Weil Hires Partner to Boost GP Stakes Push
Weil, Gotshal & Manges announced the hiring of a former Kirkland & Ellis partner to strengthen its private‑equity practice. The new lawyer will focus on General Partner (GP)‑stakes transactions as demand for sponsor‑led deals accelerates. GP‑stakes activity has risen sharply, with deal volume up roughly 40% year‑over‑year. The move signals Weil’s intent to capture a larger share of advisory work for limited partners and fund sponsors.
Blackstone Closes $6.3B Fund for Life Sciences Investing
Blackstone announced the closing of a $6.3 billion life‑sciences private fund, the largest ever raised in the sector and roughly 40% bigger than its 2020 predecessor. The new vehicle expands the Blackstone Life Sciences (BXLS) platform, which now manages about $15 billion...
After Missing Kezar Buyout in 2024, Tang Returns as CEO of Aurinia With $50M Offer
Kevin Tang, newly installed CEO of Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, has revived his bid for Kezar Life Sciences with a $50 million offer of $6.95 per share, roughly matching Kezar’s $47 million market cap. The proposal follows Tang’s earlier, unsuccessful $1.10‑per‑share attempt made through...
Software Obsolescence Risk Menaces CLO Market
A looming debt maturity wall is hitting AI‑focused software firms, prompting borrowers to sell debt amid fears of product obsolescence. Bank of America warns that 2026‑2027 loan maturities could trigger self‑fulfilling defaults, pressuring CLO managers to shy away from refinancings....
Should You Add Private Equity to Your ISA?
Private‑equity funds marketed for ISAs promise outsized returns, but the metrics used—chiefly internal rate of return—mislead retail investors. Over the past 15 years the private‑equity premium has evaporated, with a five‑year trailing edge of –4.62% versus the S&P 500. Layered fees,...
Chart of the Week: Leverage Takeover
The latest LSEG LPC chart shows a decisive shift in middle‑market leveraged‑buyout financing. In 2014 banks supplied roughly 70 % of the capital, but by 2025 their share fell below 30 %, while direct lenders now fund over 60 % of deals. This...
Investor Intentions: Boston Retirement Systems Issues RFP for Private Debt Manager
The Boston Retirement System (BRS) has issued a request for proposal for a $115 million private‑debt mandate. The pension fund is seeking an external manager to allocate capital in senior‑secured loans and ESG‑aligned credit. This RFP reflects BRS’s strategy to diversify...
Visa’s Stablecoin Ally Falls for Mastercard
London‑based stablecoin infrastructure firm BVNK, which earlier announced a strategic investment and partnership with Visa to power Visa Direct stablecoin pilots, is being acquired by Mastercard for approximately $1.8 billion. The deal, announced on March 17, marks Mastercard’s biggest bet on on‑chain...
AWL Agri Business Looking to Scale up Acquired Brand Tops Rapidly
AWL Agri Business is accelerating growth of its newly acquired GD Foods brand, Tops, which posted roughly $60 million in revenue after an 80% stake purchase last year. The company plans to double Tops’ topline to about $120 million and eventually push...
Side Letter: When LPs Default
Private equity firms are feeling a liquidity crunch that has led to a limited partner default, the first of its kind in recent years. The default is prompting secondary market participants to consider injecting additional capital to absorb the distressed...
Recent Restaurant Deals Show Where the Industry Is Headed
This week’s restaurant finance briefing highlights recent equity deals for Nothing Bundt Cakes and Dave’s Hot Chicken, signaling a growing investor appetite for niche bakery and fast‑casual concepts. The coverage also notes that rising fuel costs are squeezing full‑service operators,...
GHK Sells ITS Logistics
Chicago‑based Echo Global Logistics announced the acquisition of ITS Logistics from GHK. The deal adds ITS’s technology‑enabled freight brokerage capabilities to Echo’s existing transportation platform. No financial terms were disclosed, but the transaction aligns with Echo’s strategy to broaden its...
Olaplex to Salt & Stone: All the Beauty M&A Deals of 2026 so Far
The first quarter of 2026 has seen a surge in beauty‑industry mergers and acquisitions. Henkel announced the purchase of hair‑care innovator Olaplex, while Estée Lauder Companies completed a full acquisition of Indian luxury brand Forest Essentials. Private‑equity firms are deepening...
