Mid‑Market Players May Challenge SAP, Oracle in $600B M&A
With M&A potentially hitting $600B in 2026, will SAP and Oracle be the big buyers, or will new mid-market players emerge? While some startups may go public, giants like Microsoft seem less at risk due to their AI investments. #M&A #TechTrends #BusinessStrategy https://t.co/J81fvRG9Pg
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
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
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...
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
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 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.
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...
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
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
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...
AI Blurs VC and PE Lines in Construction Deals
AI: Where VC converges with PE! Historically, outstanding venture capitalists invested in high-growth software. Top-quality private equity firms acquired companies. And the two strategies were distinct. Those two paths may be converging. @generalcatalyst just invested $13.8M to back KP Reddy to launch @ZeroRFI_...
OpenAI's 17.5% Guaranteed Return Claim Seems Dubious
I have trouble believing that OpenAI is offering PE firms a "guaranteed minimum return of 17.5%" on preferred shares. This is the rate offered by highly distressed firms or those in contentious bankruptcies - not a firm operating as a going...
Blueprint for Building a $15B J&J Acquisition Target
How do you build a company that $JNJ will buy for $15 billion? Listen here.
Identify Motivation Early to Avoid Wasting Deal Time
If this is missing, you’re all wasting time. The exact moment he admitted his motivation to do a real deal. https://t.co/qN0ZgLYOqF #SmallBusiness & Deal Making #SMB https://t.co/mdeKboGQdn
Yahoo's 2005 Acquisition of Flickr Marks Early Photo‑Sharing Takeover
#ThisDayInTechHistory. March 21, 2005. Yahoo announces that it will acquire the popular photo service Flickr. #Technology #Takeovers #History https://t.co/GxEp7H0Jm9
Skip Brokers, Beat Competition: Go Off‑market
off market only: on market: – broker markup 10–15% – 50 buyers competing – full price or walk off market: – no broker – no competition – motivated seller – you control everything
Credibility Packet Showcases Board Expertise and $300M Track Record
the credibility packet that replaces capital: – board roster with bios – 250+ years combined experience – $300M+ in prior transactions – NBIO template ready
Family Office Patience Fuels 100x Acquisition Asset Class
Lacey Wismer has been investing in ETA since 2010. She has backed 100+ entrepreneurs and completed over 65 acquisitions. Family office patience with A-player urgency. Search funds. Holdcos. Serial acquisition. Fundless sponsors... These used to be separate lanes. Now they're merging into...
What Makes Top 1% Search Fund Operators Thrive
We just released an episode with Lacey Wismer, who has made over 100 search fund investments. We discuss what separates a top 1% operators from the rest. She also shares stories from her early days, including investments that returned 35x and 100x...
Estimating Market Value for $1.5B
I’m sure there’s no desire, or rush, to go public anytime soon, clearly. But as a thought exercise, based on their current numbers: >$1.5b revenue >$250m adjusted EBITDA >10% organic ARR growth >ca$1.4T technology services TAM What do you think the public markets would pay for...
New Free Guide: Quick Answers for Selling Your Business
I have just updated our free resource page for business owners who have questions about selling a small business. Find quick answers and links to videos that go more in-depth. https://t.co/1IbWgvLJNT
LP Secondaries Plunge Below Par as GP Continuations Surge
7% of LP-led secondaries in 2H’25 sold at par. Over a quarter sold < 80 cents. Meanwhile GP-led CVs are booming. Different structure, same problem The traditional exit isn’t there at the price the GP underwrote.
Choose a Career You'd Play for Free
I keep coming back to what Eric said about his job in private equity & running his fund. “I would do this job for free. I love it so much. I really enjoy the intellectual challenge of solving the problems that...
Savvy Games CEO Brian Ward Still Pursuing Game Acquisitions
My latest exclusive interview with Brian Ward, CEO of Savvy Games Group, about investing in games and acquiring game companies. He still expects to be active in doing deals. https://t.co/5hWlkaV9QO
Trim Inventory, Adopt JIT to Boost Sale Value
“If you plan to sell in the next few years... identify excess inventory and use it up. Go to a just-in-time system if possible. Remember, we want to maximize profits while minimizing the required capital. This makes your business look...
Integrate Broker and Proprietary Search with Unified Tools
Key tools to run a broker & proprietary search simultaneously. The problem is not realizing this is a business system. https://t.co/TkOPkMEB8f #SmallBusiness & Deal Making #SMB https://t.co/DwMbyj3qjL
EBay's Depop Acquisition Targets Younger Shoppers
The @ebay acquisition of @depop from @etsy makes so much sense, especially because EBay has been trying to build its customer base and reach younger demographics. #ebay #depop #etsy #fashion #business
U Mobile Deal: Strategic Win or Debt Risk?
U Mobile Ownership Shift: A Strategic Masterstroke or a Debt-Fueled Gamble? Some asked: Local Triumph or Sovereign Risk? Corporate finance perspective, let me explain the A, B, & C: A. Positives B. Negatives C. Neutral ↓↓↓
Money Wins: Ellisons Unlikely to Dump WBD Deal
I wish I could agree with The Ankler position on the PSKY acquisition of WBD “one good push and the thing unravels.” But money changes everything. Pretty much always. Governments flex a lot… rarely pull a trigger. Do we really think...
