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
Saudi Arabia’s PIF Plans to Anchor King Street’s Regional Credit Fund
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has signed a memorandum of understanding to anchor a new private credit fund managed by King Street Capital. The fund will focus on financing opportunities across Saudi Arabia and the broader MENA region, tapping into a growing demand for non‑bank credit. PIF’s involvement signals a strategic push to diversify the kingdom’s financial ecosystem beyond oil. King Street brings its global credit expertise to help structure and originate deals in emerging markets.
Private Markets Face $330B Debt Maturity Crunch by 2028
"A wall of debt maturities is looming for the private markets industry, with more than $330 billion of high yield, leveraged loan and business development company-linked software and technology debt coming due for repayment through 2028." https://t.co/tbaFKL3oym
Bryson DeChambeau Leads ‘Eight-Figure’ SportsBox AI Acquisition
Bryson DeChambeau led a group of investors in an eight‑figure acquisition of Sportsbox AI, the computer‑vision startup that creates 3‑D avatars from 2‑D video. The deal, valued between $10 million and $99 million, follows DeChambeau’s own use of the platform to fine‑tune...
Prospect Medical Collapse Highlights Private‑Equity Risks in For‑Profit Hospital Chains
Prospect Medical, a 17‑hospital chain owned by private‑equity investors, filed for bankruptcy after a debt‑laden expansion left it owing over $135 million in taxes and without malpractice insurance reserves. The fallout underscores systemic risks in PE‑backed health‑care assets.
Multifamily Veteran Christopher Thomson Honored in Marquis Who's Who
Christopher Thomson, managing principal of Multifamily Acquisition Advisors, was selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who, highlighting his two‑decade career that has overseen hundreds of millions of dollars in investor capital and a platform tracking rent payments for 26 million renters....
Catalyst Bancorp to Acquire Lakeside Bancshares for $41.1 Million in All‑Cash Deal
Catalyst Bancorp Inc. agreed to purchase Lakeside Bancshares Inc. for $19.58 per share, roughly $41.1 million in cash. The merger will create a combined bank with $627.3 million in assets and is projected to be more than 180% earnings‑accretive, pending regulatory and...
Emigrant Takes Minority Stake in $15B Mutual Group
Emigrant Partners, the advisory arm of Emigrant Bank, has taken a minority stake in Mutual Group, a hybrid broker‑dealer and RIA platform that supports 270 advisor teams overseeing roughly $15 billion in assets. The investment keeps Mutual’s leadership in majority control...
InsideArbitrage Event Driven Monitor – April 9, 2026
The InsideArbitrage April 9 roundup spotlights several high‑profile M&A moves, including Garda Therapeutics’ $18‑per‑share cash tender for Assertio (a 2.23% discount) and the completion of Air Lease’s $2.3 billion acquisition by a consortium of Sumitomo, SMBC Aviation, Apollo and Brookfield after 218...
Cooling Middle East Tensions Could Support Private Equity Deal Activity, Says Blackstone’s Baratta
Joe Baratta, Blackstone's global head of private equity, warned that recent Middle East instability, especially the Iran‑related conflict, has dampened investor confidence and slowed dealmaking. He said a temporary cease‑fire and easing of tensions could revive private‑equity transaction momentum in...
Serie A Explores PE Interest in International Media Rights Business
Serie A is in talks with private‑equity firms about selling up to 49% of its international media rights unit, which generates roughly €250 million (about $270 million) a year. The league has hired JP Morgan to explore options and could launch a formal...
Hollywood's New Cash King: Paramount's $24B Power Play
Paramount Skydance has secured roughly $24 billion in equity from Gulf sovereign wealth funds to fund its planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, creating a debt‑free, $110 billion merger. The cash infusion bolsters the combined balance sheet, allowing immediate investment in content and...
Co-Op Merger to Bring Huge Shakeup to Retail and Funeral Giant
The Co‑op Group announced a planned takeover of Southern Co‑op, adding roughly 300 food stores, funeral branches and Starbucks outlets to its portfolio. The deal follows a £126 million loss tied to a recent cyber‑attack that also prompted chief executive Shirine...
