Medtech M&A Starts Off Strong in 2026
Medtech M&A kicks off 2026 with several multibillion‑dollar deals. Boston Scientific announced a $14.5 billion acquisition of Penumbra, while Danaher disclosed a $9.9 billion purchase of Masimo. At the same time, major divestitures are underway, including BD’s planned $17.5 billion sale of its biosciences and diagnostics units, Medtronic’s upcoming diabetes spinoff, and Johnson & Johnson’s orthopedics carve‑out. The flurry of activity signals a rapid consolidation phase across vascular, diagnostics and orthopedics segments.
Green Value Supports Transaction: Green Value GmbH Assists Balance Erneuerbare Energien GmbH in Biogas Portfolio Acquisition
Green Value GmbH assisted Balance Erneuerbare Energien GmbH in acquiring a 46 MW portfolio of biogas plants located in Saxony, Saxony‑Anhalt and Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern. The transaction includes technical due diligence and risk assessment performed by Green Value, with plans to modernize and...
Shift4 Shifts Its Focus to International Deals
Shift4 Payments reported record Q4 results and announced a strategic pivot toward international growth. The company closed a $2.5 billion acquisition of Swiss tax‑free shopping platform Global Blue and added Australia‑based Smartpay to its portfolio. To capitalize on these assets, Shift4 is...
SOCAR Gets EU Green Light for Major Italian Petrol Bid
The European Commission has approved Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR to acquire 99.82% of Italy’s Italiana Petroli, including its two refineries and a network of roughly 4,500 fuel stations. The deal adds about 10 million tonnes per year of crude‑processing capacity to...
IPG Integration Could Give OMC Indigestion
Omnicom Group announced its merger with Interpublic (IPG), creating a larger advertising conglomerate but triggering thousands of job cuts. The combined firm’s 10‑K highlights significant integration risks, including talent uncertainty, higher‑than‑expected costs, and possible loss of clients and vendors. Management...
Clearlake’s Feliciano Tells How to Pick Winners and Losers in AI Disruption
José Feliciano, co‑founder and managing partner of Clearlake Capital, told PE Hub that AI‑driven disruption in public tech and software markets is opening compelling opportunities in the private‑equity space. He explained that as public valuations compress, investors can target companies...
Kraft Heinz and the Structural Reckoning Facing Legacy CPG
Kraft Heinz’s recent decision to pause a split underscores a broader crisis for legacy packaged‑food firms. The company’s relentless focus on zero‑based budgeting and margin expansion delivered short‑term cash flow but culminated in a $15.4 billion goodwill impairment, exposing the limits...
PE Weekly: Consumers Come Back Into Focus for Dealmakers
Private equity activity this week highlighted a renewed focus on consumer‑oriented businesses, with multiple platform investments ranging from women’s footwear to home‑health and fitness equipment. Notable deals include Gordon Brothers’ purchase of Chinese Laundry, Kinderhook’s $1.1 billion take‑private of Enhabit, and...
Momentum Midstream Explores Sale That Could Fetch $5B
EnCap Flatrock Midstream is exploring a sale of its gas‑pipeline subsidiary Momentum Midstream for a price exceeding $5 billion. The private‑equity firm has engaged advisers and is gauging interest from rivals and other buy‑out funds. Momentum operates roughly 4,000 miles of...
CesiumAstro Acquires Vidrovr to Embed AI in Communications Systems
CesiumAstro announced the acquisition of AI‑focused startup Vidrovr to embed artificial intelligence into its space‑based communications payloads. The deal, closed in late 2025, adds multimodal signal‑analysis and edge‑computing capabilities to CesiumAstro’s software‑defined phased‑array systems, including the Element satellite. By integrating...
Phantom Space Reclaims Former Vector Launch Technology
Phantom Space has acquired launch assets from the defunct Vector Launch, including flight‑proven design elements and engineering data. The assets will be integrated into Phantom’s Daytona two‑stage rocket to cut development risk and accelerate its schedule. Phantom, which has raised...
Pfizer Advances Beam’s Gene Editor After Pulling Hemophilia Gene Therapy
Pfizer has signed a global gene‑editing partnership with Beam Therapeutics, reviving its genetics ambitions after withdrawing the hemophilia B therapy Beqvez a year earlier. The agreement includes a $300 million upfront payment and up to $1.05 billion in milestones, granting Pfizer exclusive worldwide...
