Today's Private Equity Pulse
Blackstone launches its biggest Asia private‑equity fund at $13.1 billion
Blackstone announced the closing of a $13.1 billion fund, its largest ever dedicated to Asian private‑equity investments. The fund aims to back buyouts and growth‑capital deals across the region, underscoring Blackstone’s expanding focus on Asia’s mid‑market opportunities.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Toms Capital acquires significant stake in McCormick
ISS Urges Board to Reject Warner Bros. Discovery CEO's $887M Parachute in $77.7B Deal
Proxy adviser Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has advised Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders to vote against a $887 million golden parachute for CEO David Zaslav in the pending $77.7 billion Paramount Skydance acquisition. The recommendation comes as the deal could ultimately award Warner executives up to $1.35 billion in total severance, sparking a governance showdown.
Aging Trade Businesses Offer Untapped Buying Opportunities
Dad spent 30 years building a business his son doesn’t want to run. Now he needs to sell. This is happening everywhere in the trades right now. And it’s one of the most overlooked buying opportunities out there.
Unilever and McCormick Defend Food Tie-Up After Investor Jitters
Unilever announced advanced talks to sell most of its foods division to McCormick, creating a combined portfolio worth about $20 billion in FY 2025 revenue. The news triggered a sharp sell‑off, with Unilever shares falling over 7% and McCormick down 9% in...
OpenAI CGO and TBPN President Discuss Future Collaboration
🎙️Tomorrow on The Grill Room: A special OpenAI-TBPN deal omnibus featuring back-to-back conversations with: * OpenAI Chief Global Affairs Officer @chrislehane * TBPN President @DylanAbruscato Follow here: https://t.co/OUrgd2dr7a @PuckNews https://t.co/LNZpsHUAkd
DOWNLOAD: Private Equity Fundraising Gets a Boost in Q1, Despite Fewer Fund Closings
Private equity fundraising in Q1 2024 reached $152 bn, a 14% increase over the same period last year, according to PEI Group data. The rise spanned buyouts, growth equity, secondaries, and venture‑capital funds. Despite the higher capital inflow, the number of...
Carlyle Interval Fund Limits Outflows After 15.7% of Assets Requested for Redemption
Carlyle’s flagship interval fund announced it will limit outflows after investors submitted redemption requests totaling 15.7% of the fund’s net asset value. The firm said the surge in withdrawal requests reflects a broader market shift toward liquidity rather than concerns...
Japan's Itochu and Sankyu to Buy Singapore Plant Repair Firm SWTS
Japanese trading house Itochu and logistics group Sankyu announced a joint acquisition of Singapore‑based plant maintenance specialist SWTS. The deal, reported by Nikkei, aims to broaden both firms' service offerings across Asia’s industrial sector. SWTS, which maintains oil refineries and...
Moody's Cuts Blue Owl Non‑Traded Fund Outlook to Negative Amid 40% Redemption Surge
Moody's downgraded the outlook on Blue Owl's $36 billion non‑traded fund portfolio to negative after redemption requests surged to 40.7% for its technology BDC and 22% for its credit BDC in Q1. The move underscores mounting stress in the $2 trillion private‑credit...
Top 3 SPAC Targets – Space Missions
After a quiet spell, SPAC activity is heating up as Artemis II sparks renewed investor enthusiasm. Intuitive Machines, already part of the Artemis program, saw its stock jump 31% to $23.39, while other space de‑SPACs posted double‑digit gains. The column highlights...
NLB Joins Raiffeisen in Bidding Battle for Balkans Lender Addiko
Nova Ljubljanska banka (NLB) announced a €29‑per‑share offer for Addiko Bank, valuing the Balkan consumer‑lending specialist at €566 million (about $663 million). The bid directly challenges Raiffeisen Bank International’s earlier €23.05 offer. NLB’s proposal aims to secure a controlling stake in Addiko’s...
China Secures Germany’s Premier Robotics Asset
How China Acquired Germany’s #Robotics Crown Jewel by @JacklouisP #AI #MachineLearning #ArtificialIntelligence #ML #Innovation https://t.co/DuFtEGfyDb
Green Shoots Emerge Amid PE’s Most Challenging Era
Fundraising cycles in private equity compressed to an average of 14 months in Q1, the quickest pace since 2022. The shortened timeline hints at a tentative revival in investor confidence after a prolonged period of market headwinds. While capital inflows...
