Today's Private Equity Pulse
Exxon eyes $42B Woodside deal to boost LNG portfolio
ExxonMobil is in early‑stage talks to acquire Australia’s Woodside Energy in a transaction valued at about $42 billion. The move would expand Exxon’s liquefied natural gas portfolio and strengthen its presence in Asian markets, following its recent $60 billion purchase of Pioneer Natural Resources.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Qualitas acquires European lender Starz
Apollo Gating Investors After Moody's Downgrades KKR Private Credit Vehicle
Apollo Global Management has placed a redemption gate on its private credit fund after Moody's downgraded KKR's private credit vehicle. The move signals heightened tension in the leveraged finance market and could reshape capital‑raising and distribution strategies for credit‑focused investment banks.
JPMorgan Launches $8 Bn Junk‑bond Sale to Fund Record $55 Bn EA Buyout
JPMorgan Chase & Co. has kicked off an $8 bn junk‑bond issuance to fund the $55 bn leveraged buyout of video‑game maker Electronic Arts, the biggest takeover in history. The deal splits into $5.5 bn of secured notes and $2.5 bn of unsecured bonds,...
Amazon Acquires Fauna Robotics, Adding $50,000 Sprout Humanoid to Its Portfolio
Amazon has completed the acquisition of Fauna Robotics, the New York startup behind the $50,000 Sprout humanoid robot. The deal, whose financial terms were not disclosed, brings a consumer‑focused robot into Amazon’s already massive warehouse‑robot fleet of over one million...
Danone’s €1B Huel Acquisition: What Does It Signal for Functional Food?
Danone has agreed to acquire plant‑based meal‑replacement brand Huel for €1 billion, marking its biggest foray into the functional‑nutrition space. The deal integrates Huel’s digital‑first, subscription‑based model with Danone’s global manufacturing, R&D, and distribution network, accelerating the group’s “Renew” strategy to...
Apac M&A Deals Continue Momentum with Vietnam, Japan, Taiwan Buys
The Asia‑Pacific region is experiencing a second year of strong M&A activity, with 2026 building on a robust 2025. Recent transactions involve hotel, food‑delivery, and energy assets across Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand. Japanese corporations are accelerating purchases of Western‑oriented...
Master Seller Financing: Close Deals Your Way
The 100% Seller Finance Masterclass (How I prefer to close deals) Watch The Whole Thing & Subscribe https://youtu.be/DLQpmKqi2KU?si=DTFJWU458HOy85lO
Skilled Nursing Dealbook: Nursing Homes Change Hands in South Carolina, Florida and Mississippi
A New York private‑equity firm bought a 181‑bed skilled nursing facility in South Carolina, planning to lease it to a regional operator. A New Jersey‑based operator acquired a 120‑bed Florida facility and a 100‑bed Mississippi property, both with high occupancy...
Dominating Tiny Niches Yields Premium Valuation
This niche holding company is trading at roughly 65x earnings (2025 numbers: $234M in net sales and $38M in EBITA). It focuses exclusively on acquiring and developing industrial and service businesses in narrow market niches. Its acquisition criteria are highly disciplined... it...
Private Credit Firms Face Redemptions, Gating and First Monthly Losses
Leading private‑credit managers are confronting investor redemptions, new gating measures and rating downgrades, with the sector posting its first monthly loss in years. The strain underscores growing uncertainty in the $3 trillion private‑credit market.
Jacobs Finalizes $1.6 B Purchase of Remaining PA Consulting Stake
Jacobs has completed the acquisition of the remaining equity in PA Consulting for an upfront consideration of roughly £1.2 billion ($1.6 billion). The deal, funded with cash and Jacobs shares, is expected to be accretive to adjusted earnings per share within the...
Episode 93: Inside the Deal with Brian Allen
In this episode, Brian Allen, CEO of Certus Solutions—a leading IBM‑focused software and services firm in Australia and New Zealand— discusses the company’s two‑decade growth, its strategic sale to Aegis Group, and his post‑exit plans. He explains how a planned...
