed to an all‑cash acquisition by Eli Lilly valued at $3.25 billion, delivering an upfront payment that triggers the windfall....
Lilly Adds Gene Delivery Technology to CAR T in up to $7B Kelonia Deal
Eli Lilly announced an up‑to $7 billion acquisition of Kelonia Therapeutics, securing its Phase 1 lentiviral in‑vivo CAR‑T candidate KLN‑1010 and the iGPS gene‑delivery platform. iGPS uses lentiviral particles to program a patient’s own T‑cells, potentially eliminating ex‑vivo manufacturing and pre‑treatment chemotherapy. The deal...
Jersey Mike’s Could Go Public
Jersey Mike’s Submarines is preparing for an initial public offering after filing a confidential S‑1 with the SEC. The sandwich chain expanded from 2,387 stores in early 2023 to 3,227 locations by early 2026, driven by a majority‑stake purchase by...
Honeywell to Sell Productivity Solutions and Services Business to Brady Corporation
Honeywell announced it will sell its Productivity Solutions and Services (PSS) business to Brady Corporation for $1.4 billion in cash. The PSS unit, which generated about $1.1 billion in 2025 revenue, provides mobile computers, barcode scanners and printing solutions for warehouse and...
New Found Gold Secures $150M for First Phase of Queensway Project
Canadian miner New Found Gold secured C$205 million (approximately $150 million) in financing to advance its Queensway gold project in Newfoundland and Labrador. The package includes a C$100 million equity raise and a C$105 million senior secured credit facility, both led by EdgePoint Investment...
‘Multiple’ Parties Express Interest in Acquiring Wasserman’s The Team Agency
Multiple suitors, including United Talent Agency, private‑equity firm Permira, former Endeavor chairman Patrick Whitesell, and a consortium led by Reddit co‑founder Alexis Ohanian, are circling The Team, the rebranded Wasserman talent agency. Interested parties have until April 20 to submit offers...
The Home Depot Acquires Automation Firm
The Home Depot announced the acquisition of SIMPL Automation, a firm that combines advanced engineering with artificial‑intelligence to streamline distribution‑center operations. The deal, whose financial terms were not disclosed, adds AI‑driven robotics and real‑time analytics to Home Depot’s supply‑chain toolkit....
Bulley & Andrews Acquires Interiors Contractor ICG
Bulley & Andrews, a 135‑year‑old Chicago contractor, announced the acquisition of Interior Construction Group (ICG). Financial terms were not disclosed, and ICG will operate as Bulley & Andrews Interior Construction Group with no layoffs. The deal expands B&A’s interior‑fitout capabilities...
Update: Lilly Makes $7bn Bid for in Vivo CAR-T Firm Kelonia
Eli Lilly has confirmed a $3.25 billion upfront offer for Kelonia Therapeutics, with milestone payments that could lift the total value to $7 billion. Kelonia’s in vivo CAR‑T candidate KLN‑1010 demonstrated MRD‑negative responses in a four‑patient early‑stage study, highlighting the promise of off‑the‑shelf cell...
Dangote Sugar Refinery Gets Shareholders’ Approval for N500bn Rights Issue
Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc secured shareholder approval for a N500 billion (≈$1.1 billion) rights issue at its AGM. The company, with 12.146 billion shares outstanding at N68 (~$0.15) each, is 66.9% owned by Dangote Industries, while Aliko Dangote holds 5.4%. Financially, the 2025 loss...
Agnico Lines up $3B Multi-Deal to Build Finland Hub
Agnico Eagle is orchestrating a roughly $3 billion, three‑deal package to consolidate a 2,492‑sq‑km gold district in Finland. The core transaction is a $2.1 billion acquisition of Rupert Resources, adding the 3.5 million‑ounce Ikkari project adjacent to its Kittila mine. Additional cash deals...
World’s Best Investment Banks 2026: Latin America
Latin America’s investment banking sector showed robust activity in 2025, with BTG Pactual reaffirming its lead by generating $15 bn in M&A, $2 bn in equity capital markets and over $159 bn in debt capital markets. Itaú BBA leveraged a market rebound to...
World’s Best Investment Banks 2026: Middle East
In 2025 the Middle East’s investment‑banking scene was driven by post‑pandemic growth, energy diversification and sweeping capital‑market reforms. KFH Capital topped the list, executing over $60 billion in transactions and leading 16 debt issuances, including a landmark $3 billion sukuk for Saudi...
World’s Best Investment Banks 2026: North America
In 2025 North America’s investment banks overcame early‑year geopolitical and tariff headwinds, with J.P. Morgan, Houlihan Lokey, Morgan Stanley and BofA Securities emerging as the top performers. J.P. Morgan drove a $1 billion Circle deal, a $364 million Heartflow offering and advised a $15 billion Walgreens...
