Today's Private Equity Pulse
Blackstone closes record $13.1B Asia private‑equity fund
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.
MBA Group Acquires Textplode, Adding RCS Capability and Strengthening Mobile Messaging Infrastructure
MBA Group completed its acquisition of Textplode on March 31, 2026, boosting the combined turnover to up to £135 million (about $171 million) and expanding its workforce to 325. The deal brings more than a decade of proprietary SMS infrastructure and software into MBA’s ecosystem, improving pricing, delivery confidence and operational control. Crucially, Rich Communication Services (RCS) is now embedded in MBA’s platform, giving clients interactive, app‑free mobile experiences alongside traditional SMS. The purchase fits MBA’s ongoing acquisition strategy to broaden its multi‑channel offering.
United Community Banks to Acquire Peach State Bancshares in $100.8 Million Deal
United Community Banks, Inc. announced a definitive merger agreement to acquire Peach State Bancshares for an aggregate $100.8 million. Shareholders can choose cash at $31.75 per share or United stock, and the transaction is expected to add $0.09‑$0.12 to United’s 2027...
Work Tech M&A in Q1 2026: Platform Extension, AI Capability Buying, and a Market Building From Both Ends
In Q1 2026 work‑tech M&A mirrored venture‑capital trends, with platforms buying AI‑native capabilities rather than building them. WorkTech tracked 40 transactions across 10 countries, noting that 12 deals involved HCM suites expanding into payroll, compliance, analytics or recruiting. AI‑focused acquisitions accounted...
Banker's Healthcare Raises $396 Million From Consumer Loans
Bankers Healthcare Group (BHG) is launching a $396 million asset‑backed securities (ABS) program, the BHG 2026‑1CON, backed by 4,243 consumer loans to high‑income professionals such as physicians, engineers and attorneys. The deal, managed by Goldman Sachs, will issue five tranches (A‑E) with...
Standard Life Merger with Aegon UK Is ‘Good News for Bigger GPs’
Standard Life and Aegon UK announced a merger that will create a life‑and‑pensions powerhouse with roughly £480 billion of assets, equivalent to about $610 billion. The combined entity will rank among the largest European pension managers, reflecting a broader wave of consolidation...
Agnico Buys RUP & AU. Also Talk GSKR, KLDC & GOT
Agnico Eagle has completed a $3.5 billion acquisition of Rupert Resources and Aurion Resources, securing the 4.3 million‑ounce Ikkari gold deposit and adjacent land. The transaction expands Agnico's Canadian footprint and adds a high‑grade, near‑term production asset. The deal also triggers market...
Zero Personal Capital Enables True Serial Vendor Finance
what makes serial 100% vendor finance rare: – most acquirers deploy capital on deal 1 – most educators have done it maybe once – most advisors mix personal funds in – most structures require some deposit my track record: – zero personal capital – every single deal
Newmark Secures $830 Million Financing for 36‑Asset Manufactured‑Housing Portfolio
Newmark Group arranged an $830 million portfolio loan for RHP Properties and an institutional capital partner to acquire and refinance a 36‑asset manufactured‑housing portfolio. The financing, provided by Wells Fargo, covers 8,340 housing pads with occupancy above 99%, highlighting the sector’s...
Vendor Finance Success Relies on Learnable Frameworks
what serial 100% vendor finance tells you about the model: it's not market dependent it's not timing dependent it's not capital dependent it's framework dependent and frameworks are learnable i've proven it across every deal i've ever closed
Firestone Walker and Duvel USA to Acquire Stone Brewing From Sapporo
Firestone Walker and Duvel Moortgat USA have agreed to acquire the Stone Brewing brand from Sapporo USA, with the deal expected to close in Q2. Firestone Walker will manage Stone’s western U.S. markets and four California taprooms, while Duvel will...
Covenant Trends – 4/13/2026
Covenant Trends released its April 2026 report highlighting the proportion of loans that permit uncapped synergies and cost‑savings EBITDA adjustments. The data shows roughly 45% of sponsored‑bank loans allow such adjustments, compared with about 30% of non‑sponsored loans over the...