Unrest Continues at Intermarché Belgium
Intermarché Belgium’s 2022 acquisition of the Mestdagh franchise doubled its store count but triggered operational chaos, leading to multiple bankruptcies and legal disputes. Independent shopkeepers report tens of millions of euros in debt as the group allegedly shifts invoices onto...
Tencent Set to Buy Stake in Block Blast Maker Hungry Studio
Tencent is in talks to acquire a small equity stake in Hungry Studio, the Hong‑Kong developer behind the hyper‑popular mobile title Block Blast. The game now boasts 70 million daily active users and 300 million monthly users, up from 40 million DAU a...
Oaktree Considers Sale or London IPO of UK Wealth Manager Utmost
Oaktree Capital is weighing a sale or a London IPO for its UK wealth‑management platform Utmost, signaling renewed interest in public market exits for private‑equity‑owned financial services. Meanwhile, Carlyle’s US buyout platform is on track to realise nearly $12 billion in...
EG Group to Divest French Operations
EG Group announced it will sell its French operating business, including 260 convenience and fuel sites, to co‑founder Zuber Issa’s vehicle EG On Move via a put option. The divestiture follows a staged exit that began with the sale of...
Sigma’s Double-Digit Sales, Profit Growth ‘Proves’ Merger Decision
Sigma Healthcare reported double‑digit growth in its first‑half fiscal results, driven by the Chemist Warehouse network. Revenue rose 15% to $5.5 billion, normalised EBIT increased 18.7% to $582.9 million, and NPAT grew 19.2% to $392 million. Chemist Warehouse sales jumped 17.2% to $5.1 billion,...
AMC Theatres CEO Adam Aron Lauds ‘Besties’ Netflix Relationship
AMC Theatres CEO Adam Aron highlighted the growing partnership with Netflix, noting that exclusive theatrical events such as the KPop Demon Hunters premiere and the Stranger Things series finale drove 35% of the film's total audience and generated $15 million in...
Middleby Corp (MIDD) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Middleby Corp completed the sale of a 51% stake in its Residential Kitchen segment, generating $565 million in cash and retaining a 49% interest. The company accelerated share repurchases, buying back $960 million of stock and cutting the share count by roughly...
GigaCloud Technology Inc (GCT) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
GigaCloud Technology reported record Q3 2025 revenue of $333 million, a 10% year‑over‑year increase, and a quarterly EPS of $0.99. Growth was powered by a 70% surge in European revenue, bringing the region to $100 million, while product revenue rose 16% YoY...
Viatris Inc (VTRS) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Viatris reported Q4 2025 revenue of $3.76 billion, a 1% decline year‑over‑year, but achieved 1% operational revenue growth when the indoor‑facility impact is excluded. Strong commercial performance drove double‑digit sales gains in Greater China (+9%), emerging markets (+7%) and Europe (+1%)....
Nexstar, Scripps, Sinclair Express Regulatory Optimism
Broadcasters are buoyed by FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s hints of relaxed ownership rules and a Trump endorsement of Nexstar’s $6 billion Tegna acquisition. Nexstar, Scripps and Sinclair all highlighted this regulatory optimism in recent earnings calls, stressing strategic M&A and operational...
Ecovyst Inc (ECVT) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Ecovyst reported Q2 2025 Ecoservices sales of $176 million, a 14% year‑over‑year increase driven by higher sulfur pass‑throughs and the newly acquired Wagaman site. Adjusted EBITDA reached just under $56 million, surpassing the top end of its non‑GAAP guidance. The company closed...
Privia Health Group Inc (PRVA) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Privia Health reported a robust 2025, with implemented providers rising 12.3% to 5,380 and attributed lives increasing 22.7% to 1.54 million. Practice collections grew 16.9% to $3.47 billion and adjusted EBITDA surged 38.8% to $125.5 million, delivering a 130% free‑cash‑flow conversion. The company...
TopBuild Corp (BLD) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
TopBuild reported a 5% decline in Q2 2025 sales to $1.3 billion, driven by a low‑double‑digit drop in residential volume while commercial and industrial segments grew. The company highlighted the recent Progressive Roofing acquisition, which adds roughly $215 million of second‑half sales...
