Etsy Sells Secondhand Clothing Marketplace Depop to eBay for $1.2B
Etsy announced it will sell its second‑hand fashion app Depop to eBay for $1.2 billion in cash. Depop, which posted roughly $1 billion in gross merchandise volume and 7 million active buyers in 2025, was acquired by Etsy in 2021 for $1.62 billion. The transaction allows Etsy to refocus on its core handmade‑goods marketplace amid slowing growth, while eBay gains a youthful, social‑first resale platform. The deal is slated to close in Q2 2026.
Sprite to Issue $495 Million in Aviation ABS Notes
Sprite’s aviation securitization platform is launching a $495 million asset‑backed securities (ABS) program backed by lease contracts on 30 aircraft. The issuance comprises three fixed‑rate tranches with an anticipated repayment date in March 2033 and a final legal maturity in March 2041. World...
Generative AI Reduces M&A Costs by 20%, McKinsey Says
McKinsey reports that generative AI has slashed M&A costs by roughly 20% and accelerated deal timelines by 10% to 30%. The technology enables faster target identification, due diligence, and integration, especially amid geopolitical and supply‑chain disruptions. Bain finds one in...
Canadian Fintech Investment Down Nearly 75% Last Year, After Record-High 2024
Canadian fintech investment plunged 75% in 2025, falling to US$2.4 billion across 113 deals, down from a record US$9.9 billion in 2024. AI and digital‑asset firms dominated the reduced deal flow, while later‑stage platforms attracted the bulk of capital. The three biggest...
Judge Rejects FTC's Emergency Bid To Spare Merger Rule
A Texas federal judge denied the Federal Trade Commission’s emergency request to extend a seven‑day pause on its order that dismantles a sweeping pre‑merger reporting rule. The FTC now has until Thursday to seek relief from the Fifth Circuit Court...
SEC Proposes Amendments to Reduce Burdens in Reporting of Fund Portfolio Holdings
The SEC has proposed amendments to Form N‑PORT that give investment companies an extra 15 days to file their monthly portfolio reports and shift public disclosure from a monthly to a quarterly cadence. The changes also eliminate the “Names Rule”...
Well-Regarded Public Finance Banker, Don Backstrom, Dead at 84
Don Backstrom, co‑founder of the municipal advisory firm Backstrom McCarley Berry & Co., died at 84 from cancer. He launched the Los Angeles‑based firm on his 61st birthday in 2002 and served as managing director through July 2025, then part‑time until his death. Backstrom’s career spanned...
Northeast Issuers Juggle Crumbling Infrastructure, Increasing Costs
Northeast public issuers are grappling with crumbling infrastructure, rising construction costs and a wave of federal funding cuts. Tariffs and buy‑American requirements are inflating bus purchases for NJ Transit, while the Gateway tunnel project remains stalled after a $205 million funding...
Telecom Joint Venture To Pay $2.7B For UK Fiber Company
InfraVia Capital Partners, Telefónica and Liberty Global, through their Nexfibre joint venture, announced a $2.7 billion acquisition of Substantial Group, the United Kingdom’s second‑largest alternative fiber provider. The deal merges private‑equity capital with telecom expertise to expand Nexfibre’s footprint in the...
Scope Ratings Seeks Distinction by Incorporating Europe's Differences
Scope Ratings became the first European rating agency approved under the ECB's Eurosystem Credit Assessment Framework, allowing its ratings to be used as collateral in monetary‑policy operations. The firm differentiates itself by embedding the EU’s fragmented legal and market environments...
Omnicom Swings to $941M Q4 Loss After Closing IPG Deal
Omnicom reported a $941.1 million GAAP loss for Q4 2025, the first quarter after completing its $15 billion acquisition of Interpublic Group. Revenue surged 27.9% year‑over‑year to $5.5 billion, and adjusted EBITA reached $928.9 million with a 16.8% margin. The company doubled its cost‑synergy goal...
Corpus Christi to Tap Future Bond Proceeds for Water Project Costs
The Corpus Christi City Council approved a resolution to tap up to $410 million in future water revenue bonds, slated for issuance as late as 2027, to reimburse current cash outlays for critical water‑supply projects. The plan funds a $175 million containerized...