The Pipeline: Global Summit Ends, Infra Healthier than PE, Brookfield’s Boralex Take-Private
The Global Infrastructure Summit concluded, underscoring strong investor appetite for core infrastructure assets. Analysts noted that the sector’s financing metrics and pipeline quality are outperforming private‑equity‑backed projects. Brookfield Asset Management announced a $6.5 billion take‑private of Canadian renewable power producer Boralex,...
Software, AI-Focused Conviction Partners Out Raising Third Fund, Second Expansion Vehicle
Conviction Partners, the AI-native software investor founded four years ago by former Greylock partner Sarah Guo, announced the launch of its third flagship fund alongside a second expansion‑stage vehicle. The firm is returning to the market to raise fresh capital aimed...
Bajaj Finserv To Invest ₹400-₹450 Cr In AI Startups, Launch Dedicated Fund
Bajaj Finserv announced a plan to invest between ₹400 cr and ₹450 cr (approximately $48‑$54 million) in AI‑focused ventures during FY27, combining a new dedicated private‑equity fund with direct balance‑sheet investments. The AI‑focused AIF, managed by its alternative‑investment arm Bajaj Alts, aims to...
Building the Right Team Is Key for Emerging Managers
Emerging private equity managers are increasingly recognizing that talent is the cornerstone of successful fundraising and future deal execution. Building a cohesive team with complementary skill sets, industry expertise, and cultural alignment can differentiate a nascent firm in a crowded...
GPs Are Setting the Table Stakes
General partners (GPs) launching new private‑equity funds are re‑examining their term sheets to strike a balance between luring limited‑partner capital and preserving the fund’s economic upside. Tightening economics—such as higher GP‑catch‑up or lower carried interest—helps protect returns but can make...
Are PE’s Best Days Behind It? An LP and GP Discuss
In the latest "Commitment Issues" podcast, Brookfield’s David Nowak and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan’s Dale Burgess examine how private‑equity firms are adapting to a market with slower capital distributions and more challenging fundraising. They argue that limited partners now demand...
New Managers Chart a Differentiated Course
New private‑equity managers are positioning themselves with differentiated investment theses despite a challenging fundraising environment. They argue that unique sector focus, technology integration, and ESG considerations will resonate with limited partners (LPs) seeking fresh sources of alpha. While capital inflows...
Blackstone-Backed EPL to Merge with Indovida to Make $2 Billion Packaging Giant
Blackstone‑backed EPL and Indorama Ventures’ Indovida India have signed a definitive share‑swap agreement to merge their rigid packaging businesses, forming a $2 billion entity with roughly $1 billion in annual sales. Indorama will become the majority shareholder with a 51.8% stake, while...
Global PE Firm Advent International Eyes 25% Stake in Potato-Maker Iscon Balaji
Advent International is in early talks to acquire a 25% stake in Iscon Balaji Foods, valuing the Indian potato processor at roughly ₹5,000 crore (about $600 million). The deal highlights growing private‑equity interest in India’s frozen‑potato and quick‑service‑restaurant supply chain. IBF supplies frozen fries...
DJs Blame Private Equity for Music Firm’s Woes
Native Instruments, a leading music‑software and hardware maker with 25 million users, filed for insolvency after years under private‑equity ownership. DJs and producers blame the financial engineering of its investors for the firm’s collapse, despite a pandemic‑driven sales surge. The company...
Navigating Liquidity, March 2026 - The Liquidity Lifeline - How Subscription Lines Help BDCs and Interval Funds Navigate Redemption Pressures
Subscription credit facilities, long used in private‑equity, are re‑emerging as a vital liquidity tool for business development companies (BDCs) and interval funds amid heightened redemption pressures. By tapping uncalled investor commitments, these lines let sponsors meet withdrawals without forced asset...
Fertittas to Purchase Connecticut Sun for Record $300 Million
The Fertitta family, owners of the Houston Rockets, are set to buy the WNBA's Connecticut Sun for a record $300 million, with the franchise slated to move to Houston for the 2026 season and be renamed the Comets. Tilman Fertitta, a...
