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.
AtlasClear Holdings Seeks Approval to Acquire Commercial Bancorp in Bank‑Sector Roll‑Up
AtlasClear Holdings, a technology‑enabled financial services holding company listed on NYSE American (ATCH), filed regulatory applications on April 13, 2026 to acquire Commercial Bancorp, the bank‑holding company that owns Farmers State Bank. The filing signals AtlasClear’s push to create a vertically integrated financial services platform through a classic private‑equity‑style roll‑up of regional banks.
Adams Street Secures $7.5 B for Private Credit Platform, Boosting Real‑Estate Debt Funding
Adams Street Partners closed a $7.5 billion fundraising round for its third private‑credit platform, the biggest private‑credit raise of 2026. The capital, 40% of which came from non‑U.S. investors, expands the firm’s ability to provide senior financing to middle‑market sponsors, a...
Serial Home‑Service Founder Turns Pool Industry Into Scalable Brand
Here is @jeremyyamaguchi explaining his thesis on why he decided to acquire pool services businesses. So far, he has acquired 10 companies in a short 18 months. Jeremy has previously built, scaled, and exited three home services businesses: 1. Golden Shine (housekeeping)...
Adams Street Partners Holds $7.5bn Final Close
Adams Street Partners announced the final close of its third private credit platform, securing $7.5 bn in commitments. The fund will focus on senior financing for sponsored mid‑market companies across the United States and Europe. By targeting senior debt, the platform...
Stellex Secures $2.37bn for Biggest Fund yet, but Falls Short of $2.5bn Target
Stellex Capital Management announced the final close of its third flagship private‑equity fund at $2.37 billion, slightly below the $2.5 billion target. The new vehicle is roughly one‑third larger than the firm’s prior fund, highlighting growing investor appetite. Capital will be allocated...
AIP to Take Medtech Firm Avanos Medical Private
AIP, a private‑equity firm, announced plans to take Avanos Medical private at an estimated $1.272 billion valuation. The deal will remove Avanos from public markets, giving AIP full control over its medtech portfolio. Avanos, known for innovative airway and vascular devices,...
Turn $8M Into $500M by Rolling Up Boring Industries
How to turn $8M into $500M in revenue in 6 years, according to Graham Weaver (he came on MFM recently): - Pick the most boring industry you can find (he picked plumbing + HVAC. $170B TAM) - Buy a small one with...
AppDirect Acquires PartnerStack to Build Unified Platform for Partner-Led Growth
San Francisco‑based AppDirect announced the acquisition of Toronto‑originated PartnerStack, a partner relationship management platform with more than 138,000 B2B partners. The deal, whose financial terms were not disclosed, will merge PartnerStack’s network and PRM tools with AppDirect’s marketplace infrastructure to...
Amazon.com to Acquire Globalstar in a $11.68 Billion Deal
Amazon.com announced a definitive agreement to acquire satellite‑communications firm Globalstar for $11.68 billion. Shareholders can elect $90 in cash or 0.3210 Amazon shares per Globalstar share, with cash limited to 40% of the equity and a $110 million downside adjustment. The acquisition...
THL Partners Appoints Dave Guilmette as Exec Partner in Fintech and Services Investment Group
Private equity firm THL Partners has appointed Dave Guilmette as an executive partner in its fintech and services investment group. Guilmette will lead the identification, sourcing, and growth of opportunities across insurance, employee benefits, and the broader financial services ecosystem....
PE-Backed Mulilo Reaches Financial Close on South African Solar Project
Mulilo, backed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Norfund, has reached financial close on the Middlepunt Solar PV project in South Africa. The 337 MW (DC) facility will export 240 MW (AC) and is expected to produce about 770 GWh of electricity each year....
Equinor Sells 8.07% Stake in Scatec for $169m
Equinor sold an 8.07% stake in Norwegian renewable developer Scatec for roughly $168.5 million, pricing shares at Nkr 125 ($13.16) each. After the transaction the oil major retains an 8.05% holding subject to a 90‑day lock‑up. Equinor first invested in Scatec in...
