Today's Private Equity Pulse
Blackstone closes $13.1B Asia fund, its biggest ever
Blackstone announced the closing of its third Asia private‑equity vehicle, Blackstone Capital Partners Asia III, at $13.1 billion, surpassing its $10 billion target and more than doubling the capital of its predecessor. The fund is the firm’s largest Asia‑focused raise and Blackstone has deployed over $7 billion across 12 deals in the region in the past two years.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Metatron Private Equity acquires Green Circuits Inc.
RWI: Who Pays the Premium & Retention?
Gallagher’s latest RWI market study shows a clear shift in premium responsibility from sellers to buyers since 2018. By 2021 split‑premium deals vanished, and buyers now shoulder most premiums, with sellers paying only about 17 % of policies in 2025. The change is driven by lower premiums, tighter competition, and sellers seeking a clean exit. Retention allocation has also moved toward buyer‑borne risk as insurers accept lower seller indemnity.
ASC Gains £85m Efficiency Boost, MKS Steps In
#ASC a major £85m positive from greater operating efficiency*…also interesting to see #MKS as the buyer *lower sales too perhaps? https://t.co/fmC3EM0ASc
Bowlero's Bowling‑alley Consolidation Tests New Antitrust Era
The monopoly round-up is out. I profiled a nasty private equity rolling up of bowling alleys called Bowlero, and the Lina Khan generation of antitrust lawyers trying to stop them in their tracks. As goes bowling, so goes America. https://t.co/PG7s8m1qwd
China’s Zhaojin Mining Eyes Overseas Gold Assets as M&A Heats Up
China’s Zhaojin Mining Industry Co., a leading Shandong‑based gold producer, is actively seeking overseas acquisitions. Chief Investment Officer Xu Jianzhuo said the firm is targeting gold mines in West Africa—specifically Côte Ivoire, Ghana and Guinea—where European and U.S. miners are pulling...
Nvidia Deploys $40 B in AI Equity Stakes, Led by $30 B OpenAI Investment
Nvidia announced a $40 billion equity program for 2026, front‑loaded by a $30 billion stake in OpenAI. The remaining $10 billion spreads across firms like CoreWeave, Nebius, Corning and IREN, tying GPU supply to downstream AI services and sparking debate over vertical integration.
James Packer Takes Stake in OnlyFans
Australian media heir James Packer, through his vehicle Consolidated Press Holdings and U.S. firm Architect Capital, acquired a 16% minority stake in OnlyFans' parent Fenix International for A$739 million (about US$535 million). The transaction values the platform at roughly A$4.3 billion, or US$2.9 billion,...
Allied Industrial Partners Takes Majority Stake in Trinity Industrial
Allied Industrial Partners announced a majority investment in Trinity Industrial, a Louisiana‑based equipment rental and specialty services platform serving utility, industrial and energy customers across the Gulf Coast. Financial terms were not disclosed, but the deal adds to Allied’s more...
UBS Launches Machine‑learning Merger‑arb QIS with First Private
UBS is adding a merger‑arbitrage quantitative investment strategy (QIS) to its product suite, using machine‑learning models built on a 30‑year transaction database from German asset manager First Private. The systematic index will be delivered to institutional clients via swap contracts,...
Bullish to Acquire Equiniti for $4.2 Billion, Building Tokenized Securities Infrastructure
Bullish (NYSE:BLSH) announced a $4.2 billion acquisition of Equiniti, a transfer‑agent serving over 2,500 public issuers. The deal, closing in January 2027, merges Bullish’s blockchain platform with Equiniti’s issuer network, positioning the combined firm to accelerate tokenized securities adoption.
The Bidding War Begins as Ooh Media Receives Second Takeover Offer
Australian outdoor advertising firm Ooh Media has received a second, higher takeover bid from infrastructure investor I Squared Capital, offering $1.45 per share and valuing the company at roughly $508 million USD, up from private equity firm Pacific Equity Partners’ $1.40...
Western Midstream to Acquire Brazos Delaware Assets for $1.6 Billion
Western Midstream Partners LP agreed to buy Brazos Delaware II LLC for roughly $1.6 billion, splitting the price between $800 million in cash and $800 million in stock. The deal, slated to close late Q2, expands Western’s Delaware Basin footprint by 49% and...
Start Slow, Find Fit, Then Accelerate Acquisitions
When you study the serial acquirers model and those who’ve invested in this model for decades, you see that companies that completed 1-2 acquisitions per year in the early years tended to outperform those that pursued a faster pace, such...
