I Squared and Blackstone Weigh Stroeer Takeover
Infrastructure investor I Squared Capital and private equity giant Blackstone are nearing a joint bid for German media group Stroeer, valuing the company at roughly €2.5 billion (about $2.7 billion). Sources say the consortium is eyeing a per‑share offer in the mid‑€40 range, roughly $44, which would represent a premium to Stroeer’s recent price. The potential deal expands beyond Stroeer’s billboard unit to include its broader out‑of‑home advertising platform and several non‑core businesses such as Asambeauty and Statista. Stroeer’s shares jumped up to 8.8% on the news, lifting its market cap to about €2.2 billion ($2.4 billion).
Theo Müller Group Acquires German Plant-Based Producer Berief Food
The Theo Müller Group announced the pending acquisition of German plant‑based producer Berief Food, subject to antitrust clearance. Berief will operate as a largely independent unit within the Müller portfolio. The deal follows Berief’s search for financing to fund expansion into...
Blue Owl Preps Debut Credit Secondaries Fund
Blue Owl Capital is preparing to launch its first fund dedicated to buying secondhand private credit assets, targeting discounted stakes from investors seeking liquidity. The private‑credit secondaries market has nearly doubled, reaching about $20 billion in 2025 versus $11 billion in 2024....
‘War Effect’ Complicating Defense Deal Valuations, Says Houlihan Lokey; EQT’s Third Offer for Intertek Rejected
Private equity firm EQT's third attempt to acquire Intertek, the global testing and certification provider, was turned down by the board, ending a series of increasingly aggressive bids. Houlihan Lokey warned that ongoing wars, particularly in Europe, are adding valuation...
Bikaji Promoter Deepak Agarwal’s Family Office Buys 35% Stake in Bengaluru’s The Filter Coffee
Deepak Agarwal’s family office, the promoter of Bikaji Foods, has acquired a 35% stake in Wishvish Foods Pvt Ltd, the parent company of Bengaluru‑based coffee chain The Filter Coffee. The deal is being funded in tranches, with up to ₹100 crore...
SoundHound’s Stock Falls as Acquisitions Weigh on Earnings Results
SoundHound AI reported Q1 revenue of $44.2 million, up 52% year‑over‑year and ahead of the $42.6 million consensus, but posted an adjusted loss of 6 cents per share, missing the 4‑cent expectation. The earnings miss sent the stock down 12% in after‑hours trading....
Dauch Corp (DCH) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Dauch Corporation finalized the $4.2 billion acquisition of Dauch Group plc, GKN Automotive and GKN Powder Metallurgy in February 2026, rebranding from American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings. The combined entity posted flat Q4 sales of $1.38 billion and a full‑year 2025 GAAP...
How Private Equity Is Using M&A Integrations to Overcome Headwinds
Private equity firms are turning to accelerated M&A integration strategies to counteract market headwinds such as inflation, supply‑chain disruptions, and tighter credit conditions. By deploying dedicated integration teams, digital platforms, and data‑driven due diligence, they aim to unlock cost synergies...
Job-Swaps-Weekly:-Lazard-to-Acquire-Campbell-Lutyens
Lazard announced it will acquire Campbell Lutyens, a leading private‑credit advisory firm specializing in secondary market transactions and fund placements. The deal, valued at an undisclosed amount, aims to broaden Lazard's footprint in structured private credit and asset‑backed finance. Integration...
Valuations Climb Across Midmarket Deals Despite Slower Activity
Middle‑market deal multiples rose sharply over the trailing twelve months, with median EV/EBITDA climbing to 9.2× from 8.4× a year earlier, according to TagniFi’s PowerComps data. Larger transactions saw the biggest jumps—deals between $200 million and $500 million reached 11.4×, while the...
Heads of BMG, Concord Talk Major Indie Merger: ‘We Have a Very Clear Vision’
BMG and Concord announced a merger that would create the largest independent recorded‑music and publishing company since Universal’s acquisition of EMI in 2011. CEOs Thomas Coesfeld and Bob Valentine, who took the helm of their respective firms on the same...
JD Sports Quietly Closed 61 Hibbett Stores Last Year. Another 175 Are on the Chopping Block
JD Sports said it shut 61 under‑performing Hibbett stores in fiscal 2026, recording a £28 million ($36 million) impairment, while opening 44 new locations. The company plans to close another 175 Hibbett stores in North America over the next three years as...