Thoma Bravo to Merge Construction Software Firm with Nemetschek’s Build and Construct Segment
Private equity firm Thoma Bravo is merging its construction‑software assets with Nemetschek SE’s Build and Construct segment, creating a combined entity focused on digital construction solutions. Under the agreement, Nemetschek will hold roughly 72% of the new business while Thoma...
Eni Completes Acea Acquisitions
Eni’s renewables arm Plenitude completed the purchase of Acea Energia and a 50% stake in Umbria Energy, adding roughly 1.2 million electricity and gas customers and bringing its total retail base to over 11 million. The transaction was priced at €500 million (≈$590 million)...
Golden Goose Looks to Bond Sale to Fund Private Equity Buyout
Golden Goose Group is marketing an €880 million ($1.04 billion) bond issuance to finance its acquisition by Chinese private‑equity firm HSG. The offering includes seven‑year fixed‑rate notes yielding in the mid‑to‑high 6% range and floating‑rate notes priced at Euribor + 400‑425 bps, with a minimum...
The VinePair Podcast: Is Brown-Forman for Sale? To Whom?
Recent reports suggest French spirits giant Pernod Ricard is weighing a takeover of Brown‑Forman, the maker of Jack Daniel’s, while rival Sazerac has also entered negotiations. The discussions have sparked speculation about whether the deal will be a full merger or a...
How to Double EBITDA in 3 Years The Multi-Unit Retail Playbook
In this episode of the Raw Selection Private Equity Podcast, Jeff Helfgott, CEO of Boardroom Salon, shares his playbook for doubling EBITDA in three years within a multi‑unit retail business. He emphasizes that talent assessment and development are as critical...
Hollywood Titans Oppose $111 B Paramount‑Warner Merger in Open Letter
A coalition of leading filmmakers and actors, including Denis Villeneuve and J.J. Abrams, issued an open letter denouncing the $111 billion Paramount‑Warner merger. They argue the deal would shrink the studio pool, cut jobs and limit audience choice, while Paramount counters...
Nemetschek to Acquire HCSS, Expanding Construction‑Tech Portfolio with $486 M Debt Deal
Nemetschek Group signed a definitive agreement to buy Heavy Construction Systems Specialists (HCSS) from private‑equity firm Thoma Bravo. The deal transfers roughly €450 million ($486 million) of debt to Nemetschek and gives Thoma Bravo a 28% stake in the newly formed Build...
Worldline in Talks to Sell NZ Payments Unit for €17 Million ($18.5 M)
Worldline SA announced exclusive negotiations with Australian‑based Cuscal Ltd. to sell its New Zealand payments operations for €17 million (about $18.5 million). The deal, slated to close in Q2 2026, is part of Worldline’s broader strategy to concentrate on its European core and streamline...
‘The Next Big Thing’: Newfund Raises €60m to Back Brain Technologies
Paris‑based early‑stage venture capital firm Newfund has closed a €60 million ($65 million) fund dedicated to brain technologies, aiming to back up to 25 European startups with seed‑stage checks of $1‑3 million. The fund is the first Europe‑only VC focused exclusively on neuro‑tech,...
MEAG-Warburg Pincus Deal Marks Further Shift in LP Demand for Defence
MEAG, the asset‑management arm of Munich Re, has pledged capital to a new defence‑focused fund managed by Warburg Pincus. The partnership marks a notable shift as limited partners increasingly allocate money to security‑related assets, especially in Europe. U.S. private‑equity firms...
360 ONE Asset Secures Rs 2,000 Crore in Commitments for Its PIPE Strategy
India asset manager 360 ONE Asset announced it has secured roughly $241 million (₹2,000 crore) in commitments for its Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPE) strategy. The vehicle targets high‑potential listed and late‑stage companies, offering structured capital, active governance support and flexible...
Samsung Asset Management Eyes Credit Secondaries, Co-Investments
Samsung Asset Management announced it will pursue credit‑secondaries and co‑investment opportunities, aiming to add a layer of downside protection amid volatile macro trends. Head of OCIO Seong Sup Cho said the strategy lets the firm move against the herd rather...