Brewdog: Co-Founder James Watt ‘Terminated’ as Director
Co‑founder James Watt has been formally terminated as a director of Brewdog following the company’s sale to US cannabis‑beer conglomerate Tilray. Watt, who stepped down as CEO earlier this year, resigned from the board on March 24, completing his exit...
TR Capital Appoints Umang Agarwal As India MD, To Invest $1 Bn Over 5 Years
Private equity firm TR Capital announced a $1 billion commitment to invest in Indian secondary transactions over the next five years. The firm appointed former Eight Roads principal Umang Agarwal as India Managing Director and co‑head of its Asia secondary platform....
LPs Leave No Stone Unturned During Background Checks
Limited partners (LPs) are tightening their due‑diligence processes, scrutinizing every facet of private‑equity fund managers before committing capital. The heightened scrutiny includes deep background checks on investment teams, compliance histories, ESG practices, and operational resilience. LPs are leveraging third‑party data...
Assertio Holdings to Be Acquired by Garda Therapeutics in a $125.1 Million Deal
Garda Therapeutics announced a definitive agreement to acquire specialty‑pharma firm Assertio Holdings for $125.1 million. The tender offer will pay $18 in cash per share—a 2.23% discount to the prior close—and includes a non‑tradeable contingent value right tied to future Sprix...
VANL Goes Private at 58% Premium After Prolonged Sale Attempts
#VANL taken private at a 58% premium but apparently they have been trying to sell themselves for ages…can’t recall the RNS where they informed shareholders of what they were doing https://t.co/5PsBj27lWP
Antitrust: The Implications of Regulatory Termination Fee Insurance
Regulatory Termination Fee (RTF) insurance is an emerging product that moves the risk of reverse termination fees from buyers to insurers. The policy’s premium is typically modest, leaving buyers only a small deductible. By insulating buyers from the full fee,...
Secondary Sales in SEA: The Liquidity Lifeline when Exits Are Scarce
Southeast Asia’s startup boom has made secondary share sales a common liquidity tool, allowing early investors to cash out before a full exit. These transactions often accompany oversubscribed primary rounds, creating a blended deal where only part of the capital...
Accenture Acquires Keepler Data Tech, Adding 240 AI Experts to Health‑Data Portfolio
Accenture has bought Spanish cloud‑native AI and data company Keepler Data Tech, bringing more than 240 Keepler professionals into its health‑data analytics practice. The terms were not disclosed, and Accenture’s stock fell 0.83% to $197.30 after the announcement. The deal...
Stablecoin Market Breaks $300 B as Mastercard Moves to Acquire BVNK for $1.8 B
The global stablecoin market has crossed the $300 billion mark and processes roughly $15 trillion a year, rivaling Visa’s payment volume. At the same time, Mastercard disclosed a definitive agreement to buy stablecoin‑infrastructure firm BVNK for up to $1.8 billion, signaling a major...
Bloomberg: Leveraged Lending Insights – 4/6/2026
Lenders are deepening original issue discounts (OIDs) to clear leveraged‑loan deals as primary‑market activity stalls. In March 2026 the weighted‑average OID on U.S. institutional loans surged to 140 basis points, up from 62 bps in February, marking the deepest discount...
Estate Agency Franchise Group Expands with Multi-Branch Acquisition
LSL Estate Agency Franchising has acquired Meyers Franchising Limited, adding ten franchise partners and six branches across Dorset and the South Coast. The deal folds the Meyers brand into LSL’s national franchise network, bringing shared infrastructure and new investment. LSL...
Podcast Frenzy: ‘Everyone’s for Sale’ After ‘TBPN’ Shocker
The podcast market is in the midst of a buying frenzy after TBPN’s sale to OpenAI for a low‑hundred‑million‑dollar price tag. The deal has ignited a wave of interest from legacy media, tech firms, and private investors seeking to own...
What RIA Buyers and Sellers Are Prioritizing in a Shifting Market
The wealth‑management sector is becoming more institutional, with larger RIAs and aggregators mimicking wirehouse structures. M&A activity surged in 2025, reaching 466 deals—a 27% increase year‑over‑year—while buyers now emphasize strategic fit and cultural compatibility. Sellers are shifting focus from headline...