Mobile Home Residents See Rents Soar Under New Corporate Owners
Private‑equity firms and large investors are buying manufactured‑housing communities and sharply raising lot rents, as illustrated by Smoky Palms North in Clinton, Tenn., where rents jumped from $275 to $650. Across the nation, institutional owners now account for roughly 23%...
Bain Capital Provides $225 Million Credit Facility to Kids2
Bain Capital’s Private Credit Group acted as sole lender and administrative agent for a $225 million senior credit facility to Kids2, the Atlanta‑based infant‑product platform. The financing is earmarked for continued growth, category expansion and deeper global reach, highlighting private‑credit’s role...
GI Partners Launches Rose BioSolutions After Acquiring Charles River Labs' CDMO and Cell Solutions
GI Partners has completed the purchase of Charles River Laboratories' Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) and Cell Solutions businesses, creating the standalone company Rose BioSolutions. The new firm will offer integrated cell and gene therapy services across four U.S....
GameStop Launches $56 B All‑cash‑and‑stock Bid for eBay, Cohen Vows to Become CEO
GameStop has submitted an unsolicited $56 billion offer to acquire eBay, proposing a 50‑50 cash‑and‑stock structure and positioning CEO Ryan Cohen as the head of a combined company. The bid, backed by a $20 billion debt commitment from TD Securities, triggers fierce discussion...
Blackstone, Blue Owl and Peers Chase $900 Billion AI Data‑Center Market
Blackstone, Blue Owl, Apollo and other alternative‑asset powerhouses are pouring capital into the AI‑driven data‑center sector, which they estimate represents a $900 billion third‑party investment opportunity. The wave of debt, equity and joint‑venture deals signals a new frontier for hedge‑fund investors...
Private Equity Drives Majority of Indian Hospital Revenue
WHO CONTROLS HEALTHCARE IN INDIA 🇮🇳 Apollo Hospitals - 43% Average revenue per bed ~ 61000 (Vanguard, GQG, Govt of Singapore) Max Healthcare - 45% Average revenue per bed ~ 78000 (KKR, Partners Group) Healthcare Global - 60% Average revenue per bed ~ 46000 (CVC Capital) Fortis Healthcare -...
$LBTYK: Can Liberty Global Finally Spin to Win? | Stock Spin-Off Investing's Rich Howe
Rich Howe of Stock Spin‑Off Investing argues that Liberty Global (LBTYK) is cheap on a sum‑of‑parts basis and stands to unlock value through an imminent Ziggo spin‑off and a little‑known venture portfolio. He contends the spin will crystallize cash‑flow and...
EBay Permanently Bans GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen for Putting Its Community ‘at Risk’ Following Takeover Attempt
eBay announced it has permanently banned GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen from its marketplace, citing that his actions put the eBay community at risk. Cohen had recently floated a $55.5 billion hostile takeover proposal for eBay and was also selling high‑priced GameStop...
US Healthcare PE Deal Value Slides to $8.4 B in Q1 2026
US and Canadian healthcare‑services private‑equity transactions fell 23.3% YoY to $8.4 bn in Q1 2026, covering 79 deals. While exit counts rose, total exit value slipped 17.9%, underscoring a market correction after a record‑high 2025.
Tenaris to Acquire Artrom Steel Tubes for €86 Million ($93 M), Boosting Steel Pipe Capacity
Tenaris announced a definitive agreement to purchase 100% of Artrom Steel Tubes for €86 million (about $93 million) on a cash‑free, debt‑free basis. The deal adds roughly 450,000 t of steelmaking capacity and 200,000 t of seamless pipe rolling, pending EU and Romanian regulatory...
Steward Partners Adds $950 Million in AUM with Two Acquisitions
Steward Partners announced the acquisition of Wisdom Rock Financial Advisory Group and Jazz Wealth, together adding about $950 million in client assets. The deals, closed on May 1, expand Steward’s platform and underscore a broader consolidation trend among independent RIAs.
TriSpan Closes Single‑Asset Continuation Vehicle for Café‑Bakery Brand Maman
TriSpan (USA) LLC announced the closing of a single‑asset continuation vehicle for Sugar Beets Inc., operating as Maman. Led by Kline Hill Partners and backed by Norwest, an Ivy League endowment and TriSpan itself, the deal provides liquidity to existing...