Manulife to Deploy More than $2bn in Private Credit
Manulife Financial announced it will allocate more than $2 billion to private‑credit investments in 2024, with an initial $400 million committed to five specialist managers. The capital will be used for senior secured loans, mezzanine debt and other specialty financing structures. The...
Payfast Founder Acquires iVeri
Jonathan Smit, the founder of Payfast, announced his acquisition of iVeri, a payment technology firm with a 30‑year legacy in Africa. Smit, who exited Payfast between 2019 and 2021 and now runs a portfolio of over 30 businesses, will retain...
Battery Ventures’ Zak Ewen: Software Company Value in ‘More than Just the Product’
Battery Ventures partner Zak Ewen told PE Hub that a software company’s worth extends beyond its code. He argues that firms with deep end‑market expertise, strong customer relationships, and valuable data are more resilient to AI‑driven disintermediation. Investors, therefore, should...
United Airlines CEO Has Floated The Idea Of Buying American Airlines
United Airlines chief Scott Kirby has informally floated a merger‑or‑acquisition proposal with rival American Airlines, even briefing senior U.S. government officials about the idea. Kirby, a former American Airlines president, sees the deal as both a strategic and personal opportunity....
Fortreum Acquires Kovr.AI to Boost AI‑Driven Cybersecurity Compliance Platform
Fortreum, a cybersecurity assessment firm backed by Gryphon Investors, announced the acquisition of FedRAMP‑authorized AI compliance platform Kovr.AI. The deal combines Fortreum's practitioner‑led assessment services with Kovr.AI's agentic AI engine, aiming to streamline compliance across FedRAMP, CMMC 2.0, DOD SRG,...
Goldman, Ardian Bought CIC’s $1 Billion US Private Equity Stake
Goldman Sachs and French private‑equity firm Ardian have each acquired a portion of a $1 billion U.S. private‑equity stake sold by China Investment Corp. (CIC). The transaction closed after CIC sought to trim its exposure to private‑market assets, with Ardian buying...
United CEO's Acquisition Pitch Sparks Fired Exec's Revenge Plan
United CEO Scott Kirby Pitched Buying American Airlines — The Man It Fired Wants The Ultimate Revenge Deal - View from the Wing https://t.co/8l2353pUAX
SupplyOne Acquires Specialty Packaging to Bolster New England Footprint
SupplyOne, Inc. announced the purchase of Connecticut‑based Specialty Packaging, LLC, a move that expands its regional distribution network and adds the proprietary SteamRight microwavable packaging line. The deal underscores growing consolidation in packaging logistics, a sector attracting middle‑market private‑equity interest.
United CEO Has Pitched Possible Combination with Rival American
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has floated a possible merger with rival American Airlines, a deal that would create the world’s largest carrier and combine more than a third of the U.S. domestic market. Kirby, a former American executive, raised...
Private Equity Monopoly Inflates City Vehicle Costs, Taxes
If you love property taxes, thank a private equity exec. Private equity cornered ambulance and fire truck production and hiked prices. It turns out, I'm being told, they also did it to other specialty vehicles used by cities too. PE is...
Australian Waste Management M&A Surge Attracts Private Equity, Report Shows
A Morgan Business Sales report released on April 12, 2026 highlights a wave of merger and acquisition activity in Australia's waste management and environmental services sector. Private equity firms are increasingly targeting the fragmented market, drawn by regulatory tailwinds and...
Stryker Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Amplitude Vascular Systems, Adding Next‑gen IVL Tech
Stryker Corp. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Boston‑based Amplitude Vascular Systems, a developer of next‑generation intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) technology for calcified peripheral arterial disease. The deal, undisclosed in price, aims to broaden Stryker’s peripheral vascular platform and accelerate...
Ares Management Secures $5.4 B LP Shift to Value‑Add Real Estate Funds
Ares Management closed a combined $5.4 billion in commitments for its US Real Estate Fund XI and European Property Enhancement Partners IV, marking a decisive LP rotation toward value‑add real‑estate strategies. The raise comes as rising cap rates pressure core‑plus funds...