Nomad Foods Ltd (NOMD) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Nomad Foods reported a strong fourth‑quarter 2020, posting 9.5% organic revenue growth and a 31.5% gross‑margin – the highest in over two years. Adjusted EBITDA rose to EUR119 million and adjusted EPS to EUR0.38, while free cash flow hit a record...
KBR Inc (KBR) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
KBR reported a solid fourth‑quarter 2020, highlighting a 20% increase in government and technology backlog and a 15% rise in adjusted EBITDA. The company emphasized its transition to Sustainable Technology Solutions, targeting over $1 billion in revenue and mid‑teens margins for...
Loar Holdings Inc (LOAR) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Loar Holdings reported record Q2 2025 sales of $123 million, a 13% year‑over‑year increase driven by commercial aftermarket, OEM and defense segments. Adjusted EBITDA rose to a record $38.3% margin, up 220 basis points, despite added public‑company costs. Management lifted full‑year...
The Great Ownership Transfer: A New Era of Business Stewardship
The United States faces an unprecedented wave of small‑business ownership transitions as baby‑boomers retire, with an estimated six million SMBs hitting the market by 2035 and over $5 trillion in enterprise value at stake. Only about one‑million firms are deemed viable for...
Enovis Corp (ENOV) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
EnPro Industries reported a strong fourth‑quarter 2025, with revenue climbing 14.3% to $295.4 million and adjusted EBITDA rising 19.2% to $69.4 million, delivering adjusted diluted EPS of $1.99, up nearly 27%. Both Sealing Technologies and Advanced Surface Technologies posted double‑digit sales growth,...
Rocket Companies Inc (RKT) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Rocket Companies forecast adjusted Q4 2025 revenue of roughly $2.1 billion, driven by the recent Redfin and Mr. Cooper acquisitions. Operating expenses are expected to rise to about $2 billion, reflecting integration costs and severance. The Redfin deal now fuels 13% of...
Fox Factory Holding Corp (FOXF) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Fox Factory reported fiscal Q4 2025 revenue of $361.1 million, a 2.3% increase, and full‑year sales of $1.47 billion, up 5.3%. Gross margin slipped to 28.3% from 28.9% amid product‑mix shifts and tariff headwinds, and the company recorded a $295 million non‑cash...
Anthropic Acquires Computer-Use AI Startup Vercept After Meta Poached One of Its Founders
Anthropic announced the acquisition of Vercept, a Seattle‑based AI startup known for its computer‑use agent Vy, and will retire the product by March 25. Vercept, which raised $50 million from investors including Eric Schmidt and Jeff Dean, joins Anthropic’s Claude Code team following a...
Clearfield’s CEO Says It Sees the Verizon/Frontier Merger as a Significant Opportunity
Clearfield CEO Cheri Beranek says Verizon's acquisition of Frontier creates a major growth opportunity for the fiber‑connectivity supplier. The combined Verizon‑Frontier network will cover over 25 million premises across 31 states, expanding demand for Clearfield’s equipment and its new NOVA platform....
Carlyle’s US Buyout Platform Set to Realize Nearly $12bn in 13 Months
Carlyle’s U.S. buyout platform is on track to realize close to $12 billion of cash proceeds within the next 13 months. The firm attributes this pipeline to a portfolio that aligns with current market demand, saying its assets are “what buyers...
John Elliott Brand Reportedly Sold to Centric, Sam Ben-Avraham
Los Angeles‑based John Elliott has been sold to Centric Brands and entrepreneur Sam Ben‑Avraham, with plans for a major relaunch later this year. The brand, once a cult favorite among athletes and influencers, saw sales and store closures after the pandemic....
Housecall Providers to Affiliate With Chapters Health System
Oregon‑based Housecall Providers has signed a definitive agreement to affiliate with Chapters Health System, extending the nonprofit’s footprint in the Pacific Northwest. The transaction is slated to close in late spring or early summer 2026, subject to regulatory clearance. The...
Post-Lanteris Acquisition, Intuitive Machines Invests $175M to Advance Satellite Capabilities
Intuitive Machines announced a $175 million equity investment following its January acquisition of Lanteris Space Systems, the former Maxar spacecraft manufacturing unit. The funding will expand the 1300 satellite platform, enhance near‑space network services, and pursue a solar‑system internet independent of...
