Higher interest rates and evolving market conditions have fundamentally altered private equity deal-making. Bain Capital's 2026 global private equity report signifies that "12 is the new five," suggesting that today's deals now require a faster EBITDA expansion than in the past. • State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust stock is showing positive momentum. What’s next for SPY stock?Delivering that level of performance calls for a more disciplined value creation strategy and a data-driven competitive advantage, t ...

European private-equity firms sold off steeply Monday as fears around the strength of their underlying holdings intensified. ...

Group 1: Citigroup and Banamex Divestiture - Citigroup is nearing a deal to sell stakes in its Mexican consumer banking arm, Banamex, to Blackstone and the Co-CEOs of Televisa, following a previous $2.3 billion sale of a 25% stake to Fernando Chico Pardo in late 2025 [2][10] - This divestiture is part of CEO Jane Fraser's strategy to simplify the bank's global footprint and focus on higher-return institutional businesses, with plans for an initial public offering (IPO) for the remaining portion of Banamex in 2026 [3][10] - The Banamex divestiture remains a core strategic priority for Citigroup as it prepares for the full IPO expected later in 2026 [10] Group 2: DeepSeek V4 and Nasdaq Valuations - The anticipated release of DeepSeek V4, a new large language model from a Chinese AI firm, is expected to challenge the high-margin hardware model currently dominated by Nvidia, potentially leading to a rough period for Nasdaq tech stocks [4][10] - Analysts warn that if DeepSeek demonstrates that advanced AI can be run on significantly cheaper hardware, it could trigger a valuation correction for major tech stocks like Microsoft and Alphabet [5] Group 3: Eurozone Inflation Divergence - The European Central Bank (ECB) faces a policy dilemma as inflation trends diverge in Germany and France, complicating the maintenance of a unified interest rate policy for the Eurozone [6][7] - Germany is experiencing persistent price pressures, while France's inflation has dipped below the ECB's 2% target, suggesting a need for monetary easing to prevent economic slowdown [6][7]

Donald Trump’s ‘liberation day’ announcement last April sent the stock market into a meltdown - Al Drago/Getty Images Donald Trump’s tariff turmoil has triggered the worst run for private equity since the financial crisis, with the industry returning fewer profits to investors for the fourth year running. Private equity firms distributed 14pc of their net asset value to investors for the second year in a row in 2025, according to a new report from Bain & Co, the management consultancy. This is down from ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the current challenges facing private equity firms, particularly in light of the recent performance declines of major players like KKR, Blackstone, and Apollo Global Management, as well as the issues surrounding Blue Owl Capital, a newer entrant in the private credit space [1][2][3]. Group 1: Private Equity and Market Sentiment - Private equity companies, historically strong performers, are now viewed as potentially toxic investments due to their exposure to risky tech companies and private credit loans [1][2]. - The market is skeptical about the credit risk assessments made by private equity firms, especially regarding their investments in small- and medium-sized businesses [1][2]. - The decline in stock prices for Apollo, KKR, and Blackstone, with year-to-date drops of 17%, 20%, and 21% respectively, reflects growing investor concerns [2]. Group 2: Blue Owl Capital's Challenges - Blue Owl Capital has seen its stock drop over 27% this year, primarily due to fears about its ability to redeem capital from its business development company funds [2][3]. - The suspension of regular redemptions by Blue Owl raises red flags about its lending practices and the quality of its loan portfolio [3][4]. - Investors are worried that Blue Owl may have made riskier loans compared to its peers, leading to a lack of transparency and confidence in its financial health [3][4]. Group 3: Impact of Artificial Intelligence - The rise of artificial intelligence is disrupting traditional software companies, which are significant components of the portfolios held by private equity firms, including Blue Owl [4][5]. - Concerns are growing that AI advancements could diminish the value of established software companies, impacting the debt associated with these investments [4][5]. - The potential for AI to reduce the need for traditional software solutions raises questions about the future profitability of companies like Salesforce, which is already experiencing stock price declines [4][5]. Group 4: Lending Practices and Market Conditions - Blue Owl's aggressive lending to data center projects, which were previously seen as safe investments, is now viewed as risky due to the increased borrowing levels in the sector [5]. - The overall economic environment is stable, but the specific risks associated with private equity lending practices are coming under scrutiny [3][5]. - The article suggests that the current market conditions may lead to a reevaluation of the value of software companies and the loans made to them, potentially resulting in lower valuations and tighter credit conditions [5].