VivoPower Becomes EBITDA Profitable: $31 Million Revenue, $10 Million EBITDA From Completion of Norway Data Center Acquisition
VivoPower closed a $41 million acquisition of a Norway data‑center portfolio, instantly boosting its top line to $31 million in revenue and delivering $10 million of EBITDA on a pro‑forma basis. The deal was fully funded without any new public equity, preserving shareholder...
Studio71 Sold to Fixated, Giving Company Network of 1,000-Plus Digital Creators
Los Angeles‑based Fixated has purchased creator‑media company Studio71, merging their talent representation, production and distribution capabilities. The combined entity now serves over 1,000 digital creators across platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and Twitch, and inherits Studio71’s podcast network and long‑standing...
HIG Seeks Bids for Capstone Logistics, Sources Say; Roofing Deals Draw Angeles Partners, Sumeru, Osceola and Huron
HIG Capital has launched a sale process for its logistics subsidiary, Capstone Logistics, and will collect first‑round bids by early May. Capstone, a third‑party logistics provider with roughly $300 million in annual revenue, is being positioned at an estimated $1.2 billion valuation....
EXEC: Apparel, Footwear and Accessories M&A Retracted DD in 2025 Due to Tariff Impact
M&A activity in the Apparel, Footwear & Accessories sector fell 13.6% in 2025, dropping to 152 deals – the first year‑over‑year decline since 2022. The slowdown was driven by lingering tariff uncertainty, especially on China and Southeast Asia, which caused...
Deal Volume Hits $1.38 Trillion as Mega‑Mergers Return, Fueling Private‑Equity Deployments
Global dealmaking surged to $1.38 trillion in the first quarter, reviving mega‑mergers above $10 billion and prompting private‑equity firms to tap unspent capital. Industry bankers cite a backlog of stalled transactions and steadier financing conditions as the catalyst for the rebound.
Brady Corp to Acquire Honeywell's Productivity Solutions Business for $1.4 B
Milwaukee‑based Brady Corp announced a $1.4 billion acquisition of Honeywell's productivity solutions and services (PSS) business, slated to close in the second half of 2026. The deal expands Brady's portfolio into mobility and scanning, while supporting Honeywell's broader portfolio transformation.
New Era of Berkshire Hathaway
Greg Abel, Berkshire Hathaway's new CEO, wrote a $1.8 billion check to buy a 2.49% stake in Japan's Tokio Marine Holdings, pairing the equity with a ten‑year quota‑share reinsurance treaty, a joint M&A clause and a five‑year exclusivity period. The move...
Scaling $117M via 95 Acquisitions Inspired by Legends
Doing research and preparation for the podcast conversation with a gentleman who, since 2006, has completed 95 small acquisitions and been able to grow revenue to $117M while maintaining EBITDA of approximately $28M. He does it in a highly fragmented industry,...
PDI Picks – 4/20/2026
Secondaries activity accelerated in 2025, with transaction volume and fundraising both posting double‑digit gains. A recent poll shows 33% of investors expect deployment to slow markedly in 2026, while 54% foresee faster or slightly faster activity. The mixed outlook highlights...
Apollo Is the Latest Fund to Bet on European Hostels
Institutional investors are pouring capital into European hostels, with more than $1 billion deployed in the past 30 months. Apollo Global Management closed a senior €874 million (about $1 billion) loan secured by a&o Hostels’ 44 properties and roughly 30,000 beds. The financing...
Pat McGrath Labs Bankruptcy Exit Plan Approved
Pat McGrath Labs will emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy after a U.S. judge approved a refinancing plan on April 17. Investment firm GDA Luma committed an additional $35 million, bringing its total backing to $65 million and creating a new holding company for the brand. Founder Dame...
Secondaries Becoming a Fixture of Managing Capital for Partners Capital’s LP Clients
Partners Capital, an outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO) firm, is urging its limited‑partner (LP) clients to actively engage in the secondary market. The firm is positioning its clients as both buyers and sellers of secondary fund interests, despite some traditional...
Exclusive: HIG to Take First-Round Bids for Capstone Logistics in Next Few Weeks, Sources Say
Harbor Investment Group (HIG) is set to solicit first‑round bids for Capstone Logistics within the next few weeks, according to sources. Capstone, a third‑party logistics provider, generated roughly $215 million of EBITDA in its latest fiscal year. Its scale may deter...
