Mark Walter Scrambles for Deals, Shein Readies IPO | Bloomberg Deals 8/19/2026

Financial Performance and Market Trends - Global M&A activity reached $3.8 trillion in announced volume year-to-date, with strategic M&A volumes up 48% halfway through the year[28][29] - Private equity sponsor-backed M&A volumes increased by 10% year-over-year in deal value, supported by $1.5 trillion of dry powder[39][41] - Non-AI related IPOs grew by 30% year-over-year, while AI-related IPOs accounted for approximately 20% of the number of companies going public and over 50% of the capital raised[49][50] Regulatory and Capital Restructuring - Federal scrutiny led to the reclassification of nearly $20 billion in loans, shifting affiliated assets from about 3% to 40% of the insurer's balance sheet[7] - Major asset sell-offs, including the Los Angeles Lakers and stakes in Chelsea FC, were accelerated to restructure and pay down loans to clean up the balance sheet[8][123] - Mark Walter’s business empire includes Guggenheim Partners, a $367 billion asset manager, alongside diverse global sports and technology investments[10][11] Corporate Deals and Acquisitions - Shein targeted $26 billion to $27 billion in its Hong Kong IPO to raise around $2 billion, marking a dramatic reset from its $100 billion valuation in 2022[17] - Anthropic prepared for an IPO with annualized revenue topping $65 billion and a credit facility exceeding its $10 billion target[18][19] - Thoma Bravo agreed to take Accelerant private in an all-cash deal valued at more than $4 billion, expected to close in the first half of 2027[99]