Today's Private Equity Pulse
DOJ clears $111bn Paramount‑Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery merger
The U.S. Department of Justice approved the $111 billion merger of Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery, clearing a major antitrust hurdle. The deal is expected to generate $6 billion in synergies, though it still faces a UK competition investigation.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Qualitas expands into Europe with Starz acquisition
FlexGen Moves to Expand Offerings with Acquisition of Clean Energy Services
FlexGen announced the acquisition of Clean Energy Services (CES), making CES a wholly‑owned subsidiary. The deal adds CES’s national footprint and its lifecycle services to FlexGen’s portfolio, allowing the combined entity to serve over 25 GWh of storage assets and more than 1 GW of solar projects. Existing CES customers will gain access to FlexGen’s HybridOS® energy management system, while both companies retain their remote operations centers in North Carolina and Texas. The acquisition follows FlexGen’s earlier purchase of Powin’s assets, reinforcing its position in the fast‑growing energy‑storage market.
Startup CPG Newswire: The Neighborhood Beverage Company, Parent Company of Once Upon A Coconut, Acquires Punch’d Energy, Expanding Its Better-For-You...
The Neighborhood Beverage Company (NBC), parent of Once Upon a Coconut, announced the acquisition of Punch’d Energy, a natural‑caffeine gummy brand. The deal adds a patented green‑coffee‑bean formula to NBC’s better‑for‑you lineup, expanding its reach into the functional energy category....
Permira’s Silvia Oteri and MiddleGround’s Christen Paras Named PE Hub and Buyouts’ Women in PE; Carlyle, HIG, LLR, Main Capital...
Permira’s Silvia Oteri and MiddleGround’s Christen Paras have been named to PE Hub and Buyouts’ Women in PE list, highlighting their leadership in a traditionally male‑dominated industry. Meanwhile, private‑equity firms Carlyle, HIG, LLR and Main Capital are actively targeting the caregiver services sector, attracted...
T‑Mobile, TPG Weigh Bid for Uniti Group’s Fiber Assets
Wireless carrier T‑Mobile and private‑equity firm TPG are reportedly evaluating a joint acquisition of Uniti Group’s fiber‑to‑the‑home business and its enterprise fiber assets. The prospect has lifted Uniti’s shares 6.7% to $10.01, underscoring market interest in consolidating broadband infrastructure.
Blackstone Funds $851 Million Refinance of 17‑Asset U.S. Industrial Portfolio
Blackstone has supplied an $851 million refinancing package for a 17‑asset, 9.1 million‑square‑foot industrial portfolio spanning nine U.S. logistics markets. The loan, arranged by CBRE Investment Management’s debt team, highlights persistent investor appetite for leveraged financing in the logistics sector.
The VinePair Podcast: The Middle Tier Is Merging and Morphing
VinePair’s latest podcast highlights a rapid wave of middle‑tier mergers in the U.S. alcohol sector. Reyes Beverage Group (RBG) has deepened its footprint by buying five more RNDC markets, while Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (SGWS) snapped up Anheuser‑Busch InBev’s...
Why Sysco Could Ultimately Regret the Restaurant Depot Deal
Sysco announced the purchase of Restaurant Depot, a cash‑and‑carry wholesaler, aiming to broaden its service model beyond traditional food‑service distribution. The deal mirrors US Foods' 2020 foray into cash‑and‑carry, which it now plans to sell after four years. Analysts warn...
Private‑Equity Firms Rush to Buy Japanese Fast‑Food Chains as Market Consolidates
Private‑equity houses are accelerating acquisitions of Japanese fast‑food chains, drawn by the country's appetite for low‑cost U.S. brands. Bloomberg notes the wave of buyouts signals a broader cross‑border roll‑up strategy, even as deal specifics remain undisclosed.
Liquid Private Equity & Volatility Laundering (Owen Lamont & Randy Cohen) | #625
In this episode, Owen Lamont of Acadian Asset Management and Harvard professor Randy Cohen discuss the evolution and appeal of private equity, focusing on its historically higher returns and lower reported volatility compared to public markets. They explore the concept...
FiLMiC Pro's Decline After Bending Spoons Acquisition
Years ago, FiLMiC Pro was a casualty of being acquired by Bending Spoons. This video offers a more comprehensive look at what happened to a promising app after that acquisition. (And yeah, I do not like Bending Spoons’ way of...