As the job market has tightened, many Gen Z college graduates have struggled to find stable footing—raising new questions about whether a degree is still worth the time and debt burden. But for many MBA students, the return on investment still looks hard to beat. Recent data from Harvard Business School found MBA alumni are raking in median salaries of about $260,000 three years after graduating. At the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, alumni are earning $248,000, while MIT (Sloan) graduates ...

The Epstein files detail private equity tycoon Leon Black’s massive, multi-billion-dollar art collection—and how he leveraged it to grow his wealth.Read more: https://t.co/meOGrFwUNH https://t.co/Wa9YaOHSSS ...

Core Insights - Professional sports teams are increasingly viewed as a lucrative institutional asset class, attracting significant interest from private equity firms like KKR [1] - KKR has agreed to acquire Arctos Partners for an initial valuation of $1.4 billion, with an additional $550 million contingent on performance and share-price targets [1][5] - Arctos is uniquely positioned as one of the few approved entities for ownership across all five major U.S. sports leagues [1] Investment Strategy - KKR aims to leverage Arctos to enhance its "GP solutions" and secondary market offerings, providing liquidity and capital to private markets [3] - The acquisition will integrate Arctos into KKR Solutions, a new unit focused on scaling these investment strategies [3] Market Context - The secondary market volume reached a record $226 billion in 2025, indicating a strong demand for liquidity among Limited Partners and managers [6] - KKR's acquisition is strategically timed to capitalize on the growing trend of GP-led activities and secondary transactions [6] Financial Overview - Arctos, founded in 2019, has grown to manage $15 billion in Assets Under Management (AUM) [9] - The deal structure includes an initial transaction of $1.4 billion, with $300 million in cash and performance-based equity vesting until 2033 [6][11] Team and Confidence - Following the acquisition announcement, KKR's Co-CEOs and Director have shown confidence by purchasing significant amounts of KKR stock, indicating strong belief in the company's future [10]

Trade and Tariffs Escalation - The U.S. has raised the global tariff rate to 15% following a Supreme Court ruling that deemed previous trade actions unconstitutional, with potential disruptions to global supply chains and inflationary pressures [2] - The new tariffs are set for a 150-day period without Congressional approval, but the administration is exploring legal avenues to make them permanent [2] Private Equity and the "Bike Boom" Bust - KKR & Co. Inc. has transferred control of Accell Group to senior lenders, marking a €1 billion loss on a €1.8 billion acquisition made in 2022 due to excess inventory and declining consumer demand [3][4] - Accell Group, known for brands like Raleigh and Babboe, is undergoing its second debt restructuring in two years to avoid insolvency [4] Energy and Environmental Concerns - The Trump administration proposed a 9.2-gigawatt gas-fired power plant in Ohio, estimated to cost $33 billion, primarily funded by Japanese investment through SB Energy [5] - Environmental critics warn that the plant could become one of the largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. [5] Bitcoin's "Identity Crisis" - Bitcoin has experienced a significant decline, losing $1 trillion in market value and dropping from an all-time high of $126,000 to approximately $75,000, with a correlation to the Nasdaq reaching 0.75 [6] - This shift has led institutional investors to reassess Bitcoin's role as a portfolio diversifier, especially as gold outperforms during market volatility [6] Geopolitical Tensions and Regulation - U.S. and Iranian negotiators are engaged in technical discussions regarding uranium enrichment, with the U.S. reportedly softening its stance on a "zero enrichment" demand [9] - In Germany, the CDU party is proposing a social media ban for minors under 16, targeting platforms like TikTok and Instagram, citing concerns over youth mental health and misinformation [10]

KKR’s acquisition of Accel Group was a pandemic bet on a bike boom. It didn’t pay off, and now the private equity firm is handing the business over to its lenders. Read more in The Brink. https://t.co/Xlp43fi2fa ...