Apollo’s Vehicles Built to Absorb 5% Quarterly Redemptions
More color on today’s news via Apollo CEO: “Vehicles are designed to redeem 5% per quarter,” ceo Marc Rowan tells me. “For us, we raised approximately $750m of new money this quarter and redeemed $750 m (5%) with some amount...
From M&A in Africa to Enterprise Wireless Infrastructure, DC Moore of ATG
In this episode, host Nick Law talks with DC Moore, a former Motorola, Lockheed Martin, and McKinsey executive who spent eight years doing M&A in Africa before acquiring and running Atlantic Technology Group, an enterprise wireless and mobility solutions provider. DC...
Ares Buying 36 Industrial Properties From EQT For $650M
Ares Management is purchasing 36 industrial warehouses from EQT Real Estate for more than $650 million, marking its second major acquisition from the seller in four months. The transaction includes 7.3 million square feet of space, financed with a $500 million two‑year floating‑rate...
The Six Types of Due Diligence You Need Before Merging
The article outlines six essential due‑diligence categories that CPA firms should evaluate before merging, stressing that the scope must be tailored to each transaction. It recommends pairing a Letter of Intent with reviews of financial, tax, legal, operational, cultural, and...
Subprime Lender Goeasy Secures Debt Relief After Share Slide
Goeasy Ltd. secured debt‑relief concessions after a Q4 charge‑off surge of C$331 million ($241 million) forced its auto‑lending unit LendCare out of compliance, sending shares down over 60 % and its 6.875 % note to 79.25 cents. Lenders waived covenants, raised spreads by 100 basis...
From Family Firm to CRE Giant, 4,500% Return
He turned a family real estate business into the largest U.S. publicly traded commercial real estate company, delivering 4,500% total return for shareholders since IPO.
Behaviour Acquires The Fun Pimps, Creators of 7 Days to Die
Behaviour Interactive, Canada’s largest game studio, announced the acquisition of The Fun Pimps, the developers behind the survival‑horror hit 7 Days to Die. The title has sold more than 20 million copies since its 2013 early‑access launch and maintains a vibrant...
Mutual Benefit: How Private Equity Is Supplying Capital to US Mutuals
Private‑equity firms are increasingly channeling capital into U.S. mutual insurers, addressing longstanding funding gaps and technology shortfalls. In the past year, roughly $1.2 billion of preferred equity and mezzanine financing has been deployed across 12 mutual carriers. The capital is earmarked...
KKR Approaches First Close of Around $5bn for Third APAC Infra Fund – Exclusive
KKR is nearing the first close of its third Asia‑Pacific infrastructure fund, targeting roughly $5 billion in commitments. The firm is on pace to exceed the $6.4 billion raised for its second APAC fund, which already set a regional fundraising record. The...
Advent to Acquire Body Care Brand Salt & Stone
Advent announced the acquisition of Salt & Stone, the fast‑growing body‑care brand known for its natural, cruelty‑free products. The transaction includes the exit of Humble Growth, which made a minority investment in Salt & Stone in 2024. Financial terms were...
Main Post Invests in Pretzel Brand Stellar Snacks
Main Post, a venture capital firm focused on consumer brands, has announced an investment in Stellar Snacks, a pretzel maker. Stellar Snacks already enjoys broad retail distribution, with its products available at major chains including Costco, Target, Sprouts, Kroger, Albertsons,...
US Tech Entrepreneur Kal Somani Buys Rajasthan Royals for $1.63bn
Bundesliga International has signed a three‑year partnership with Thailand’s leading telecom provider AIS, beginning in the 2026‑27 season. The deal will stream all nine Bundesliga matches per matchday, plus marquee events, on AIS PLAY, integrating the league into the platform’s premium...
Turnspire Said to Collect Bids for USG Water Solutions; Blue Fire Equity’s Farrah Holder on Marketing and PE
Turnspire Capital Partners is set to solicit first‑round bids in mid‑April for USG Water Solutions, the municipal water‑service firm it added to its 2023 portfolio. The bid process signals a potential sale or strategic partnership for the utility provider. In...