The Pennant Group Seeks Deals Amid Amedisys-UnitedHealth Group Asset Integration
The Pennant Group completed a $146.5 million acquisition of 54 hospice and home‑health sites across Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia, previously owned by Amedisys and UnitedHealth Group. Integration is proceeding in a five‑wave plan, with two waves already transitioned and the remaining...
The World Surf League Has Silently Sold Its Stake in the Kelly Slater Surf Ranch
The World Surf League has quietly divested its majority stake in Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch, the iconic wave pool in central California. Sources confirm the transaction, with former WSL president Kaniela Neves acknowledging the sale, though the buyer remains largely...
Siris to Reap 3x Return on Equiniti in Sale to Bullish, Sources Say
Siris is set to sell its Equiniti business to Bullish, a deal that Siris expects will generate roughly a three‑times return on its original investment. The transaction underscores Siris’s belief that demand for tokenized US dollars will naturally extend to...
Suntera’s Von Bevern on the ‘Speed’ Advantage of Private Credit
Michael Von Berven, Global Head of Funds at Suntera Global, explains that private credit’s chief advantage is speed, allowing high‑growth companies to secure capital faster than traditional banks. The sector offers senior term loans, mezzanine and subordinated debt that preserve ownership,...
Investment Group Acquires 530-MW Gas-Fired Power Plant in Texas
Strategic Partners (SVP) announced it has taken a majority equity position in New Frontera Holdings, which owns a 530‑MW natural‑gas combined‑cycle plant in Mission, Texas, and a day later signed an agreement to acquire the remaining equity in the 485‑MW...
Carlyle and Diversified Energy to Acquire Andarko Basin Oil Assets From Camino for $1.2bn
Carlyle Group and Diversified Energy have agreed to purchase Camino's Andarko Basin oil assets for $1.2 billion. The transaction adds roughly 100 undeveloped inventory locations in a prolific development zone, bringing Diversified's Oklahoma footprint to more than 450 sites. The deal...
Diversified Energy, Carlyle Partner in $1.175-billion Acquisition in Oklahoma's Anadarko Basin
Diversified Energy and private‑equity firm Carlyle have agreed to buy a portfolio of oil and natural‑gas assets in Oklahoma’s Anadarko basin for $1.175 billion. The deal adds roughly 300 MMcfed of production—about 51,000 boe/d—for the next year and includes 101,000 acres of SCOOP/STACK/MERGE...
Semi-Liquids’ Valuation Conundrum
The requested article titled “Semi‑liquids’ valuation conundrum” was not provided in full, so the specific details, metrics, and commentary from Apollo CEO Marc Rowan cannot be extracted. Without the body text, a precise executive summary cannot be generated.
Blackstone Invests €2 Billion in Eurowind Energy: Billion-Euro Partnership Accelerates Expansion of Renewable Energy Projects
Blackstone is injecting roughly $2.2 billion into Danish developer Eurowind Energy to accelerate wind‑energy projects across Europe, with a focus on Germany. Eurowind currently has over 300 MW under construction and a 4.6 GW development pipeline in the country. The capital will fund...
World Surf League Tests Investment Waters for Possible Sale
World Surf League (WSL) is actively seeking new investment and may consider a sale after receiving significant inbound interest. The league, celebrating its 50th season, has seen audience growth, with a recent Gold Coast event drawing over 50,000 attendees and...
The Team, Formerly Wasserman, Acquires Golf Creator Agency Representing Grant Horvat, Bryan Bros
The Team, the rebranded former Wasserman, has acquired Provisions Golf, a boutique creator agency that represents pro golfer Grant Horvat and the Bryan Bros duo. The deal brings Horvat’s 1.7 million‑subscriber YouTube channel and the Bryan Bros’ 850,000 followers under The...
Poundstretcher Seeks Rent Cuts in Survival Bid
Discount retailer Poundstretcher, owned by Fortress Investment Group, is seeking a High Court‑approved restructuring to slash lease costs and avoid liquidation. The plan targets at least a 25% rent reduction, with rent‑free status for the weakest stores, and offers landlords...
Siris Acquires Renewable Energy Services Provider Takkion From Apollo
Siris Capital announced the acquisition of renewable‑energy services firm Takkion from Apollo, ending Apollo’s ownership that began in 2020. The transaction terms were not disclosed, but the deal adds Takkion’s solar and wind operations‑and‑maintenance platform to Siris’ growing clean‑tech portfolio....