World’s Best Investment Banks 2026: Western Europe
The 2026 Global Finance ranking spotlights Western Europe’s top investment banks as the region rebounds. UBS led equity capital markets, coordinating the €808 m (≈$874 m) Ottobock IPO and a £348 m (≈$467 m) UK listing, while Rothschild & Co dominated M&A with 362...
Cora Gold Secures $120m in Funding for Mali Project
Cora Gold has secured a $120 million gold‑stream financing from Eagle Eye Asset to fully fund its Sanankoro Gold Project in southern Mali, complementing a recent $21.2 million equity raise. The stream covers 30.44% of the mine’s output at a discounted 20%...
Houlihan Lokey: Hiring Top Talent Is The Key
Houlihan Lokey reported closing 458 M&A deals in 2025, surpassing giants such as Goldman Sachs, Rothschild and JPMorgan Chase. The firm attributes the surge to deep sector expertise combined with a broad geographic footprint—55% of its revenue comes from the U.S. and...
Jersey Mike’s 'Confidentially' Files for IPO with $1B Target
Jersey Mike’s Subs has confidentially filed an S‑1 to pursue an initial public offering, targeting a $1 billion raise at a minimum $12 billion valuation. Backed by majority‑owner Blackstone, the company could debut as early as Q3 2026, positioning it among the top...
Revolut’s Blockbuster IPO Is Two Years Out, Says Nik Storonsky
Revolut founder Nik Storonsky told Bloomberg TV the fintech’s public listing is at least two years away, pushing the IPO timeline to 2026 or later. The company recently secured a $75 bn valuation in a secondary share sale that included Nvidia’s...
Brown-Forman: Stuck In The Middle Of A Potential Buyout And Rising Macro Pressure
Brown‑Forman Corp. (BF.A) is rated Hold as its shares hover between fair‑value and speculative buyout levels after recent acquisition interest. The company posted $628 M of free cash flow in the first nine months of FY 26, supported by strong cash balances,...
Sify Technologies: All Eyes On Proposed Data Center Segment IPO - Buy (Rating Upgrade)
Sify Technologies’ American Depository Shares have surged amid AI‑infrastructure enthusiasm, prompting the firm to ready an IPO for its data‑center unit Sify Infinit Spaces (SISL). The IPO targets a $4.2 billion valuation, leaving Sify with an estimated 83.1% stake worth about...
Why Companies Make Big Acquisitions Before Markets Stabilise — And Why Most Get It Wrong
Companies often wait for market stability before pursuing large acquisitions, but this habit can forfeit pricing advantages. The article argues that the optimal window lies between disruption and recovery, when risk premiums have been priced in but valuations have not...
William Hill Owner Evoke in Takeover Talks With Bally’s Intralot
Bally’s Intralot SA has entered exclusive talks to acquire Evoke Plc, the parent of UK bookmaker William Hill. The proposal values Evoke at roughly £225 million (about $304 million) and translates to a 50‑pence‑per‑share offer. Evoke confirmed it is reviewing the bid,...
British Land Completes Takeover of Life Science REIT
British Land has completed the acquisition of Life Science REIT, adding a portfolio of laboratory and research facilities to its holdings. The deal expands British Land’s footprint into the United Kingdom’s “Golden Triangle,” the high‑growth corridor linking London, Oxford and...
Razorpay Plans Confidential IPO Filing Soon; Targets $600-700 Million Raise at $5-6 Billion Valuation
Razorpay is preparing a confidential IPO filing within weeks, targeting a $600‑$700 million raise at a $5‑$6 billion valuation, down from its $7.5 billion peak. The fintech recently completed a reverse flip to India, incurring roughly $150 million in tax costs, and reported FY25...
Omkara, Oaktree Pay ₹1,200 Crore to Buy GTL Debt From Edelweiss
Omkara Asset Reconstruction Company, partnered with Oaktree Capital Management, completed an all‑cash purchase of GTL Infrastructure's distressed debt from Edelweiss ARC for roughly ₹1,200 crore (about $145 million). The debt originated from a 2018 acquisition where Edelweiss and investors took on 90%...
Matrix Composites Engineering to Be Acquired by AIH Under Binding Scheme
Advanced Innergy Holdings (AIH) has entered a binding scheme to acquire 100% of Matrix Composites Engineering (ASX:MCE) for A$0.40 per share, roughly $0.26 USD. The offer, a 66.7% premium to the March 30 closing price, includes call‑option deeds on an additional...
IPOs Could Raise up to $25 Billion in 2026, Too, Despite D-St Caution
India’s primary market is set for a robust 2026 IPO season, with heavyweight issuers such as Jio Platforms, the National Stock Exchange, Zepto, PhonePe, Manipal Hospitals and SBI Funds Management slated to list. Collectively these offerings could raise roughly ₹1 lakh crore...