Rumor Fact(ory): DistroKid Explores $2B Sale
DistroKid, the DIY digital music distributor that claims to handle roughly 40% of new releases and serves over two million artists, is reportedly exploring a sale valued at $2 billion. The company’s last disclosed valuation was $1.3 billion in a 2021 funding...
Stryker to Acquire Amplitude Vascular Systems for Peripheral Vascular Portfolio
Stryker has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Amplitude Vascular Systems, bringing the latter’s intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) technology into its peripheral vascular portfolio. Amplitude’s CO₂‑generated pressure‑wave balloon catheter targets heavily calcified arteries, promising faster, more efficient revascularization. The companies will...
Know the Right Time to Maximize SaaS Sale Value
Next up at MicroConf: @einarvollset on maximizing for the value you receive when selling your SaaS business. "When to sell your B2B SaaS"
How to Survive the Transition to PE Ownership
The transition to private‑equity ownership forces CFOs to reset expectations, timelines, and the company’s value narrative. Finance leaders like Keith Durden and Connor Augustyn stress adopting an entrepreneurial mindset, building robust KPI reporting, and aligning closely with the PE investment...
White Claw Maker Mark Anthony Group to Acquire The Finnish Long Drink
Mark Anthony Group, the owner of White Claw Hard Seltzer, announced it will acquire Finland’s The Finnish Long Drink, a gin‑based canned cocktail. The deal, terms undisclosed, closes in the coming weeks. Long Drink logged nearly 20% volume growth last...
Chernin Group Backs Real's Rapid Social Sports Growth
Glass Break: The Chernin Group recently led a minority investment round in Real, a fast-growing social box score/PBP app with a fascinating backstory Details at @FOS https://t.co/TjfrntcK9u
Villeneuve Joins Opposition to Paramount's Warner Bros. Takeover
new: Denis Villeneuve, the director of "Sicario," has signed the letter opposing Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros. https://t.co/LENGXkC5Yy
Data Center ABS Iskandar and Kaveh Bring to Market, Raising $1.4 Billion
Iskandar Enterprise and Kaveh Enterprise have launched a $1.4 billion asset‑backed security backed by first‑lien mortgages on two Ashburn, Virginia data centers. The issuance consists of five fixed‑rate, interest‑only notes with a five‑year annual repayment date and a final legal maturity...
GFL Environmental Nears $4.3 B Acquisition of SECURE Waste, Expanding Waste‑Management Footprint
GFL Environmental Inc. is on the verge of acquiring Canada‑based SECURE Waste Infrastructure Corp. for more than $4.3 billion, according to Bloomberg News. The transaction would create one of the largest waste‑management platforms in North America and is being closely watched...
Mark Anthony Group of Companies Announces Plans to Acquire The Finnish Long Drink
Mark Anthony Group of Companies announced plans to acquire The Finnish Long Drink, a fast‑growing ready‑to‑drink (RTD) brand. The deal builds on Mark Anthony’s existing exclusive distribution partnership in Canada and aims to expand the brand across North America. Co‑founders...
Amazon Mulls $9 B Offer for Globalstar to Accelerate Satellite Broadband
Amazon is exploring a bid valued around $9 billion for Globalstar, a satellite communications firm with valuable spectrum licenses in more than 120 countries. The move would speed Amazon’s plan to expand its Project Kuiper constellation, which currently trails rivals like...
Cooley Strengthens Fund Formation Practice With Private Equity Partner in New York
Cooley has added Derek Pease, a former Silver Lake legal director, as a partner in its New York fund formation practice. Pease brings over two decades of private‑equity legal experience, including leadership of multibillion‑dollar fundraises. The move expands Cooley’s private‑equity...
M&A: Denarius Targets Emerita in Spain’s Zinc-Copper Belt
Denarius Metals has tabled a non‑binding all‑share offer for Emerita Resources, pricing the deal at a 15% premium to Emerita’s April 10 close. The transaction would value Emerita between $25 million and $29 million, depending on its fully diluted share count, and...