METI Rules Force Companies to Negotiate with PE Activists
I wrote about this a couple of years ago. The METI Corporate Takeover Guidelines effectively oblige companies to engage with PE funds who approach. Activists and PE funds play Bad Cop Good Cop. Link in following tweet.
Younger Partners Investments Buys Fort Worth Retail Portfolio
Dallas-based Younger Partners Investments (YPI) announced the purchase of the Presidio Junction retail portfolio in North Fort Worth, covering 66 acres and 375,000 square feet of fully leased space. The three contiguous shopping centers are shadow‑anchored by Costco and Target...
The $1.2 Trillion Private Equity “Comeback”
Global private equity deal value has topped $1.2 trillion, the strongest level since the 2021 peak, signaling a clear market rebound after two years of stalled activity. The resurgence stems from a narrowing valuation gap, as sellers accept lower multiples and...
Private-Equity Fundraising Falls to Slowest Pace in a Decade
Private‑equity fundraising in Q1 2026 totaled $86 billion, marking the slowest pace in a decade. The figure trails the already weak $423.4 billion raised across 2025, suggesting a continued contraction. Market turbulence in private‑credit and software sectors, coupled with heightened geopolitical risk...
Silver Lake's $160 M Bet on New Zealand Rugby Highlights PE Push Into Sports Franchises
Silver Lake has invested about NZ$262.5 million (≈$160 million) in New Zealand Rugby since 2022, a move approved by the sport’s board but still awaiting commercial returns. The partnership spotlights private‑equity firms’ expanding role in sports assets and the tension between financial expectations...
Chinatalk Hikes Price After Lowball Offers.
chinatalk to date has gotten lowball offers from: deepseek tiktok smic huawei sorry folks but the price is going up
Malaysian Billionaire Jeffrey Cheah Urges IJM’s Shareholders to Assess Sunway’s $2.7B Takeover Bid Objectively
Sunway Group, led by billionaire Jeffrey Cheah, has lodged a RM11 billion (≈US$2.7 billion) cash‑and‑share offer to acquire builder IJM. The proposal values each IJM share at RM3.15 (≈US$0.68), with 10% paid in cash and the remainder in newly issued Sunway shares. So...
Sample Due Diligence Report: Structure and Best Practices
Due diligence reports compile financial, legal, operational, and commercial data to help executives evaluate merger, acquisition, or investment deals. Using a pre‑designed template accelerates data gathering and ensures critical sections—executive summary, company overview, deal details, and risk assessment—are not omitted....
All Roads Lead to Sysco.
Sysco Corp. completed a $29 billion acquisition of Restaurant Depot, merging the nation’s largest on‑site delivery distributor with the leading cash‑and‑carry wholesaler. The combined entity now serves roughly 750,000 foodservice establishments, effectively controlling the majority of both delivery and in‑store purchasing...
Inside The New Rules Of Home-Based Care Dealmaking
Home‑based care M&A is moving away from the old playbook of rapid, scale‑driven deals toward a more disciplined, data‑rich approach. Buyers now scrutinize billable hours, caregiver KPIs, payer mix and AI technology stacks, while cultural compatibility has become a decisive...
Big Tech And AI Power Record $10B+ M&A Deal Surge To Start 2026
Despite geopolitical turbulence, global M&A activity surged in Q1 2026, topping $1.2 trillion in value. Deal count fell 17% year‑over‑year, but average size rose, with 22 transactions exceeding $10 billion—a quarterly record. AI‑related equity stakes drove four of the six largest deals,...
Tower Operator SBA Communications Is Exploring a Potential Sale
SBA Communications, a leading tower operator with over 46,000 sites, is weighing strategic alternatives after receiving preliminary takeover interest from large infrastructure funds. The company’s enterprise value stands at roughly $37 billion, including debt, while its market cap is about $21.6 billion...
A Local TV Newsroom Disappeared Overnight. It’s a Warning Sign for What’s Next.
Circle City Broadcasting acquired Indianapolis ABC affiliate WRTV from Scripps for $83 million and dismissed the entire newsroom in a single night. The move reflects a broader wave of consolidation, highlighted by Nexstar’s pending merger with Tegna that would give the...