PFM Partners up with DebtBook
PFM announced a partnership with DebtBook to embed artificial‑intelligence capabilities into public‑sector treasury operations, leveraging PFM's Synario financial‑modeling platform alongside DebtBook's debt‑management suite. The alliance aims to automate cash‑flow, leasing and investment tracking, freeing municipal finance teams to focus on...
You Can Invest in SpaceX Before Its IPO — but Should You?
Investors can now gain exposure to SpaceX through private secondary markets, specialty ETFs and pooled funds, sidestepping the wait for a public listing. The rocket company is valued at roughly $1.25 trillion, making it one of the most coveted private assets....
Caturus Energy Advances LNG Business Through $950-Million Asset Deal with SM Energy
Caturus Energy announced a $950 million purchase of SM Energy’s Galvan Ranch assets, adding about 61,000 net acres and 250 MMcfed of daily gas production in Webb County, Texas. The acquisition lifts Caturus’s pro‑forma net output to roughly 950 MMcfed across 275,000 acres,...
Press Release: Eaton Square’s Silicon Creates Partnership with Klear to Strengthen Critical Mineral Supply Chains
Australian‑founded Eaton Square announced that its Silicon subsidiary will integrate with U.S. capital‑intelligence firm Klear, creating a unified solution for sourcing, financing and managing critical minerals. The combined platform leverages AI to provide end‑to‑end operational and treasury visibility, offering verified...
Press Release: Millions in Losses Drive Return to FX Protection in 2026
MillTech’s Q4 2025 Corporate Hedging Monitor shows UK corporates lost an average £6.71 million and US firms $9.85 million in 2025 due to unhedged foreign‑exchange exposure. Eighty percent of surveyed firms reported losses, prompting a rebound in hedging activity as average hedge ratios...
OCC Conditionally Approves Stripe Subsidiary Bridge for Trust Charter
Stripe’s subsidiary Bridge received conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for a national trust bank charter. The license would allow Bridge to issue stablecoins, custody digital assets, and manage reserves under OCC oversight. The decision...
Side Letter: Going Nuclear
The article examines three distinct private‑equity themes. First, Germany’s nuclear waste management fund is highlighted for its ability to maintain financial stability despite shifting regulatory pressures. Second, the Swiss‑based SBCERA fund faces near‑term return volatility due to heightened private‑equity exposure....
Digital Savings Startup Vestwell Lands $385M, Doubles Valuation
Vestwell, the New York‑based digital savings platform, closed a $385 million Series E round led by Blue Owl Capital and Sixth Street Growth, pushing its valuation to $2 billion—double its prior level. The fintech now reports annual recurring revenue above $200 million, serving more...
Glencore Doubles Down on Copper, Keeps M&A in Play
Glencore has secured a land‑access agreement with Gecamines that extends the Kamoto Copper Company’s mine life into the mid‑2040s and unlocks additional ore zones, enabling the asset to target 300,000 tonnes of copper annually. The deal is a cornerstone of...
Gallagher Brings Woodruff Sawyer Under Brand in $1.2bn Deal
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has completed the integration of Woodruff Sawyer, fully bringing the specialist broker under the Gallagher brand after a $1.2 billion acquisition. The move adds Woodruff Sawyer’s $268 million pro‑forma revenue and $88 million EBITDAC, along with its 14...
SBI Funds Management Plans $1.5 Billion IPO in March
India’s largest asset manager, SBI Funds Management, is preparing to file a draft prospectus for an IPO in March that could raise up to $1.5 billion, targeting a valuation near $15 billion. The offering would represent roughly a 10% stake held jointly...
French VC Quantonation Raises €220 Million for Flagship Quantum and Deep-Physics Fund
Quantonation Ventures closed its second flagship fund at €220 million, making it the world’s largest dedicated quantum‑investment vehicle by assets under management. The round attracted both returning backers such as Vertex Holdings and new limited partners including the European Investment Fund,...
Extens-Backed Orthalis Picks up Dentalsoft
Orthalis, backed by private equity firm Extens, announced the acquisition of Dentalsoft, a specialist orthodontic software provider. The purchase creates a new entity, SignalSoft Développement, focused on delivering software services to orthodontic professionals. By integrating Dentalsoft’s tools, Orthalis expands its...