Blackline Safety to Go Private in $850-Million Deal
Calgary‑based Blackline Safety will delist from the Toronto Stock Exchange after agreeing to be taken private by an affiliate of Silicon Valley private‑equity firm Francisco Partners. The definitive agreement values the company at up to CAD $850 million (approximately US$630 million), offering shareholders...
Carmel Partners Secures Nearly $1.4 B for Ninth U.S. Multifamily Value‑Creation Fund
Carmel Partners closed its ninth U.S. multifamily value‑creation fund at $1.35 billion, drawing capital from pension funds, foundations and family offices. The firm has already deployed the money into nine operating assets and targets supply‑constrained markets such as Boston, New York...
Gilead to Acquire Germany's Tubulis for Up to $5 B, Boosting ADC Portfolio
Gilead Sciences agreed to buy German biotech Tubulis for $3.15 B in cash, with up to $1.85 B in contingent payments, expanding its antibody‑drug conjugate pipeline. The deal comes as Organogenesis shares jump 6.5% after a successful diabetic foot ulcer trial, underscoring...
Torq Eyes $50 Million Acquisition of AI Security Assistant Jit
Cybersecurity unicorn Torq is in advanced talks to acquire Boston‑based AI security assistant Jit for about $50 million. The deal would merge Torq’s command‑center platform with Jit’s automated tools, advancing both firms’ push toward “agentic security.” The transaction follows Tor0’s recent...
The 10 Most Valuable Artist Music Catalogs (for Now)
The music‑rights market is in a catalog acquisition gold rush, with streaming and sync licensing turning iconic song collections into high‑yield assets. Sony Music Group alone spent $1.27 billion on Queen and $600 million for a 50% stake in Michael Jackson, setting record‑breaking...
Manufacturing Company Sees Long-Term Growth After Its Latest Acquisition
ITT Corp. closed a $4.775 billion cash‑and‑equity acquisition of SPX FLOW, a maker of pumps, valves and mixers that generated over $1.3 billion in 2025 revenue. The deal accelerates ITT’s 2030 strategic plan for portfolio transformation, moving the target four years ahead of...
Nexus Venture Partners Sells Delhivery Shares Worth ₹530 Cr
Venture capital firm Nexus Venture Partners has offloaded a total of 1.2 crore Delhivery shares through multiple block deals, raising approximately ₹530.4 crore. The transaction comprised 1.04 crore shares from its Nexus Ventures III fund at ₹442 each and 15.6 lakh shares from its...
AKVA Launches Strategic Review, Floats Potential Sale
Norwegian aquaculture technology firm AKVA announced a strategic review that could culminate in a sale, aiming to maximize shareholder value. The review, supported by majority shareholder Egersund Group (51%) and Israel Corporation (18%), will be overseen by DNB Carnegie and...
Meta's Singapore Pivot Signals Full Workflow Automation by 2026
A student from a small tea-producing village just sold his startup to Meta for $2B and the reason will change how you run your business. For years, the tech industry obsessed over "brains" models that could generate code or essays. But...
Savills Buys Eastdil Secured for $1.1 B, Bolstering U.S. Investment Banking Platform
Savills completed a $1.1 billion acquisition of U.S. advisory boutique Eastdil Secured, swapping equity stakes with existing owners and giving the British broker a foothold in high‑value capital‑markets deals. The deal brings Eastdil’s $4.4 billion in 2024 investment‑sales volume and its talent‑heavy...
Exclusive: CMEP Lines up Sale of Specialty Chemicals Manufacturer GracoRoberts, Sources Say
CM Equity Partners, which acquired GracoRoberts in 2015, is preparing to sell the specialty chemicals manufacturer. GracoRoberts, formerly part of Graco Supply & Integrated Services, produces industrial chemicals and fluid solutions for various sectors. The potential transaction aligns with a...
Young Parrot‑Lover Wields $20B in Europe’s Distressed Debt
What if the boldest force in Europe's distressed debt isn't a legacy titan — but a 35-year-old with a love for raising parrots and $20B to deploy?