Octave Posts $78.5 Million Insurance Distribution Revenue, 92% YoY Surge in Q1 2026
Octave Specialty Group (OSG) announced $78.5 million in insurance distribution revenue for the first quarter of 2026, a 92% year‑over‑year increase. The surge reflects 42% organic growth and the impact of the October 2025 ArmadaCare acquisition, while adjusted EBITDA rose to...
Essensys Founder Mark Furness Takes PropTech Firm Private for $14.4 M, Reversing £73 M IPO
Mark Furness, Essensys plc’s founder and largest shareholder, has secured a deal to take the flexible‑workspace software provider private for £11.3 million (about $14.4 million). The transaction, approved by holders of 98% of the shares, reverses the company’s 2019 £73 million IPO and...
Intertek Rejects EQT's £9 Billion Takeover Bid, Citing Undervaluation
Intertek Group PLC rejected EQT Fund Management's latest £9 billion (≈$11.5 bn) takeover approach, calling the offer significantly undervalued. The board also highlighted execution risk tied to the proposal’s conditional nature while the company continues its strategic review of a possible split...
Jefferies Says India Remains a Top Emerging‑Market Target Despite MSCI Weight Drop
Jefferies analysts warned that even as MSCI reduces India’s weighting in its Emerging Markets index, the country stays a prime destination for investment‑bank advisory and capital‑raising work. The note underscores continued deal flow, M&A pipelines, and financing opportunities across sectors.
Adobe Finalizes Semrush Acquisition, Bolstering AI‑Driven SEO Suite
Adobe announced the completion of its acquisition of Semrush, integrating the SEO platform into its Customer Experience Orchestration suite. The move comes as AI‑generated traffic to U.S. retail sites jumped 269% year‑over‑year, underscoring the urgency for marketers to secure visibility...
Niche Strategy: 95 Deals Targeting $2‑10M Companies
Hyperfocus on one industry. Only acquire companies with $2-10 million in revenue. Repeat the playbook with 95 acquisitions. https://t.co/PXAPSDRwed
Anthropic Just Weaponized the Palantir Model. The Entire Services Industry Is Now in the Crosshairs.
Anthropic announced a $1.5 billion joint venture with Blackstone, Hellman & Friedman and Goldman Sachs to launch an AI‑native enterprise services firm. The venture, backed by additional investors such as General Atlantic and GIC, will embed Anthropic engineers and models directly into mid‑size companies,...
FH Capital Secures 75.1% Stake in JinkoSolar’s U.S. Manufacturing Operations
FH Capital announced the purchase of a 75.1% majority stake in JinkoSolar’s U.S. manufacturing operations, aiming to build a premier domestic solar and battery‑energy‑storage system (BESS) platform. The financial terms were not disclosed, but the deal signals a growing private‑equity...
OppFi to Acquire BNCC Corp and BNC National Bank in $130 Million Deal
OppFi (OPFI) disclosed a $130 million acquisition of BNCC Corp and BNC National Bank, aiming for a Q4 2026 close pending regulatory sign‑off. The deal is projected to be at least 25% EPS‑accretive in year one and deliver $115 million in synergies by...
Private Pre‑IPO Secondaries: Asymmetric Info Drives Reflexive Pricing
In the late 1990s, founders, employees and venture investors sold shares before IPOs through private transactions. It me! Buyers in sales were sourced informally. Private secondaries involve: asymmetric information illiquidity signaling optionality and reflexive pricing. https://t.co/SiLOMFYGJF
Rocket Lab Has Signed An Agreement To Purchase Motiv Space Systems
Rocket Lab announced on May 7, 2026 that it has signed an agreement to acquire California‑based Motiv Space Systems, with the transaction slated to close in the second quarter of 2026. The deal will rebrand Motiv as Rocket Lab Robotics and bring...
Strategic Value Partners Secures Full Ownership of 485‑MW Birdsboro Power
Strategic Value Partners' funds have signed a definitive agreement to buy the remaining equity in Birdsboro Power, a 485‑MW natural‑gas combined‑cycle plant in Pennsylvania. The deal brings the asset under 100% SVP ownership, reinforcing its push into high‑efficiency power generation...
TDS Proposes All‑Stock Deal to Fully Acquire Array Digital Infrastructure
Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) has submitted a proposal to buy the public shares of Array Digital Infrastructure it does not already own, offering 0.86 TDS shares per Array share. The all‑stock merger, expected to qualify as a tax‑free reorganization,...