Yangzijiang Maritime to Hold EGM on Mar 6 on Proposed Share Buyback
Yangzijiang Maritime announced an extraordinary general meeting on 6 March to seek approval for a share‑buyback program covering up to 10% of its issued stock, roughly 348.9 million shares. The company set price caps of 105% for on‑market purchases and 120% for...
Stockholm-Based Hybridity Raises €2 Million to Automate Regulatory Compliance Through AI
Swedish RegTech startup Hybridity announced a €2 million funding round to accelerate commercialisation of its AI‑driven compliance platform Hy5. The round brings the company’s total capital to €5 million and adds investors such as Henrik Ekelund, Hans Otterling and family office Fonos....
Middle Market Deal Terms at a Glance – February 2026
SPP Capital Partners released its February 2026 Middle Market Deal Terms snapshot, updating leverage, debt‑to‑EBITDA, and pricing metrics for senior bank cash‑flow, senior non‑bank unitranche, and junior capital across micro, small and mid‑cap segments. Compared with February 2025, leverage ratios have nudged...
Gladstone Commercial Corp (GOOD) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Gladstone Commercial Corp reported a strong Q4 2025, highlighted by $260 million of industrial acquisitions at an 8.88% cap rate and a rise in industrial rent share to 69% of annualized straight‑line rent. The company expanded its syndicated credit facility to...
EU Capital Markets Reform Should Focus on Innovation Investment
The Bocconi Institute proposes six pragmatic reforms to close Europe’s “scale‑up gap” and boost venture‑capital financing for innovative firms. Using Dealroom data on 64,500 EU start‑ups, the report shows that VC investment in scale‑ups is under 10% of U.S. levels...
US Treasuries Slip as Rally Loses Steam on Steady Labor Data
U.S. Treasury yields edged higher on Tuesday, halting a recent rally as steady private‑payroll data reinforced expectations of a still‑robust labor market. The benchmark 10‑year yield closed at 4.06%, while the two‑year rose to 3.43%, reflecting market pricing of two...
NY AG Issues Alert on Crypto-Based Pig Butchering Scams
New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert warning that crypto‑based pig‑butchering scams are targeting New Yorkers through romance and professional ruses. The scams involve coaches who instruct victims to lie to bank staff, making fraud detection difficult....
CFO Insights: Future Standard’s McGeehin on GP M&A, Retail
Future Standard’s CFO McGeehin highlighted two dominant trends shaping private‑equity sponsors at the Private Funds CFO New York Forum. First, general‑partner (GP) mergers and acquisitions are gaining momentum as firms seek scale, talent, and diversified product suites. Second, retail‑focused strategies...
Voting Rights and Shares Capital of the Company
Nanobiotix SA filed a regulatory disclosure on February 17 2026 detailing its capital structure as of January 31 2026. The company reported 48,450,358 shares outstanding, with a total of 50,153,460 theoretical voting rights and 50,131,342 exercisable voting rights. The filing complies with French Commercial...
Gilead-Genhouse Tie-Up Among Several Spanning Pacific: Deals Report
Gilead Sciences has agreed to pay $80 million upfront to Suzhou Genhouse Bio for worldwide rights to GH31, a clinic‑ready oncology molecule. GH31 employs synthetic lethality to inhibit the MAT2A enzyme, a target implicated in several cancers. The deal follows regulatory...
Pelagic Credit Plc: Update on Contemplated Private Placement and Listing on Euronext Growth Oslo
Pelagic Credit Plc issued an update on its planned private placement and intended listing on Euronext Growth Oslo. The company reports strong investor interest and is revisiting the offering’s structure, which could diverge from the February 9 outline. Size, timing and...
Nordea Bank Abp: Repurchase of Own Shares on 17.02.2026
On 17 February 2026 Nordea Bank Abp completed a share repurchase of 404,487 shares at a weighted average price of €16.47, costing €6.66 million. The buy‑back was executed across the Helsinki, Stockholm and Copenhagen exchanges and forms part of a €500 million...