Cerebral Acquires Cognitive Behavioral Therapy App Inflow to Expand ADHD Treatment
Cerebral, a large integrated mental‑health provider, has acquired Inflow, a CBT‑based digital therapeutic app for adult ADHD, though financial terms were not disclosed. Inflow delivers short, science‑backed daily modules and is supported by an eight‑week randomized controlled trial showing significant...
Exclusive: Bettani Farms CEO on Its Acquisitions & Plans to Stretch the Vegan Cheese Category
Bettani Farms, the former Climax Foods, raised $6.5 million and acquired Hungry Planet, Numu and Stockeld Dreamery to create a unified vegan cheese platform. Leveraging its AI‑powered Caseed ingredient, the company unveiled a high‑stretch mozzarella that mimics dairy performance, achieving a...
PSERS to Commit up to $275m Across Warwick Partners, LS Power Funds
The Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) announced commitments of up to $275 million to two private‑market funds managed by Warwick Partners and LS Power. The allocations are earmarked for infrastructure and renewable‑energy projects and will be drawn down over...
What Private Equity Buyers Really Want in a Business
In this episode Jacob Oros interviews Eric Wicklant, partner at Spaceside Equity, about the firm’s private‑equity strategy for middle‑market manufacturing businesses. Spaceside targets companies with $50‑500 million in revenue, focusing on misaligned ownership structures where they can apply a 27‑tool value‑creation...
Hybrid Advisors, Faithstone Capital Eye $3bn Fund of Funds Platform Through New Joint Venture
Hybrid Advisors and Faithstone Capital Partners have formed a master joint venture, Hybrid Faithstone, to expand the Hybrid Advisors platform into a $3 billion fund‑of‑funds vehicle. The partners aim to raise and deploy the capital over the next 18 months, creating...
Early Mover AI Investor Air Street Capital Continues Rapid Fund Size Growth with $232m Fund III Close
Air Street Capital has closed its third venture fund at $232 million, almost twice the size of its second fund. The new capital will be deployed into early‑stage artificial‑intelligence startups, building on the firm’s track record of backing market‑defining technologies. The...
Urbania Acquires Binge Audio to Bridge Podcasts and TV
Montreal‑based media company Urbania announced the acquisition of Binge Audio, the independent French‑language podcast network known for hits such as "Les Couilles sur la table" and "Programme B." The deal gives Urbania a portfolio of popular podcasts with an estimated...
Inside the €1bn Huel Sale to Danone
Danone has agreed to buy UK nutrition brand Huel for €1 billion, expanding its portfolio into plant‑based, ready‑meal offerings. Huel, founded in 2014, grew through a digital‑first direct‑to‑consumer model, leveraging social media and creator partnerships to reach a global, younger audience....
Side Letter: Disrupting Secondaries
AI-related risk assessments are reshaping private‑equity secondary market processes, prompting firms to embed stricter side‑letter provisions. In Japan, limited partners are rapidly rotating commitments, creating a “musical chairs” dynamic among dealmakers. Meanwhile, a recent poll shows half of general partners...
Senate Probe of Private‑Equity Child‑Care Chains Lacks Public Detail
A Democratic senator announced a Senate investigation into the two largest for‑profit child‑care chains, focusing on private‑equity ownership and rising prices. The announcement provided no concrete figures, company names, or timeline, leaving the market to await further clarification.
Vensure Secures $450M Debt Deal to Power AI‑Driven M&A Spree
Vensure Employer Solutions closed a $450 million senior secured financing with Stone Point Capital Markets, earmarked for a rapid merger‑and‑acquisition push and the rollout of AI‑powered HR tools. The deal expands Vensure’s capacity to integrate more than 100 recent acquisitions and...
Apollo Global Management to Acquire Japan's Nippon Sheet Glass for $3.7 Bn
Apollo Global Management’s funds have signed a deal to buy Japanese glass maker Nippon Sheet Glass Company for roughly $3.7 bn. The transaction, slated to close by March 2027, will inject equity and strategic support to accelerate growth and technology investment.