Healthcare PE Outlook Shaped at HPE Miami 2026 Conference
The HPE Miami 2026 conference gathered senior healthcare private‑equity executives who outlined a bullish outlook for deal flow, highlighted evolving exit strategies, and warned of regulatory headwinds. The recap, published on JD Supra, signals how investors will shape sourcing and portfolio...
Amazon in $9‑11 B Talks to Acquire Globalstar, Escalating Satellite Broadband Race
Amazon is negotiating a purchase of Globalstar valued between $9 billion and $11 billion, a move that would bolster its Leo low‑Earth‑orbit constellation and directly challenge SpaceX’s Starlink. The deal faces a hurdle: Apple’s 20% stake in Globalstar, which will require separate...
Black Hills Corp. And NorthWestern Energy Shareholders Approve Merger Proposals
Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) and NorthWestern Energy (NASDAQ: NWE) received shareholder approval for their all‑stock merger, creating Bright Horizon Energy Corp. The combined utility will serve roughly 2.2 million electric and gas customers across eight states. Closing is expected in...
Intel to Repurchase Apollo’s 49% Stake in Fab 34 for $14.2 Billion
Intel announced it will repurchase Apollo Global Management’s 49% stake in its Leixlip, Ireland Fab 34 for $14.2 billion, using existing cash and about $6.5 billion of new debt. The move restores full control of a key EUV‑enabled facility and lifted Intel shares...
Windrose Health Investors Launches Technology Services Team
WindRose Health Investors, a New York‑based private equity firm managing roughly $7 billion, announced the creation of a dedicated technology services team. The new unit will provide digital expertise to the firm’s healthcare service portfolio, aiming to accelerate modernization and operational...
Trimble Acquires Document Crunch to Boost Construction‑Tech Portfolio
Trimble Inc. agreed to acquire Document Crunch, an AI‑driven construction document‑analysis platform, for an undisclosed sum. The deal, expected to close in Q2 2026, adds risk‑management capabilities to Trimble’s construction ecosystem without materially affecting its 2026 guidance.
Oak Hill Capital Completes Acquisition of Hunter Communications
Oak Hill Capital has completed its acquisition of Oregon‑based fiber provider Hunter Communications, a deal first announced in December. Hunter operates a 3,000‑plus‑mile network serving roughly 35,000 customers across the Pacific Northwest. The new capital backing will accelerate fiber expansion...
GPs’ Next Path to Fundraising and Liquidity
Carlyle has launched a live secondary‑market transaction that pushes structured solutions for general partners (GPs) to a new level. The deal illustrates how sophisticated financing tools can provide immediate liquidity and streamline fundraising for private‑equity firms. By packaging future cash...
Iran War May Dampen Packaging M&A in 2026
The Iran war has injected fresh geopolitical risk into the packaging sector, curbing M&A momentum in 2026. While Q1 saw 36 announced deals—up slightly from 34 a year earlier—the pace lags behind earlier forecasts and megadeals are fading. Companies are...
Lattice and Crosschq Acquire
In this 7‑minute episode of This Week in RegTech, host Chris Russell highlights two major acquisitions shaping talent acquisition: Crosschq’s purchase of Tradeify to create an outcome‑trained hiring model, and Lattice’s acquisition of Mandela’s AI‑native coaching tech to accelerate its...
GALLO Completes Acquisition of Four Roses Bourbon
GALLO has completed the purchase of Four Roses Bourbon from Kirin Holdings, returning the iconic brand to U.S. family ownership after 83 years. The deal keeps Master Distiller Brent Elliott and the existing team intact, preserving the bourbon’s heritage recipes....
Ares Raises Combined $5.4 Billion for U.S. and Europe Value-Add Real Estate Strategies
Ares Management announced it has raised roughly $5.4 billion in aggregate capital for its U.S. and European value‑add real estate strategies, closing US Real Estate Fund XI at a $3.1 billion hard cap and European Property Enhancement Partners IV at $1.9 billion. The combined...
EBITDA Compares, Not Values: Beware Cash Flow Gaps
Charlie Munger famously said: "every time you see the word EBITDA, you should substitute the words 'bullshit earnings'." He's half right. (yah look at me contradicting the eternal god of wisdom) But for real investors mess up when they try and use EBITDA...