Risk #6- Valuation Under Pressure- Market Stress and the Enforcement Lens
Asset managers are facing intensified regulatory scrutiny on valuation practices as market volatility and tighter credit conditions expose the challenges of pricing illiquid assets. The SEC’s examinations of interval funds and the FCA’s 2025 review underscore a global push for...
Ares Backs $1.7B Sunbelt Retail REIT Push
Latest bet that #CRE especially in the #Sunbelt is undervalued belongs to #Ares, w/is teeing up #Whitestone #REIT for $1.7B+taking 5MSF of open-air #retail in places like #Phoenix #Austin #DFW #Houston #SanAntonio. #realestate #PE #BofA #WallSt https://t.co/iaUBXCrFQe
Paladin Envirotech Acquires Electronics Recycling Company in Ireland
Paladin EnviroTech, a Tampa‑based sustainability venture backed by SER Capital Partners and Daeheung Recycling, has acquired Ireland’s ICT, an R2‑certified IT asset disposition provider. The deal brings Paladin’s cumulative investment to $70 million across nine months of acquisitions in the U.S....
Unilever to Acquire Gummies Maker Grüns for $1.2 B
Axios Pro scoop: Unilever deal for gummies maker Grüns is valued at around $1.2 billion https://t.co/75MXcTj32E
Reports Suggest Sazerac in Talks With Brown-Forman Following Rumors of Pernod Merger
Sazerac has entered talks with Brown‑Forman after rumors of a merger between Brown‑Forman and Pernod Ricard surfaced. The news sent Brown‑Forman’s stock up more than 11 percent, mirroring the reaction to earlier reports of discussions with Pernod. Brown‑Forman, valued at roughly...
ADG 4/9: Tik Tok
The Justice Department has opened a probe into the NFL’s antitrust practices surrounding its TV‑rights packages, raising questions about consumer access to games. Meanwhile, the software sector faces a looming credit crunch as roughly $330 billion of high‑yield loans are set...
A Timeline of What Led up to Grüns Being Acquired by Unilever
Unilever announced it will acquire fast‑growing supplement startup Grüns, best known for its green gummy‑bear vitamins. The startup, founded in 2022, hit a $300 million annualized run rate within two years and secured a $500 million valuation after raising roughly $50 million. Grüns...
Rezolve Ai Takes Merger Proposal to Commerce.com’s Shareholders
Rezolve AI has escalated its hostile bid for ecommerce platform Commerce.com, offering two Rezolve shares for each Commerce.com share—a deal it says would create a $700 million revenue powerhouse. The proposal values Commerce.com at roughly a 47% discount to its current...
Bill Ackman Tries to Make Music and Money Mix with €55bn Universal Bid
Activist investor Bill Ackman is spearheading a €55 billion (≈$59 billion) takeover bid for Universal Music Group, the world’s largest recorded‑music company. The consortium, backed by private‑equity firms and sovereign wealth funds, argues the deal will unlock value by pairing Universal’s catalog...
General Atlantic Acquires Home Care Provider TEAM Services For $3B
General Atlantic has completed a $3 billion acquisition of TEAM Services Group, a San Diego‑based home‑care provider, valuing the business at roughly 10 times EBITDA. The transaction, which includes debt, adds a nationwide platform with 100,000 caregivers to General Atlantic’s health‑care portfolio....
VMG Partners Invests in The Doux, Uniqlo Owner Fast Retailing Raises Full-Year Forecast
VMG Partners has taken a minority stake in hair‑care brand The Doux to accelerate its U.S. distribution across Target, Walmart and other mass retailers. Fast Retailing, the parent of Uniqlo, lifted its FY2026 operating‑profit outlook to ¥700 billion ($4.4 billion) after a...
CD&R Completes Acquisition of Sealed Air
Private equity firm CD&R has completed the acquisition of Sealed Air, paying roughly $6.3 billion to shareholders and valuing the company at $10.3 billion enterprise value. The packaging maker will now operate as a privately held entity headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina,...
Unilever Is Acquiring Grüns
Unilever announced it is acquiring Grüns, the fast‑growing greens supplement brand that hit roughly $300 million in revenue within two years. The company has become the #1 greens supplement on Amazon and in U.S. retail, with 80% of users taking it...