IFM Investors to Increase Exposure to Growth Sectors
IFM Investors announced plans to increase its exposure to high‑growth infrastructure sectors by adding value‑add assets to its portfolio. Vivien Cheung, the firm’s vice‑president of infrastructure, said the strategy will complement IFM’s existing core holdings and aim to capture upside...
Summit and Aimpoint Technology Merge to Expand End-to-End Salesforce Services
Summit, a multi‑cloud Salesforce consulting partner, has merged with Aimpoint Technology, a specialist in public‑sector advisory and implementation, to form a unified company under the Summit brand. The deal combines Summit’s scalable delivery and AI‑driven analytics practice with Aimpoint’s deep...
Running a Business Is Hard, Buying Easy—People Misunderstand
operators: you know how to run a business that's the hard part buying one with no money down is the easy part most people have it backwards
Victory Capital Abandons Janus Deal over Committee Opposition
Victory Capital has pulled out of Janus acquisition after not getting support from Janus’ “special committee” https://t.co/VSWcoMUQal
Prism’s Motel 6 Bet: Ritesh Agarwal’s IPO Setup and the Budget Hotel Comeback
Prism, the rebranded OYO, has acquired Motel 6 to spearhead a technology‑driven overhaul of budget hotels. The company is concentrating on economy and extended‑stay segments in both India and the United States, launching the Studio 6 brand for U.S. properties. CEO Ritesh Agarwal is...
AI Era Sparks Surge in PE Property Deals
Sign of the (AI?) times: Currently receiving ~3 emails per week from PE trying to buy our property management business
Private‑Market Panic Unfounded, Says Alisa Wood
“Something we think about a lot, is this a market where if someone sneezes, everybody catches a cold?” Fun and timely chat with Alisa Wood @kkr, who thinks no. “Bring it on,” she says of current private-markets panic https://t.co/SgyyExco57
Sessa Capital Spends $175 Million for Controlling Stake in Sotera Health
Sessa Capital purchased 10.63 million Sotera Health shares for an estimated $175.8 million, giving the firm a controlling interest in the sterilization and testing provider. The deal lifts Sessa’s Sotera position to roughly $206 million, reflecting both the purchase and recent stock gains.
Ascender and Maven Letters Prompt Bain to Extend Offer
MCJ (6670 JP) - the Letters from Ascender Capital and Maven Capital appear to have had something of an effect. Bain extended the TOB today. They would not extend if they had reached the minimum. I wrote about this on...
Walker & Dunlop Secures $350 Million Debt Facility for Centerbridge‑Reframe Self‑Storage Platform
Walker & Dunlop arranged a $350 million aggregation debt facility with JPMorgan Chase to fund a new self‑storage REIT backed by Centerbridge Partners and Reframe Holdings. The financing will support the joint venture’s plan to acquire over $500 million of Class A and...
Regional Bank Mergers Surge in 2026, 25 Deals Worth $15.11 Billion Announced
A wave of regional bank consolidations accelerated in early 2026, with 25 announced deals valued at $15.11 billion. The flurry of transactions is reshaping the competitive landscape and putting pressure on larger banks to defend market share.
‘Solid Exit Activity’ Still Insufficient to Clear APAC’s Overhang – Bain & Co
Bain & Co’s Asia‑Pacific Private Equity Report 2026 shows that companies held beyond five years increased 18% in 2025, indicating a growing portfolio overhang. Despite a modest uptick in exit activity across the region, the pace of disposals remains insufficient...
Master the Big Picture, Accelerate Your Rise
After college I joined a $500MM+ AUM real estate private equity firm. Within just 2 years, I became a junior partner I won't deny luck played a part, but I'd like to think there was some skill involved as well Most important...
OpenAI Boosts Private‑Equity Offer in Enterprise War with Anthropic
Exclusive: OpenAI sweetens private equity pitch amid enterprise turf war with Anthropic, sources say https://t.co/ZcUhtQFcMj