Bezos Plans $100B Fund to Automate Manufacturing with AI
"Jeff Bezos is in early talks to raise $100 billion for a new fund that would buy up manufacturing companies and seek to use AI technology to accelerate their path to automation." https://t.co/UmA1I3g0xp
Bearish Pressure Threatens Previously Bullish Deal Market
The best news may be in the rearview... Bears encroach on bullish dealmaking market https://t.co/Gc2v7KSjbQ
Predictive Analytics Flagged BVNKFinance Before Mastercard Deal
Crunchbase called it. Three months ago, we flagged @BVNKFinance as a likely acquisition target, & @Mastercard just announced plans to acquire it for up to $1.8B. That’s the power of predictions — you can spot opportunities early & move before competitors....
Buying a Business Beats Startup Hype for Profit
I’m growing a little tired of all the hype and nonsense around the word #startup... Entrepreneurship has reached a point of mass popularity... [In reality,] buying a business is the easiest way to own a profitable one." –Smarter than...
Network‑Driven M&A Fuels Rapid Growth for Young Operator
Just finished a conversation with a true operator. "Being boots on the ground. Getting punched in the face."- type of guy. (As he described himself...= He scaled his firm organically from zero to $20M in sales. Then sold it to a strategic,...
Worthington Steel's $1.3B Deal Makes No.2 US Metal Center
Worthington Steel to buy Kloeckner for $1.3bn, creating the No. 2 North American metal service center. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/worthington-steel-to-buy-kloeckner-for.html
IRR Overstates Private Equity Returns, Shows 20% ≈ 12%
The most important concept for allocators to understand in private equity is that IRRs are numbers used in marketing and not representative of investor retuns In the below example, a 20% "IRR" is actually equal to an 11.9% annualized return (and...
White House, Oracle, Silver Lake Dodge $10B TikTok Sale Questions
The White House, Oracle and Silver Lake won't answer questions about a $10 billion payment that was apparently required to secure the TikTok sale. It's unprecedented. And officially undisclosed. U.S. investors and biz leaders should want answers. https://t.co/Y0n8MTHFKa
RBC Flags Revolution, Xenon, Arrowhead as Top Biotech Takeover Targets
RBC: Revolution, Xenon, Arrowhead among top #biotech takeover targets https://t.co/h1toH9szrU by @realJacobBell $ARWR $XENE $RVMD $DYNE
Real Estate PE Delivers 2x Return Before Deal Begins
Why is real estate private equity so lucrative? Because you basically get a 2x return on your capital before the deal even starts Let’s take a sample deal: $10MM purchase price. The deal will be purchased with a $7.5MM loan and $2.5MM of...
Small Businesses Must Adopt a Sales Mindset when Buying
The mindset requirement that most small business searchers completely miss. When you need sales skills to buy something valuable. https://t.co/I65QEUaTVu #SmallBusiness & Deal Making #SMB https://t.co/6EkB5eHA9j
FT‑Targeted Biotech Stocks Deliver Short‑Term Alpha
Good read on Biopharma M&A by RBC , little mention to Betaville, Bloomberg, FT , oand ofc the standout $RVMD Our biopharma team is out with an M&A discussion piece - given the importance of M&A to the sector, it is...
Turn Seasonal Shops Into Year‑Round Online Profit
Case Study: Spotting Opportunity in Underutilized Businesses: A Seaside Retail Example I recently had an interesting conversation that highlights a great opportunity for those of you looking to buy a business rather than start one from scratch. The Situation A friend of mine...
Altai Capital Presses OSUR Sale, Activ
$OSUR is a cash box with a diagnostic business attached. Altai Capital is pushing for a full strategic review/sale. Activist has also nominated two directors for the upcoming AGM. Altai's SOPT in the screenshot. https://t.co/tAJzNe8cMy
Private Equity Returns to Pivot Defining Market Peaks and Lows
Private Equity back at a weekly pivot that defined the 2022 highs and the 2024 & 2025 lows. Deals get done here. $PSP $BX $KKR $APO https://t.co/LYslqtcmIZ
Due Diligence Starts with People, Not Paperwork
Before you ever open a 200-page PPM, real diligence starts somewhere else. You have to vet the people behind the deal. Talk to past investors. Understand their track record. See how they communicate when things go right, and wrong. Documents matter, but trust is built...
Slow Starts, Strong Balance Sheets Fuel Serial Acquirer Success
Serial Acquirers, Stockholm and The Story of 47 Acquisitions Per Year Why serial acquirers remain one of the most powerful business models in the world. The best of them have acquired as many as 275 companies and traded at valuations as high...
IJM Rejects Takeover; Pharmaniaga Escapes Risk
IJM says no to a massive takeover offer, a corporate mafia victim speaks out, and Pharmaniaga finally escapes the danger zone. Are you paying attention to these market moves? Major Updates, March 17, 2026: 1. IJM Corp shuts down Sunway's bid. 2. Victor Chin's...
Follow a 5‑Step Roll‑Up to Billion‑Dollar Exit
the roll-up in 5 levels: level 1: buy 1 business level 2: buy 3 competitors level 3: regional dominance level 4: national holdco level 5: $100M–$1B exit everything else is noise