ENGIE Buys UK Power Networks in £15bn Deal
ENGIE announced a £10.5 billion equity purchase of UK Power Networks, valuing the distribution operator at a £15.8 billion enterprise value. The acquisition gives ENGIE its second‑largest market globally and adds 192,000 km of mostly underground network serving 8.5 million customers across London and...
Alphabet-Owned Robotics Software Company Intrinsic Joins Google
Alphabet-owned Intrinsic, a robotics‑software specialist, is joining Google while remaining a distinct entity. The integration will link Intrinsic’s Flowstate platform and Vision AI model with Google DeepMind, Gemini AI models, and Google Cloud services. Earlier, Intrinsic expanded through acquisitions of...
CPP Investments Will Mull Secondaries Sales to ‘Trim Older Exposure’
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) is evaluating secondary market sales to trim its older private‑equity exposures. The fund intends to allocate roughly C$20 billion to new private‑equity commitments this year, according to global head of PE Caitlin Gubbels. By...
CD&R’s Acquisition of Sealed Air Clears Hurdles
Sealed Air shareholders voted to approve a $6.2 billion takeover by private‑equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R). The European Commission recently cleared the deal, finding no competition concerns, allowing the transaction to move toward closing pending final regulatory sign‑offs. The...
Are African Tech Startups Shifting From Blitzscaling to Strategic Acquisitions?
African tech startups are moving away from the high‑burn blitzscaling model toward strategic acquisitions as venture capital dries up. Funding peaks in 2021‑2022 gave way to shrinking mega‑rounds, a 65% jump in debt financing, and tighter follow‑on capital. In 2025,...
Why Private Equity Matters (Part Seven)
Private equity’s image as a ruthless raider is outdated; today firms focus on partnership and growth. They acquire companies through negotiated deals, often allowing sellers to retain equity, aligning incentives. While cost efficiencies remain a tool, sustainable value stems from...
Hays / Polka Dot and Hays / Millington Merger Inquiries
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened merger inquiries into Hays Travel’s proposed acquisitions of Polka Dot Travel and Millington Travel. Initial enforcement orders were served in December 2025, and the CMA set a statutory timetable that places Phase 1 decisions...
Precision Aircraft Solutions Becomes Sole Owner of Precision 321 Conversions
Precision Aircraft Solutions, an Erickson Group subsidiary, has acquired the remaining minority stake in 321 Precision Conversions from ATSG’s Cargo Aircraft Management, becoming the sole owner of the Airbus A321 freighter conversion business. The deal consolidates Erickson’s control over the...
Private Equity Still Vital to CalPERS’ Strategy Under TPA: CEO
At NEXUS 2026, CalPERS CEO Marcie Frost announced that the pension fund’s revitalized private‑equity program will operate with a degree of independence from its newly adopted total‑portfolio approach (TPA). The move signals a renewed commitment to private‑equity as a core return...
IQVIA Signs Agreement to Acquire Drug Discovery Assets From Charles River Laboratories, Expanding End-to-End Drug Discovery Capabilities
IQVIA Holdings announced an agreement to acquire five drug discovery service sites from Charles River Laboratories, adding in‑vitro capabilities, New Approach Methodologies and a small‑molecule AI platform. The assets, built on more than 20 years of data, have helped launch...
Rise of the Machines: The Data Science Unit TDR Says Gives It an Edge
TDR’s dedicated data‑science unit, launched ten years ago, now embeds machine‑learning models across the firm’s value‑creation workflow. The team builds predictive analytics to source acquisition targets, streamline due‑diligence, and monitor portfolio performance. By automating data aggregation and applying advanced algorithms,...
Lilly Bests Novo Again, Rare Disease Week Goes Regulatory, More CDC Leadership Upheaval
Eli Lilly’s obesity drug Zepbound achieved a 25.5% weight loss in a head‑to‑head Phase 3 trial, outpacing Novo Nordisk’s CagriSema and sending Novo’s shares down 20%. The FDA launched Rare Disease Week, issuing draft guidance for a new Plausible Mechanism Pathway that...