Greenbriar to Acquire AIT Worldwide Logistics
Greenbriar Capital Partners announced it will acquire AIT Worldwide Logistics, a global freight forwarding firm. The transaction will be financed by Greenbriar’s existing investors, with The Jordan Company, the private equity backer of Greenbriar, set to exit upon closing. The...
PRESS RELEASE: BIGBEN ANNOUNCES IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE PARTIAL REPAYMENT OF ITS BOND LOAN
Bigben Interactive announced that its banking pool unexpectedly refused to honor a drawdown notice for the partial refinancing of its senior bonds, leaving the company unable to execute the planned €43 million partial repayment on the February 19 maturity date. The...
Trump Justice Dept. Launches Bunk Investigation Of Netflix Merger As a Favor To Larry Ellison
The Department of Justice has launched a wide‑ranging investigation into Netflix’s planned $82.7 billion merger with Warner Bros., citing antitrust concerns over media consolidation. Critics argue the probe is a political maneuver to aid billionaire Larry Ellison’s competing bid for Warner’s...
OCC Proposes New Appeal Process for Banks, Trusts
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has proposed a new appeals board that would review supervisory decisions using a de novo “fresh look” standard. The rule expands appeal rights to uninsured institutions such as national trust banks and...
2 Firms Guide Cos.' $1.9B PacifiCorp Assets Buy
Portland General Electric (PGE) and Manulife Investment Management have completed a $1.9 billion cash purchase of PacifiCorp's Washington state electricity assets. The transaction was overseen by law firms Latham & Watkins and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. Closing was announced on Tuesday, marking a significant...
Trump Family Invests In $1.5B Go-Public Merger For Drone Co.
Eric Trump is part of an investor consortium backing a $1.5 billion merger that will combine Florida‑based JFB Construction Holdings with Israeli drone manufacturer Xtend, effectively taking the unmanned‑air‑system firm public. The transaction mirrors a SPAC‑style deal, pairing a real‑estate operator...
Blackstone to Acquire Home Services Firm Champions Group From Odyssey
Blackstone announced a definitive agreement to acquire Champions Group, a leading home‑services provider, from Odyssey. The transaction includes a minority equity stake retained by Odyssey and the company’s management, ensuring continued alignment of interests. Financial terms were not disclosed, but...
AI-Powered Worksite Safety Startup Fyld Raises £32m Series B
London‑based AI startup Fyld has closed a £32 million Series B round, led by Energy Impact Partners with participation from Partech’s Growth Impact Fund. The funding will fuel the expansion of its real‑time safety and compliance platform for frontline workers into the...
Mistral Seals First Acquisition Deal with Cloud Startup Koyeb
Mistral AI announced its first acquisition, buying French serverless cloud startup Koyeb. The move aims to accelerate Mistral's AI compute offering and build a sovereign AI cloud platform. Mistral, founded in 2023, has raised nearly €2.8 bn and is valued at...
Edwards Sued In Chancery Over $300M Heart Valve Earn-Out
Former shareholders of Valtech Cardio have sued its parent, Edwards Lifesciences, in the Delaware Chancery Court, alleging the medical‑device giant deliberately stalled development of a heart‑valve repair system. The lawsuit claims Edwards is avoiding payment of up to $300 million in...
Why Abu Dhabi’s Next Play Is Managing Other People’s Money
International Holding Co., the UAE’s largest listed conglomerate, has launched Judan Financial, an AI‑enabled platform that consolidates its financial services assets. Chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, Judan is valued at $27 billion and will manage roughly $237 billion in assets. The...
Broker’s Call: Lumax Auto Tech (Buy)
Lumax Auto Tech posted strong Q3FY26 results, with revenue up 40%, EBITDA up 49% and profit after tax up 116% YoY, aided by a one‑time deferred tax gain from the GreenFuel Energy merger. Management lifted FY26 revenue guidance to 30%...
Broker’s Call: GMR Airports (Buy)
GMR Airports reported a structural earnings inflection in Q3FY26, driven by tariff‑led aero yield growth at Delhi and expanding non‑aero adjacency services. Net debt is expected to peak in FY26 before declining as EBITDA scales, supported by a projected 29%...