SEALSQ Corp (LAES): One of the Popular Penny Stocks on Robinhood
SEALSQ Corp announced a Letter of Intent to acquire quantum‑interconnect specialist Miraex, granting a 60‑day exclusivity period for due diligence and targeting a June closing. The deal will be financed through SEALSQ’s Quantum Fund and is binding on Miraex. Miraex’s...
More Insurance M&A Deals on the Horizon?
Insurance M&A activity stabilized in 2025 after a steep 40% drop from 2023, with 211 carrier and broker deals globally, up from just over 200 in 2024. In the U.S. and Bermuda, 455 deals were recorded, but P/C carrier volumes...
Toys “R” Us Canada Launches Sale Process
Toys “R” Us Canada has filed to start a formal sale process, seeking court approval in April 2026 with bids expected in May and a potential closing by mid‑July. The retailer’s footprint has shrunk from 81 stores in 2021 to just...
Ceconomy Says Austria May Block JD.com’s Purchase Offer
Ceconomy announced that Austrian authorities may block JD.com Inc.'s €2.2 billion (~$2.5 billion) offer to acquire the German consumer‑electronics retailer. The Austrian Federal Ministry of Economy has expressed doubts about the transaction’s approvability and refused to join a joint solution‑finding process. Ceconomy...
Ticker: Versant Looking to Acquire Vox’s Podcast Division, According to Report
Versant, the parent of MS NOW and CNBC, is in early‑stage talks to acquire Vox's podcast division, which produces roughly 40 shows. The potential purchase aligns with Versant's strategy to broaden its political news, opinion, sports and entertainment verticals beyond traditional...
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Janus Henderson Group plc will hold a shareholder vote on April 16, 2026, to approve a merger with a Jupiter subsidiary owned by funds linked to Trian Fund Management and General Catalyst. If approved, each JHG share converts to a...
Sax Acquires CoMetrics
Sax Advisory Group announced the acquisition of CoMetrics Partners, a boutique consulting and technology firm, expanding its turnaround, profit‑optimization and performance‑analytics services. The deal brings three CoMetrics partners and the entire staff into Sax’s Parsippany, New Jersey headquarters, though financial terms...
From the Supreme Court’s Cox Ruling to Primary Wave’s Kobalt Deal… It’s MBW’s Weekly Round-Up
Primary Wave Music announced a definitive agreement to acquire Kobalt, with Brookfield joining as a strategic investor, creating a sizable independent publishing alternative. The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that ISP Cox Communications cannot be held liable for subscriber piracy,...
Nestlé Moves Forward with Billion-Dollar Deal: Private Equity Firms Eye Perrier and San Pellegrino
Nestlé is advancing the sale of a 50% stake in its European water division, which includes premium brands such as Perrier, San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna. The transaction is expected to value the division at roughly €5 billion (about $5.45 billion). Private‑equity heavyweight...
Top 20 Private Equity Firms Leading Cross-Border Investments
An analysis of private‑equity cross‑border activity from 2020 through 2026 shows U.S. firms executed 2,973 platform investments abroad while international firms made 1,330 platform deals in the United States. The report ranks the top ten U.S.‑based PE firms, led by...
Lone Star Completes Acquisition of Alliance Ground International
Lone Star Funds has completed its acquisition of Alliance Ground International (AGI), a Miami‑based airport services provider operating at more than 60 North American airports. The deal, announced after a definitive agreement in January, brings AGI’s 12,000‑strong workforce under Lone...
Reggie Bush, Terrence Murphy Waste No Time With Deal for LOVB Team
Former NFL star Reggie Bush and ex‑wide receiver Terrence Murphy have turned their on‑field experience into a private‑equity platform, Synergy Sports Capital. The firm, announced three weeks ago with a $150 million fundraising target, already closed its first portfolio transaction by...
‘$1 Trillion Gap’ Attracts Private Equity to Women’s Health, Says Kearney’s Paula Bellostas Muguerza; Astorg, Cinven, Nordic Target Pathology Assets
Private equity firms are flocking to women’s health, drawn by a projected $1 trillion spend gap that creates lucrative growth opportunities. Dealmakers such as Astorg, Cinven and Nordic Capital are also targeting pathology assets, citing rising demand for diagnostic services and...