Porsche Shuts Down Three Subsidiaries, Sparking Investment‑bank Advisory for Asset Sales
Porsche announced the closure of its Cellforce battery unit, eBike Performance and Cetitec software subsidiary, cutting more than 500 jobs. The move follows a strategic overhaul that includes the sale of Bugatti Rimac stakes to a HOF Capital‑led consortium, a...
Marquis Who's Who Honors Phillip H. Chou for Investment Banking and Succession Planning
Phillip H. Chou, CEPA and senior managing director of AmbroseAdvisors, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. The honor highlights his two‑decade track record in investment banking, ESOP advisory, and exit planning for privately held firms, signaling the...
Knox Lane to Take Cross Country Healthcare Private in $437 Million Deal
Knox Lane, a $3.5 billion‑asset private equity firm, announced a definitive agreement to acquire publicly traded Cross Country Healthcare for $437 million. The deal follows a collapsed $615 million acquisition attempt by Aya Healthcare and underscores continued PE appetite for staffing services amid...
Real (REAX) Q1 2026 Brokerage Transactions Jump 25% as RE/MAX Deal Looms
Real (REAX) announced a 25% increase in North American brokerage closed transactions for Q1 2026, driving revenue to $466 million. The growth comes as the company prepares to integrate a $880 million RE/MAX acquisition, positioning its technology platform for deeper market penetration.
Paramount Skydance Pushes $111 B Warner Bros. Discovery Deal as Press Groups Allege Political Favors
Paramount Skydance is pressing regulators for clearance of its $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. Press‑freedom investors have sent a formal demand for the company’s books, citing reports that Larry and David Ellison promised sweeping changes at CNN to secure...
GameStop: The Robin Report Retail Miss of the Week, 05. 9. 2026
Ryan Cohen, the CEO of GameStop, has floated an audacious plan to acquire eBay for roughly $9.4 billion in cash and up to $20 billion of debt financing. The proposal would see a retailer three times smaller than eBay attempt a deal...
Yahoo Secures $1.6 Billion Loan and Bond Sale to Refinance Apollo Acquisition Debt
Yahoo Inc. closed a $1.6 billion financing package—$700 million term loan B at 6.5% over benchmark and $900 million junk bonds at 11% yield—to refinance debt from its 2024 acquisition by Apollo Global Management. The deal, priced at 97 cents on the dollar,...
Jardine C&C Said to Explore Sale of Car Dealership in Malaysia and Singapore
Singapore‑listed Jardine Cycle & Carriage, a Jardine Matheson subsidiary, is exploring a sale of its car dealership operations in Malaysia and Singapore. The potential transaction could value the business between $250 million and $350 million. Jardine Matheson holds roughly 85% of C&C,...
Ashby Acquires Talent Llama to Add AI Interviewing to Its Platform
Ashby announced it has acquired Talent Llama, a startup that provides AI‑powered interview software, to embed automated interview capabilities into its talent acquisition platform. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the move signals Ashby’s push to broaden...
Hg Capital Trust Writes Down Two‑thirds of Top Holdings, NAV Drops 5.4% in Q1
Hg Capital Trust, the listed vehicle for the private‑equity firm Hg, disclosed that it has written down two‑thirds of its 20 biggest software holdings, pushing its net asset value down 5.4% in the first quarter. The decline reflects a 9%...
Amazon Moves to Acquire Globalstar as Revenue Grows 17% in Q1
Amazon is advancing a deal to buy Globalstar while the satellite operator posted $70 million in first‑quarter revenue, up 17% year‑over‑year. The growth was driven by higher wholesale capacity fees and expanding IoT subscriptions, underscoring the market’s appetite for integrated satellite‑terrestrial...
Datasite Acquires Valu8, Adding 70 Million European Companies to AI‑Driven Deal‑Sourcing Platform
Datasite announced the acquisition of Swedish private‑market intelligence firm Valu8, integrating data on 70 million European companies into its Grata platform. The deal expands Grata’s coverage from 20 million to roughly 90 million firms, giving private‑equity and M&A teams broader, AI‑enhanced visibility. The...
US REIT M&A Hits $16.8 B Through April 2026 as Buyers Chase Discounted Valuations
US REIT merger‑and‑acquisition activity reached $16.8 billion through mid‑April 2026, with four announced deals. Private‑equity firms and sizable public REITs are exploiting depressed market valuations, accelerating consolidation in the sector.