Ara Partners Invests $500 Million in Waste Upcycling Solutions Provider Sedron
Industrial decarbonization investor Ara Partners announced up to $500 million in funding for Sedron Technologies, a Washington‑based provider of waste upcycling solutions. Sedron’s Varcor technology converts municipal biosolids and agricultural manure into reclaimed water, renewable energy and carbon‑negative commodities. The capital...
First Meeting Leads to Last‑Touch Attribution on Acquisition
I met Chad two days ago for the first time and Gruns got acquired. From a last touch perspective I have to be attributed as part of this sale.
CVC Seeks Partners to Back 10.9 Billion-Euro Italian Drugmaker Recordati Deal: Sources
CVC Capital Partners is courting co‑investors to fund a €10.9 billion (≈$11.9 bn) takeover of Italy’s Recordati. The firm needs an equity injection of €5.5‑€6 bn (≈$6.0‑$6.5 bn), which would rank the deal among Europe’s largest leveraged buyouts. Potential partners include Groupe Bruxelles Lambert, Abu Dhabi...
Nvidia Invests In CPU Chip Startup SiFive
Nvidia disclosed a strategic stake in SiFive, the RISC‑V processor startup, as part of a $400 million oversubscribed financing round that values SiFive at $3.65 billion. The new capital will accelerate SiFive’s development of custom RISC‑V CPUs and AI IP aimed at...
IMDEX Acquires 100% Stake in Krux Analytics
IMDEX has completed the acquisition of 100% of Krux Analytics, a provider of advanced drilling‑site data capture and analytics software. The deal brings Krux’s real‑time drilling analytics platform under IMDEX’s downhole sensor technology (DST) portfolio, creating a unified solution for...
KLB Business Valuations & Forensic Accountants to Merge with TowerBrook-Backed EisnerAmper
KLB Business Valuations & Forensic Accountants announced a merger with EisnerAmper, a firm backed by private‑equity sponsor TowerBrook. The transaction is expected to close in May 2026, subject to customary approvals. The combined entity will integrate KLB’s valuation expertise with...
Onex Partners Completes $1.6bn Multi-Asset CV
Onex Partners has closed a $1.6 billion multi‑asset continuation vehicle, expanding its investment platform. The new fund will hold stakes in Fidelity Building Services Group, education‑software provider PowerSchool, and professional services firm Sedgwick. By structuring a continuation vehicle, Onex offers existing...
CMEP Said to Be Lining up GracoRoberts for Sale; ECP Reacquires Nuclear Waste Management Company
CMEP is reportedly preparing to sell its GracoRoberts division, a specialist in industrial fluid handling. Meanwhile, Energy Capital Partners (ECP) has reacquired EnergySolutions, a nuclear waste management firm, marking its second purchase of the same company. The moves signal active...
Co-Op Group and Southern Co-Op to Merge
Co‑op Group and Southern Co‑op announced a merger that will unite Southern Co‑op’s 300,000 members with the Group’s seven million, creating the UK’s largest consumer co‑operative. The combined entity will bring together Southern Co‑op’s 300 food, funeral and Starbucks‑branded outlets...
CB&I All Done with Acquisition of Petrofac’s Asset Solutions Business
CB&I, a designer and builder of storage facilities, completed the acquisition of Petrofac’s Asset Solutions business, adding roughly 3,000 employees and expanding into operations, maintenance, and de‑commissioning services. The transaction was structured on a debt‑free, cash‑free basis, with proceeds directed...
Federal Judge Signals Possible Block of Nexstar’s $6.2 Billion Tegna Acquisition
U.S. District Court Chief Judge Troy L. Nunley indicated he will issue a preliminary injunction to stop Nexstar Media Group’s $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna. The move follows a lawsuit by California and seven other states alleging the merger would concentrate...
Acceler8 Eyes £600 M All‑Share Takeover of Intuitive Investments, IIG
Acceler8 Ventures plc and Intuitive Investments Group have reached an agreement in principle on an all‑share offer for Intuitive Investments Group (IIG). The deal values IIG’s fully‑diluted share capital at roughly £600 million (≈$760 million) and proposes an exchange ratio of 2.6052...