Recordati Gets €10.9bn Takeover Bid From Private Equity Firm
Italian pharma group Recordati has received a €10.9 billion (≈ $12.5 billion) unsolicited takeover proposal from private‑equity firm CVC Capital Partners, which would take the company private and delist it from the Milan exchange. CVC already controls roughly 47% of Recordati’s shares, having...
Guardian CEO Shares Plans for Advisor Channel After Desjardins Deal Closes
Guardian Capital Group completed a $1.67 billion take‑private transaction with Desjardins, becoming part of Desjardins Global Asset Management. CEO George Mavroudis, now also president of Desjardins’ asset‑management arm, outlined a plan to accelerate growth in the advisor channel, emphasizing long‑term product...
Advent to Sell Hair Care Brand Olaplex to Henkel for $1.4bn
Advent International is selling its hair‑care brand Olaplex to German conglomerate Henkel for $1.4 billion, ending Olaplex’s Nasdaq listing and Advent’s ownership. The deal values Olaplex at roughly $1.4 billion, reflecting its strong consumer base and premium pricing. Henkel will integrate Olaplex’s...
Deal Roundup: Advent Helps Shield AI to $12.7bn Valuation, Lone Star Completes AGI Buyout From Audax, Greenbriar Equity
Advent International led Shield AI’s Series G round, lifting the aerospace and defence technology firm’s valuation to $12.7 billion. The capital infusion supports the company’s push to scale autonomous, AI‑driven drone platforms for military customers. In the same roundup, Lone Star...
FGS Reps Brown-Forman as It Talks Merger
Brown‑Forman, represented by FGS Global, announced it is in merger discussions with French liquor giant Pernod Ricard. Both companies describe the potential deal as a merger of equals that would create a global spirits leader with a balanced geographic footprint. Pernod Ricard...
Early 2026 Secondaries Activity Suggests Ongoing Opportunity in Asset Class: Elm Capital
Elm Capital reports that early‑2026 secondary market activity remains robust as limited partners and general partners turn to secondary transactions for liquidity. The trend reflects a challenging distributions environment, prompting investors to sell or buy portfolio stakes to manage cash...
Tenneco Clean Air Eyes Acquisitions, Ramps up R&D to Drive Next Growth Phase
Tenneco Clean Air India, a subsidiary of the $17 billion U.S. Tenneco group, is gearing up for a new growth phase that includes a potential first acquisition, a new manufacturing plant in Haryana and a $2 million boost to its R&D centre....
PE Targets Pathology Assets: 5 Deals
A group of five private‑equity firms—Astorg, Cinven, Nordic Capital, Consonance and Pike Street—are actively pursuing acquisitions of pathology assets. Their coordinated interest highlights the growing attractiveness of diagnostic services as a stable, cash‑generating sector. The firms aim to consolidate a...
Helios Consortium Offer for CAB
On 12 February 2026 the Helios Consortium announced a cash offer to acquire all outstanding CAB Payments shares at US$1.15 per share. The offer is now backed by shareholders controlling roughly 52.7% of CAB’s capital, making it the only firm, deliverable bid...
Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. – Falcon Provides Update on Transaction with Tamboran
Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. announced that the British Columbia Supreme Court approved the final order needed to complete its pending transaction with Tamboran Resources, subject to amendments addressing shareholders under sanctions. The court’s decision follows shareholder Lamesa Holding’s opposition...
UpGrad to Acquire Unacademy in All-Stock Deal?
upGrad has signed a term sheet to acquire Unacademy in a 100% share‑swap transaction, creating a combined edtech powerhouse valued at roughly $2.25 billion. The deal follows upGrad’s February acquisition of Internshala and includes a break‑fee to lock in both parties....
Arizona Sets Pacing Amid ‘Cautious Optimism’ for PE Landscape
Arizona’s state pension fund is adopting a more aggressive stance toward private equity, citing “cautious optimism” about an improving M&A environment. The fund plans to allocate additional capital to capture opportunities in what it describes as a bifurcated market, where...