Asian-Structured-Credit-Demand-Grows,-but-Fragmentation-Caps-Market-Depth
Asian structured‑credit demand accelerated in early 2026, with issuance and investor allocations climbing sharply across the region. Spread pick‑ups reflect tighter pricing as investors chase higher yields, while the market’s fragmented regulatory landscape limits the depth of securitisation pools. Limited...
SCI-In-Focus:-Cash-SRTs-Move-Further-Into-the-Mainstream
European auto lenders are accelerating the use of cash structured repackaged transactions (SRTs) to secure funding while achieving regulatory capital relief. In the first quarter of 2026, cash SRT issuance in the auto sector grew 45% year‑over‑year, reaching €3.2 billion (≈ $3.5 billion)....
SCI-In-Focus:-Brussels-Debates-Securitisation-Reform-as-Insurer-Role-Sharpens
EU policymakers are advancing a reform package to revive the European securitisation market, aiming to align the framework with the Savings & Investment Union agenda. The proposal expands insurers’ participation as investors and credit protectors but retains conservative safeguards and...
Brad Jacobs’ QXO to Acquire TopBuild for $17bn
Brad Jacobs’ QXO announced a cash‑and‑debt transaction to acquire TopBuild, a leading building‑products distributor, for approximately $17 billion. The deal adds more than 1,200 TopBuild locations to QXO’s existing portfolio, which already includes Beacon Roofing Supply and Kodiak Building Partners. Post‑closing,...
Emerging-Market Bond Sales Are Soaring Again as Investors Dive Back Into Risk
Emerging‑market bond issuance surged in April, with $46 billion raised—about 200% higher than the same month last year. The rally follows a March slowdown caused by the Israel‑Iran conflict and reflects renewed investor appetite for yield amid a tentative US‑Iran cease‑fire....
China’s Orient Securities Deal to Create $86 Billion Brokerage
Orient Securities announced it will acquire Shanghai Securities, creating a brokerage with roughly $86 billion in assets. The combined entity will hold about 583 billion yuan (~$82 billion) in assets as of end‑2025. The merger follows Beijing’s push, spurred by President Xi’s 2023...
Evonith Steel to Use ₹2,000 Cr Fundraise to Pare Debt, Complete Projects
Evonith Steel secured roughly $241 million from fresh debt and a $30 million NCD issuance to strengthen its balance sheet. About $211 million will be used to pare existing borrowings, while the remaining $30 million funds ongoing projects and new production lines. The capital...
Multiple States to Borrow Rs 16,900 Crore Through RBI SGS Auction on April 21
India’s central bank announced that state governments will raise roughly ₹16,900 crore (about $2 billion) through a State Government Securities auction on April 21. The issuance includes fresh and re‑issued bonds from Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Telangana, with tenors spanning 7...
Inside Absa Plan to Acquire More African Banks After Uganda, Mauritius Buyouts
South Africa’s Absa Group has unveiled a revised pan‑African strategy that accelerates acquisitions and greenfield projects after recent purchases in Mauritius and Uganda. The plan reorganises the bank into three continent‑wide units—Corporate & Investment Banking, Personal & Private Banking, and...
NSE IPO: Unlisted Shares Crash Despite Offer Buzz. Are Late Buyers Locked Out of OFS Route?
The National Stock Exchange (NSE) is preparing an offer‑for‑sale (OFS) IPO that will offload about 4‑5% of its equity, targeting roughly ₹20,000 crore (≈ $2.4 bn). Unlisted NSE shares have slipped from a high of ₹2,075 (≈ $25) to around ₹1,885 (≈ $22.7) as investors...
Reeves Rightly Fears the Bond Market, but She Can Afford to Ditch One Unhelpful Rule | Phillip Inman
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is confronting rising bond‑vigilante pressure as UK borrowing costs jump to 4.9% on 10‑year gilts. She has pledged to cut the annual deficit below 2% by 2031, a target praised by IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva. Reeves’ fiscal plan...
Hong Kong Watchdog Monitoring Potential Merger of City’s Top 2 Supermarket Chains
Hong Kong’s competition regulator is scrutinising talks between Jardine Matheson and CK Hutchison to combine the city’s two biggest grocery retailers, Wellcome and ParknShop. The potential megadeal comes as overall supermarket sales have fallen each year since 2020, pressuring margins....
Rwanda Secures $251m Low-Cost Loan for Projects, Budget
Rwanda has secured a €213 million ($251 million) 15‑year low‑cost loan from Société Générale and Standard Chartered, backed by an IDA guarantee and a six‑year grace period. The financing will fund infrastructure projects and provide budget support as the country seeks to...
Vedanta Resources Seeks $200 Million Loan Top-Up After $350 Million Deal Earlier This Year
Vedanta Resources, the UK holding company for Mumbai‑listed Vedanta Ltd, is seeking to augment its existing $350 million club loan with an additional $200 million. The new tranche would carry an all‑in price of SOFR + 440 bps, a four‑year tenor and an average life...