Renovations, Roll-Ups and AI Roll-Outs Form PE Playbook for Booming Roofing Sector
Private equity firms are converging on the rapidly expanding roofing services market, deploying a playbook that blends renovation-focused roll‑ups with artificial‑intelligence‑driven operational upgrades. Notable investors such as Huron Capital, Angeles Equity Partners, Sumeru Equity Partners and Osceola Capital are financing...
Blackstone‑Backed Jersey Mike's Files Confidential IPO Targeting $1 Billion at $12 B Valuation
Jersey Mike's, the second‑largest U.S. hoagie chain, filed a confidential IPO seeking to raise about $1 billion at a $12 billion valuation. The move follows Blackstone’s 2024 $8 billion acquisition and signals a high‑profile private‑equity exit in the restaurant sector.
Hillhouse‑Backed Ascentium Acquires Dezan Shira to Boost China Outbound Services
Ascentium, the Hillhouse‑backed business‑services platform, announced the acquisition of Dezan Shira & Associates, adding mainland Chinese offices and doubling its Vietnam capacity. The deal comes as Chinese outbound investment climbs to $174 bn, a 7% rise year‑over‑year, and reflects a broader...
Blue Owl to Acquire Sila Realty Trust for $2.4 Billion in Net‑Lease Healthcare Deal
Blue Owl Capital is set to buy Sila Realty Trust in a $2.4 billion transaction, adding a portfolio of 137 healthcare net‑lease properties to its real‑estate holdings. The deal, advised by Newmark, highlights growing investor appetite for stable, income‑generating assets in...
Asyad Group and Ligentia Join Forces to Accelerate Global Growth and Enhance Technology-Driven Supply Chain Solutions
Asyad Group announced the acquisition of UK‑based Ligentia Group, creating a logistics powerhouse with operations in 24 countries and 76 cities. The deal integrates Ligentia’s Ligentix digital control‑tower platform, enhancing real‑time visibility and predictive analytics for clients. Combined, the firms...
USA Rare Earth Surges 15% After $2.8 Billion Serra Verde Acquisition
USA Rare Earth Inc. announced a $2.8 billion cash‑and‑stock deal to acquire Brazil’s Serra Verde Group, sending its Nasdaq‑listed shares up more than 15% to $22.97. The transaction adds a rare‑earth mine and processing plant that can produce 6,400 metric tons of...
EQT Raises $15.6bn Apac Fund
EQT’s BPEA Private Equity Fund IX has hit its hard cap, securing $15.6 billion in total commitments, including $14.9 billion of fee‑generating assets under management. The fund will pursue control investments across technology, healthcare, industrial technology, services and technology services. Early transactions...
Primark Owner Warns of Impact of War in Iran on Outlook — Making It One of the First European Retailers...
Associated British Foods (AB Foods) announced a spin‑off of its flagship clothing chain Primark, creating two separate FTSE 100 constituents. The group reported first‑half sales of £9.47 billion (≈$12.1 billion), slightly below analysts’ £9.52 billion (≈$12.2 billion) estimate, and earnings per share of 70.7 p, a...
UK Mid-Market Buy-and-Build Activity Drops 61% in 2025 After 2024 Peak
UK private‑equity and venture‑capital platforms saw bolt‑on acquisitions plunge 61% in 2025, falling from a record 114 deals in 2024 to roughly 44 deals. The slowdown was most pronounced in technology, insurance and education, while business services, financial services and...
Brookfield Eyes Circa $20bn First Close for Fund VI – Exclusive
Brookfield Asset Management is launching its sixth flagship infrastructure fund, targeting roughly $30 billion CAD (~$22.2 billion USD) in total commitments. The firm aims for a first close of about $20 billion CAD (~$14.8 billion USD) in the third quarter of 2024. The capital...
Fire Safety Pipeline Fills with Data Center Build-Out and Regulation Among Drivers; Ardian Sells Stake in Quality Management Company
Ardian has sold its minority stake in Trigo, a transportation‑sector quality management firm, to Montyon Capital. The transaction marks Ardian's latest private‑equity exit amid a broader wave of capital reallocation toward high‑growth infrastructure and data‑center projects. Trigo, which provides compliance...
Oracle Cerner: Potential Acquirers of Oracle Health
Oracle is weighing a divestiture of its Cerner acquisition, now branded Oracle Health, to free cash for a $50 billion AI‑infrastructure spend and to service a $124 billion debt load. The $28.3 bn health‑tech asset has seen customer churn, with 57 acute‑care systems...