Gold M&A: Denarius Scraps Emerita Takeover in Spain
Denarius Metals withdrew its all‑share offer for Spain‑focused Emerita Resources after the target declined to engage in substantive talks. The revised bid, announced on April 21, valued Emerita at roughly $134 million—a 73% premium to its April 10 price. The deal fell apart...
Apollo Beats Target on a Hybrid Fund with $6.5bn Close
Apollo Global Management closed its latest hybrid fund at $6.5 billion, exceeding the original fundraising target. The vehicle sits between traditional debt and equity, offering investors a blend of fixed‑income stability and upside potential. Demand for such mezzanine‑style structures has risen...
Can a Beauty Mega-Deal Save Estée Lauder?
Estée Lauder, after two years of flat sales and a 30% share‑price decline, is exploring a $10 billion acquisition of Coty’s prestige portfolio to revive growth. The deal would bring mass‑market brands such as CoverGirl and Rimmel under Estée Lauder’s umbrella,...
Deal Roundup: CD&R Agrees Indicor Units Sale for $5bn, CPPIB Exits Loan Portfolio to Arrow Global, Fortress
Carlyle‑affiliated CD&R has agreed to sell its Indicor Instrumentation businesses to Ametek in an all‑cash transaction valued at roughly $5 bn. Indicor, which produces mission‑critical industrial and scientific equipment, generates about $1.1 bn in annual sales and was acquired by CD&R in...
Lilly, Gilead Lead Pharma’s M&A Boom
Pharma M&A activity surged in early 2026, with 24 deals announced by April and upfront payments topping $64 billion—almost triple the $24.5 billion recorded in the same period last year. The boom is driven by companies racing to refill pipelines before a...
The Five Stages of CV Grief
Munich Private Equity Partners’ partner Hans‑Christian Moritz applies the classic five‑stage grief model to the private‑equity secondary market’s adjustment to a new liquidity environment. He argues that investors are moving from denial of cash constraints to acceptance of a lower‑volume,...
VCI Global Enters Binding Term Sheet for Strategic Investment in Brazil Gold Asset, Advancing Integration of Physical Gold Into RWA...
VCI Global Limited announced a binding term sheet to invest in a gold‑mining asset in Brazil, estimated at 59.9 tonnes (about 1.9 million ounces) of resources. The company will initially fund the project and act as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC)...
Apis Surpasses Target with $1.23bn Fundraise for Financial Infrastructure Strategy
Apis announced a $1.23 billion fundraise, surpassing its $1 billion target and positioning the firm to expand its financial‑infrastructure platform. Apollo committed to providing daily pricing for private‑credit assets, a move aimed at boosting market transparency. Meanwhile, Blue Owl trimmed dividend payouts...
Side Letter: Trafalgar Revisited
The latest side‑letter briefing revisits the Trafalgar fund while highlighting three market shifts. Texas Teachers pension is expanding its co‑investment program, even at higher fee levels, to capture direct upside. European private‑equity exposure to defence has slipped, but a regulatory...
Baird Capital Raises $450m Continuation Fund for 2020 Investment Blue Matter Consulting
Baird Capital has closed a $450 million continuation fund to extend its investment in Blue Matter Consulting, a life‑science advisory firm it first backed in 2020. The vehicle will provide additional capital to support Blue Matter’s growth initiatives and allow existing...
CPA-PE Deal Tracker™: How Big Buyouts Are Turning the Profession Into a Platform
The CPA Trendlines CPA‑PE Deal Tracker shows 452 accounting‑related private‑capital events through April 2026, with 78 deals recorded year‑to‑date—well above the 44 logged in the same period of 2025. Deal flow has surged past the 450‑deal mark, signaling a shift from...
Investing in Europe: Private Equity Activity 2025 Report Highlights Strong Fundraising and Investment Performance
Invest Europe’s 2025 Private Equity Activity report shows fundraising reaching €147 billion ($159 billion), a 16% jump from 2024 and the second‑largest on record. Buyout funds led the surge, pulling in €103 billion ($111 billion), while venture capital rebounded to €20 billion ($22 billion), 20% above...
