Meet Private Equity’s Pop Culture Queen:Sherrese Clarke, founder and CEO of HarbourView Equity Partners, ranks among the elite investors on the 2026 #ForbesBLK50: Money Masters, a list highlighting Black leaders in private equity, private credit, and venture capital. https://t.co/xYutNrV2tw (📸: Jamel Toppin for Forbes) ...

Before launching middle-market focused PE firm 5th Century in 2021, Bruce Hampton worked for the Vistria Group, where he focused on investments in education and healthcare.See the full ForbesBLK 50: Money Masters list: https://t.co/rzv1yr9qUy #ForbesBLK50 https://t.co/AejXI9Cf6m ...

KKR raises approximately $23 billion for its latest Americas buyout fund, defying an industry slump https://t.co/3tAsiPyK4j ...

For more on this deal in the state of PE, let's bring in Pete Stavro, partner in global co-head of private equity at KKR. Uh Pete, congrats on the deal. It's a top three deal for the firm ever.Also for f further validation of the employee ownership program, which you have been a longtime and early champion of. Um, of course, it also happens to be a service provider to an area that's skyrocketing, which is data centers. Um, so I'm just curious kind of what you attribute the success of this deal to and do you ...

Core Insights - The private equity (PE) industry is experiencing a unique exit environment, with a notable deal being highlighted as one of the top three for KKR ever [1] - The success of the recent deal is attributed to the timing and the booming demand in the data center sector, particularly driven by AI advancements [2][3] - KKR has seen significant growth in the business acquired, with workforce doubling, capacity increasing tenfold, and earnings rising tenfold as well [3] Industry Trends - Overall, exits in the PE industry are down in terms of number, with a reported 9% decrease last year, although dollar value was up in 2025 [4] - The current exit environment is characterized as a buyer's market, with fewer interested parties compared to the previous years when competition was fierce [5][6] - The PE industry has faced challenges due to overspending in the hot market of 2021 and 2022, leading to a current overhang and reduced dry powder for new deals [7] Company Strategy - KKR has implemented a disciplined fund deployment strategy, avoiding overexposure to poor vintage years by spreading out investments over time [9][10] - The firm anticipates a record year for exits in terms of dollar value, with 10 exits already signed year-to-date, indicating strong performance despite broader market challenges [8][10]

Archer Foodservice Partners to Acquire Sterno Foodservice Business Archer Foodservice Partners to Acquire Sterno Foodservice Business Share About Archer Foodservice Partners: ROSEMONT, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wynnchurch Capital, L.P. ("Wynnchurch†), a leading middle- market private equity firm, today announced that Archer Foodservice Partners ("Archer†), a leading provider of foodservice consumables and parent entity of companies Handgards, Inno-Pak, and Fineline Settings, has signed a definitive agreeme ...

Core Viewpoint - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP is investigating potential claims against Apollo Global Management, Inc. due to allegations of misleading statements and undisclosed communications with Jeffrey Epstein, which have negatively impacted the company's reputation and stock price [2][5]. Group 1: Legal Investigation and Claims - Faruqi & Faruqi is encouraging investors who suffered losses in Apollo to contact them regarding their legal rights, particularly for those who purchased securities between May 10, 2021, and February 21, 2026 [1]. - The firm reminds investors of the May 1, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action against Apollo [2]. - The complaint alleges that Apollo's executives made false statements regarding their business dealings with Jeffrey Epstein, which were not disclosed, leading to reputational harm [5]. Group 2: Stock Performance and Market Reaction - Following the publication of an article by Financial Times on February 1, 2026, which revealed communications between Apollo executives and Epstein, Apollo's stock fell by 5.7% over two trading days, closing at $126.85 on February 3, 2026 [6]. - After a subsequent article by CNN on February 21, 2026, which reiterated previous claims and criticized Apollo's response, the company's shares dropped by $5.99, or approximately 5%, closing at $113.73 on February 23, 2026 [7][8]. Group 3: Company Background - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP is a national securities law firm with a history of recovering hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995 [4].

Core Insights - Private equity funds focused on Asia have faced challenges in raising capital since the pandemic, with significant unsold assets and idle dry powder in the industry [1] - A brief period of optimism emerged late last year as exit values increased and cash distributions to investors resumed, prompting private equity firms to prepare for new fund launches after a prolonged inactivity [1] - However, the ongoing economic disruption from the war in the Middle East has introduced new uncertainties, potentially dampening the recovering investor appetite [2][3] Fundraising and Investment Trends - Middle Eastern investment funds, which are crucial for global private equity capital, may be pausing their outbound commitments due to current geopolitical issues [4] - Asia-focused private equity firms raised only $58 billion in new funds last year, the lowest level in over a decade, marking the fourth consecutive year of decline [4]

Core Viewpoint - Pantheon International is undergoing a strategic overhaul to adapt to challenging private equity market conditions, focusing on improving long-term returns and shareholder value through concentrated manager relationships and active selling in the private equity secondaries market [2][3][6]. Market Conditions - The private equity market has faced difficulties in recent years, with a notable decline in performance for the 2021-2022 vintages, which achieved around 1.3x and ~10% IRR compared to ~1.8x and 16% for the 2010-2020 period [5][7][10]. - Factors such as rapid interest rate increases, high inflation, and geopolitical tensions have contributed to subdued activity in the private equity market since 2022, resulting in lower deal and exit activity [7][8]. Portfolio Performance - Pantheon reported a 12% growth in direct portfolio EBITDA, indicating resilient operating performance despite valuation pressures [5][12]. - The portfolio is diversified, with over 500 companies, and is primarily exposed to North America and Europe, with technology and healthcare sectors representing over half of the exposure [8][12]. Strategic Changes - The company plans to concentrate its manager relationships to a core group of 25 and invest more consistently through the cycle to reduce vintage concentration [6]. - A geared position was adopted in 2024 for the first time, and the company has repurchased over £325 million of shares in the past three years [4][11][19]. Valuation and Liquidity - The average valuation for direct holdings is approximately 15x EV/EBITDA, with net debt at 4.8x EBITDA, reflecting a longer holding period as the average age of the portfolio has increased to 5.7 years [13]. - Distribution rates have improved significantly, rising from 8% at the end of FY2024 to 15% by November 2025, indicating enhanced liquidity [15]. Key Themes - The company is focusing on software and AI, recognizing the impact of AI on software business models and the importance of proprietary data and integrated AI tools as competitive advantages [16][17]. - The private credit market is undergoing recalibration, but the company does not expect it to adversely affect private equity underwriting in the mid-market [18].

Acquisition Details - KKR has agreed to acquire Nothing Bundt Cakes from Roark Capital for over $2 billion, which includes debt [1] Financial Implications - The acquisition signifies KKR's continued investment in the food and beverage sector, highlighting the growing interest in bakery chains [1]