Ardian to Exit Trigo to Montyon Capital
Ardian, the French private‑equity firm, announced it will exit its investment in Trigo by selling the stake to Montyon Capital. Trigo provides inspection, quality engineering, and industrial performance‑management services to manufacturers. The deal, whose financial terms were not disclosed, fits...
TA Associates in Talks to Take Advanced Medical Solutions Private
Private‑equity firm TA Associates is in advanced discussions to acquire Advanced Medical Solutions (AMS), a developer and manufacturer of tissue‑healing technologies. The potential transaction would take AMS private, ending its public‑market status. While financial terms have not been disclosed, analysts...
Tenax and Air Industries Merge Into $210M Aerospace Platform
Tenax and Air Industries plan to merge, creating a $210mn aerospace and defense manufacturing platform. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/tenax-aerospace-air-industries-merger.html
Housing Sector Buzz: Multiple Acquisitions Signal Rising Value
Worth noting the activity picking up in housing sector: $QXO acquires $BLD, $TOL acquires assets from Buffington Homes of Arkansas (it's 16th acquisition since 1995 btw) and $HD adds Mingledorff last month. Some see value in this industry.
PopArabia Acquires Viral Wave, Marking A15’s Ninth Exit
Egyptian venture capital firm A15 recorded its ninth exit as PopArabia acquired Viral Wave, a UAE‑based digital music distribution platform founded in 2023 under ARPUPlus. Viral Wave manages a catalog that has generated more than 55 billion streams across major streaming...
UAE‑Backed $30B Fund Invests in KKR Climate Transition Fund
A $30 billion fund backed by the United Arab Emirates has committed to invest in KKR & Co. Inc’s global climate transition fund https://t.co/66u3NaD16Q
Medallia Loan Collapses, Blackstone Marks 60% Value
Blackstone has marked the Medallia loan down another 9 points to 60.3 as of Q1’26. It appears that Thoma Bravo has declined to recapitalize the company and it may be owned by its lenders soon. https://t.co/Duuu08riB1
Playing Safe: Europe’s Fire Safety PE Deal Pipeline Boosted by Revenue Visibility, Regulatory Stability
Europe’s fire‑safety sector is experiencing a surge in private‑equity activity, especially in the lower mid‑market, according to Lincoln International’s Vinod Stalam. Investors are attracted by clearer revenue streams from mandatory compliance work and a stable regulatory environment reinforced by recent...
Strategic Buyer Nears Mandatory Offer with 20% Upside
Mandatory offer incoming — 20% upside on the table. Strategic buyer just crossed the triggering threshold. A bid for the remaining minority stake is likely to come within months. Well-protected downside. https://t.co/kdWd6P5ec8
Sapporo Sells Stone Brewing to Firestone Walker, Duvel USA
M&A news: Sapporo is selling Stone Brewing to Firestone Walker + Duvel USA. Link to the story on @Brewbound in the comment below 👇 https://t.co/FNwtffMViK
Return of the Saturday Night Special, Courtesy of the SEC
The SEC issued an exemptive order that halves the mandatory cash tender‑offer period from 20 business days to 10, citing market efficiency and technology. The change dovetails with Delaware’s §251(h) medium‑form merger rule, allowing a friendly acquirer to close a...
Recent Mining Acquisitions & Impact on Future Takeover Targets
The requested article is behind a paywall and its full content is not accessible. Consequently, specific details about recent mining acquisitions and projected takeover prices cannot be extracted.
M&A Volume Surges as $68B Universal Music Bid and $45B McCormick Deal Lead Rebound
Global dealmaking value rebounded this week, spurred by Pershing Square's $68 bn bid for Universal Music Group and McCormick & Co.'s $45 bn merger with Unilever's food portfolio, signaling renewed appetite for large transactions after the Iran conflict.
McKesson Secures $1.25 B Apollo Minority Stake in Medical‑Surgical Unit
McKesson Corp announced that Apollo Funds will invest $1.25 billion for an approximately 13% minority interest in its Medical‑Surgical Solutions (MMS) business, valuing the unit at $13 billion. The deal is a cornerstone of McKesson’s plan to carve out MMS and launch...