Angelini Pharma to Acquire Catalyst Pharmaceuticals for ~$4.1B
Angelini Pharma announced a definitive agreement to acquire Catalyst Pharmaceuticals for $31.5 per share, valuing the deal at roughly $4.1 billion. The transaction, expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, marks Angelini’s first direct entry into the U.S. pharmaceutical...
Japan’s Advantage Seeks to Double AUM in One Year
Japan’s Advantage, a private‑equity manager, announced an aggressive plan to double its assets under management (AUM) within the next twelve months. The initiative follows the sale of a 5% equity stake to Australia’s Pinnacle Investment Management in January, providing fresh...
Owens Corning to Sell Glass Reinforcement Business to Praana Group
Owens Corning announced the sale of its glass reinforcement business to Praana Group for approximately $1.2 billion in cash. The transaction, expected to close in Q3 2026, transfers manufacturing sites in the United States, Europe and Asia to the buyer. Proceeds will...
‘Unsolicited Enquiries From Parties’: Pedestrian Group for Sale?
Nine Entertainment announced a strategic review of its Pedestrian Group after receiving unsolicited acquisition enquiries. The review follows Nine’s earlier purchases of a majority stake in Pedestrian.tv for about AUD 10 million (≈$6.6 million USD) and the remaining 40% for AUD 39 million (≈$25.7 million USD)....
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What a Decade of PE Holding Periods Reveals
Over the past decade, U.S. private‑equity platform exits showed a remarkably steady median holding period of 4.7‑5.0 years despite wild market swings, including a 2021 frenzy of 1,503 deals. Starting in 2023 the median began to lengthen, reaching 5.9 years...
Zim Says Hapag-Lloyd Agreement Binding After Surprise Rival Bid
Zim’s board confirmed that the merger agreement with German carrier Hapag‑Lloyd, approved by shareholders on April 30, remains binding despite a surprise $4.5 billion cash bid from Israeli entrepreneur Haim Sakal. Sakal’s offer tops Hapag‑Lloyd’s price by $2.50 per share and adds $250 million...
2025 ABA Private Target M&A Deal Points Study: What's Market?
The American Bar Association’s 2025 Private Target M&A Deal Points Study examined 139 purchase agreements closed in 2024 and early 2025. It reveals that purchase‑price adjustment escrows now appear in 58% of deals, while representation‑and‑warranty insurance (RWI) is referenced in...
How PE Is Adjusting Its Healthcare Playbook Now that It’s Under the Microscope
Federal and state lawmakers are intensifying scrutiny of private‑equity ownership in healthcare, especially physician practice roll‑ups. Matthew Bennett of Invidia Capital says the regulatory focus will be permanent, pushing PE firms to prioritize outcomes and cost reductions over pure consolidation....
Carlyle Alum-Led Capitol Meridian Eyes $1.2bn for Sophomore Fund
Capitol Meridian, a Washington, DC‑based private‑equity firm founded by a Carlyle alumnus, is targeting $1.2 billion for its second fund. The manager expects to achieve the fund’s initial close in the first quarter, according to pension‑plan filings. The fundraising effort follows...
Carlyle Teams with Diversified Energy on $1.2bn Oil and Gas Venture
Carlyle Group has entered a joint venture with Diversified Energy to launch a $1.2 billion oil and gas investment platform. The partnership will focus on acquiring and developing upstream assets in North America, leveraging Carlyle's capital and Diversified Energy's operational expertise....
Ant Group Invests in ACE ROBOTICS
Ant Group, through its subsidiary Shanghai Yunyang Enterprise Management Consulting, has become a shareholder in Shanghai ACE Robotics, raising the firm’s registered capital to 154 million yuan (approximately $21.5 million). Founded in July 2025, ACE Robotics focuses on embodied intelligence, developing autonomous decision‑making...
Q&A: Focus's Travis Danysh on the Shift From Deal Volume to Scale
Focus Financial Partners, acquired by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in 2023, is consolidating its 90 independent RIA subsidiaries into a handful of large Focus Partners. Over 60% of the firm’s earnings now stem from these consolidated entities, with roughly 40 firms...
Texas Teachers Aims to Do More Direct Deals with Trimmed PE Allocation: Milken Panel
Texas Teachers' Retirement System, which manages about $230 billion, is scaling back its overall private‑equity exposure while simultaneously expanding its direct‑investment program. The shift, discussed at a Milken Institute panel, reflects a strategy to make more selective, high‑conviction bets rather than...