KKR, Brookfield Near $250‑Share Deal for SBA Communications
on $SBAC+ KKR and Brookfield are in late stage talks to acquire SBA Communications (SBAC) for around $250 a share TMT FINANCE
PDI Picks – 4/6/2026
Secondaries activity is booming across private debt, equity, and real assets, according to the 2026 Global Market Survey from Secondaries Investor, a Private Debt Investor affiliate. The study highlights a rapid rise in GP‑led secondary transactions, driven by GPs seeking...
Ex-Rio Tinto CEO's Deep-Sea Mining Firm Merges in $1B Deal
Ex-Rio Tinto CEO's deep-sea mining firm to merge with Odyssey in $1 billion deal https://t.co/Kuu3PtXS1B
Buyout Assets Mispriced, Returns Don’t Justify Risk
"In the buyout space, we don’t think assets are priced to get a reasonable return for the risk we're taking." - Bruce MacDonald (EP.495) With thanks to @AlphaSenseInc, Canoe, and Ridgeline.
Leveraged Loan Insight & Analysis – 4/6/2026
Leveraged‑buyout (LBO) leverage multiples in the United States remained largely unchanged in the first quarter of 2026, easing marginally to an average of 5.5 times EBITDA compared with 5.6 times in the fourth quarter of 2025. The modest decline reflects...
The Pulse of Private Equity – 4/6/2026
U.S. private equity firms now hold a record‑high portfolio of more than 13,143 companies as of the fourth quarter of 2025. The average age of these holdings has fallen to roughly 8.1 years, signaling a quicker turnover than earlier in the...
Pershing Square's UMG Takeover Bid Includes $879M for Artists
Pershing Square, led by Bill Ackman, has submitted an unsolicited $64.4 billion takeover bid for Universal Music Group. The proposal hinges on cashing out UMG's $3.1 billion Spotify stake, which would generate roughly $1.75 billion after taxes. Of that, $879 million is earmarked for...
A Delaware Take-Private Suit and Controller Buyout D&O Risk
A Delaware Chancery Court complaint filed by Detroit’s Police and Fire Retirement System alleges that the 2025 take‑private of Skechers by 3G Capital was driven by the Greenberg founders, who control roughly 60% of voting power, and that the deal...
How Shady Dnaf Turned a Snapchat Bet Into a $23M Creator Economy Exit
Amsterdam entrepreneur Shady Dnaf sold his Snapchat‑focused Sunny State Agency to Bent Pixels for over $23 million. The acquisition merges Bent Pixels' YouTube‑centric brand network with SSA’s short‑form distribution, creating a 850‑creator platform that generates 6 billion monthly views. Post‑deal, Dnaf joins...
Littlejohn Capital Completes Sale of Maysteel Industries; Mountaingate and Coral Tree Among Firms Investing in Digital Marketing Sector
Littlejohn Capital has finalized the divestiture of Maysteel Industries, exiting its position in the steel fabrication business. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but the sale underscores Littlejohn’s strategy to recycle capital into higher‑growth opportunities. Meanwhile, private‑equity firms...
Debtwire Middle-Market – 4/6/2026
In February, high‑yield bond issuance topped institutional leveraged‑loan issuance for the first time in recent months. HY bonds reached $29.7 bn, slightly above the $28.6 bn of leveraged loans, according to Debtwire. The shift reflects investors' appetite for higher‑yield debt amid tightening...
Five African Private Capital Moves in March 2026
In March 2026 Africa’s private‑capital scene saw five notable moves. Adenia Partners capped its Entrepreneurial Fund I at $180 million, surpassing its $150 million target. A SPE Capital‑led consortium invested in Egypt’s eye‑care maker Orchidia, alongside multilateral partners. Phatisa and AgDevCo exited...
Hispanic Foods Firm Teasdale Eases Debt “Burden” With New Owner
Teasdale Latin Foods, a leading Hispanic food supplier, has been acquired by a Knighthead Capital Management‑led group, eliminating roughly $300 million of debt and markedly improving its liquidity. The deal retains CEO Tim O’Connor and the existing management team while adding...