Odyssey Marine Shares Jump 90% on $1 B American Ocean Minerals Merger
Odyssey Marine Exploration (OMEX) shares surged 90.62% to $1.58 after the company agreed to merge with American Ocean Minerals Corp. in an all‑stock transaction valuing the combined entity at roughly $1 billion. The deal includes a $150 million private‑placement, a $75 million pre‑public...
Paramount President Jeff Shell Resigns Amid Legal Fight as $111B Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Looms
Paramount Global President Jeff Shell quit his role and board seat to focus on a legal dispute with gambler R.J. Cipriani, just as the media giant finalizes a $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. The resignation adds uncertainty to a...
Corient Expands UHNW Footprint with $5.6B Vivaldi Acquisition
Corient continues its buying spree in the ultra-high-net-worth space, announcing the acquisition of another RIA, Vivaldi Capital ($5.6 billion AUM) They've been on a roll the past year https://t.co/xy8jLFknDZ
Canva Acquires Simtheory and Ortto, Bolstering AI‑driven Design and Marketing Automation
Canva announced the purchase of Australian AI startups Simtheory and Ortto, adding agentic AI and marketing‑automation capabilities to its platform. The deals, undisclosed financially, bring Canva’s AI‑acquisition tally to eight and reinforce its push toward an integrated, end‑to‑end work system...
Side Letter: Diversification Drive
The latest side‑letter trends show limited partners (LPs) in the Asia‑Pacific region increasing allocations to diversify away from traditional European and North American exposures. Tiered‑carry provisions are creating friction in continuation fund deals, as managers and LPs clash over performance...
DOWNLOAD: Bright Spots Emerge in Q1 PE Fundraising
Nearly half of private‑equity funds that closed in Q1 2026 met their fundraising targets, the highest proportion in at least five years. The 48% hit rate signals a rebound after a period of subdued capital raising driven by higher rates...
Dividend Stocks Merge In $1.7 Billion Deal; This One Rockets
Whitestone REIT agreed to be acquired by Ares Management’s real‑estate funds for $19 per share, a cash deal worth $1.7 billion and representing a 12.2% premium to the prior close. The transaction will take Whitestone private after closing in Q3, pending...
Deal Roundup: Francisco Partners Agrees Blackline Take Private at up to $850m Valuation, Agilitas to Sell Integris Composites
Francisco Partners agreed to take private Blackline Safety Corp for up to $850 million, a 34% premium to its Toronto closing price. Blackline, a maker of wearable gas‑detection devices and cloud‑connected analytics, has logged more than eight million emergency alerts. Agilitas...
Atletico Madrid and Aston Martin Investors Buy Into SailGP Team
Quantum Pacific Group, the largest shareholder of Atletico Madrid, has acquired the Los Gallos SailGP team in an eight‑figure transaction. The purchase adds a Spanish franchise to Quantum Pacific’s diverse sports portfolio, which already includes FC Famalicao, a Movistar‑backed cycling...
Percheron Capital Pulls in $3.1bn for Hard Cap Fund III Close, Double Its Fund II Total
Percheron Capital announced a hard‑cap close of $3.1 billion for its third private‑equity fund, marking a 100% increase over the $1.5 billion raised for Fund II. The firm, founded by two former Golden Gate Capital executives, focuses on service‑sector businesses. The new fund...
Infra Secondaries Buyers Seek Scarce Opportunities – II Global Summit
At the PEI Group’s Infrastructure Investor Global Summit 2026, panelists highlighted that buyers are increasingly turning to infrastructure secondaries to capture assets that are difficult to obtain in primary markets. The scarcity of sell‑side opportunities is creating a competitive environment...
Ex-Blackstone Pair Team up Again with David Blitzer, Seal $400m Debut 154 Partners Fundraise Close
154 Partners, the private‑equity firm founded by former Blackstone executives Isaac Harrouche and Mike Berlin, has closed its inaugural fund at the $400 million hard‑cap target. The raise was anchored by billionaire investor David Blitzer, who contributed a substantial commitment through...
Lion Energy Takes Equity Stake in American Battery Factory Aimed at Securing Domestic Battery Supply
Utah‑based Lion Energy has taken an undisclosed equity stake in American Battery Factory (ABF) to lock in a domestic supply of lithium‑iron‑phosphate (LFP) cells. The partnership gives Lion over 4.5 GWh of offtake from ABF’s planned 5.5 GWh Tucson gigafactory for the...