Boliden Secures 60% of Expanding Duke Copper-Gold JV
Boliden Canada completes a $30M earn-in for 60% interest in @HDI_Amarc's DUKE #copper-#gold district, officially converting it into a 60/40 joint venture. This district is a prize: it keeps getting bigger and is still open. Stock is top buyout candidate:...
SePRO Acquires Earth Science Laboratories to Expand Water Treatment Portfolio
SePRO Corporation announced the acquisition of Earth Science Laboratories Inc., bringing the latter’s EarthTec and EarthTec QZ treatment technologies into SePRO’s water‑treatment suite. The deal expands SePRO’s capabilities in algae control, taste‑and‑odor mitigation, and invasive‑species management for municipal and environmental water...
Predictive AI Nailed 731 Deals, Beating the Market
Crunchbase called it. In March, our predictive intelligence confirmed 731 predictions. We flagged Granola’s $125M round months early and RIVR as an acquisition target before Amazon made it happen. Not guesswork. Powerful predictions that give you an edge. 🔮 https://t.co/ykNPWspQ8D
AI Reads 10k Posts in Minutes, Writes Fast
TBPN gets bought. My AI picks up the news and writes about it fast: https://t.co/kiuZ7QXLzb You can't read 10,000 posts in 30 minutes. AI can.
Cybersecurity M&A Roundup: 38 Deals Announced in March 2026
In March 2026, thirty‑eight cybersecurity‑focused M&A deals were announced, marking a rapid acceleration in the sector. The month’s headline transactions include Google’s $32 billion closure of the Wiz acquisition, Zurich’s $11 billion purchase of Beazley, and a series of AI‑security buyouts such as...
Essential First Steps Before Buying a Business
LIVE - Buying a Business? What You NEED to Know First with Chris Papin https://t.co/2ry1qMoroe
Medallia Loan Collapse Erases $5.1B Equity, Media Silent
Medallia loan value continues to decline, with latest marks at 69. With the term loan in distress, the $5.1 billion of equity has certainly been vaporized. This -100% private equity loss surpasses any private credit loss by an order of magnitude. Where's...
Investment Group Acquires Stake in TotalEnergies’ German Energy Storage Portfolio
TotalEnergies has sold a 50 % stake in its 800‑MW German battery storage portfolio to Allianz Global Investors for about €500 million (≈$577 million). The portfolio comprises 11 projects under construction, delivering 1,628 MWh of capacity and slated for commercial operation within two years....
Mayo-Mustard Merger, Creatine Craze and HOP WTR On Top
The podcast highlighted McCormick's pending merger with Unilever's food division, uniting brands like Hellmann's and French's. Constellation Brands agreed to acquire HOP WTR, a functional sparkling water, while Create Wellness secured $20 million to expand into powdered beverages. Q Mixers announced its first...
B.P. Marsh Buys Additional 2% Equity Stake in Pantheon
B.P. Marsh has increased its ownership in London‑based wholesale insurer Pantheon to 41% by buying an additional 2% stake, valuing the broker at roughly $352 million. The investment was funded from existing cash reserves and follows an initial 25% purchase in...
Top Infra Secondaries Opportunities Emerge Mid-Lifecycle – BNP Paribas AM Alts
BNP Paribas Asset Management's alternatives arm has launched its inaugural infrastructure secondaries fund, following a seed portfolio built in 2023 after the team moved from AXA IM Prime. The fund secured its first close in 2024, signaling growing investor appetite...
An Evolution: LP and GP Interest in Structured and CFO Technology Is on the Up
Temasek launched its first collateralised fund obligation (CFO) in 2006, pioneering structured‑finance technology. Over the past two decades the CFO market has matured, drawing renewed interest from both limited partners (LPs) and general partners (GPs). Recent data shows a surge...
Shift Up Acquires Shinji Mikami's Unbound Studio to Boost Global Game Portfolio
Korean developer Shift Up announced it has bought all shares of Shinji Mikami’s Unbound studio, adding the veteran’s team of about 50 developers to its roster. The deal positions Shift Up to publish Unbound’s upcoming AAA game while strengthening its...
Bloomberg: Leveraged Lending Insights – 3/30/2026
The Bloomberg US Leveraged Loan Index (LOAN) posted a 0.48% gain in March, snapping a slide that began in January. The modest rebound lifted the year‑to‑date performance to a still‑negative ‑0.56%. The March uptick reflects improving credit market sentiment after early‑year...