Dealmaking

2019 in Europe: Big funds and Brexit bargains

Hefty funds coming to market and the potential for cheap deals after Brexit are on the minds of the continent's PE practitioners.

PE HUB First Read

First Read begins the day after the start of the new year with news that 2018 was the worst year for stocks in ten years, House Democrats have a plan to end the government shutdown without funding a border wall, and Blackstone's CEO celebrated his $350 million donation to MIT with a robot-themed party.

Story of the year: Private equity moves in on Japan

Investors are more positive than previously, and an underpenetrated market means more room for new players.

CVC in exclusive talks for stake in French insurer APRIL: Reuters

Private equity firm CVC Capital Partners is in exclusive talks with French peer Evolem to buy its majority stake in insurer APRIL, Reuters reported.

Sears Chair Lampert makes $4.4 billion bid to keep retailer alive: Reuters

Sears Holdings Corp Chairman Eddie Lampert submitted a $4.4 billion takeover bid for the bankrupt U.S. retailer, representing its only chance of escaping liquidation and laying off tens of thousands of workers, a spokesman for the billionaire’s hedge fund told Reuters Friday.

PE HUB First Read

First Read ushers in 2019 with news that the Japanese yen jumps as investors stay cautious amid a volatile stock market, President Trump cancels New Year's plans as the government shutdown drags in, and Instagram is apologizing after an update forced users to scroll horizontally.

PE HUB Second Opinion

Second Opinion wraps up the holiday week with news that President Trump is threatening to close the border unless Congress funds the wall, Tesla adds Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison to board and Wells Fargo is paying $575 million to states to settle the fake account claims.

Canada's PSP Investment buys stake in German elevator parts firm Wittur: Reuters

German elevator parts maker Wittur Group said on Friday that Canada’s Public Sector Pension Investment Board entered into an agreement with owner Bain Capital Private Equity to acquire a 32 percent stake in the company, Reuters reported.

Euronext secures majority backing of Oslo exchange shareholders ahead of bid: Reuters

Pan-European exchanges group Euronext NV (ENX.PA), which plans a bid to buy Oslo Bors OSLO.NFF, said on Friday it had now secured the backing of a majority of shareholders in the Norwegian stock market operator.

U.S. buyouts rocketed 60 pct in 2018 to $443.5 bln