Private Equity Bros Weekly

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📊 Weekly Summary

Here’s a recap of this week’s major news in finance and economics:

US CPI rose 2.9% YoY, while JPMorgan forecasts record buybacks jumping another $600B. The ECB held rates steady at 2% as global uncertainty from Trump’s tariffs continues, and private equity faces strain with a record number of zombie funds expected this year, highlighting fundraising and exit challenges.

In markets, Oracle secured a $300B cloud deal with OpenAI. China’s bond market is attracting large global funds, and Hong Kong ETFs see record inflows. Dubai’s housing boom raises fears of a potential crash, while Apollo executives warn some PE firms may dissolve under mounting pressures.

Let’s dive in.

📈 Recent Finance News

US CPI rose at an annual rate of 2.9%: Inflation remains sticky, complicating the Fed’s outlook on rate cuts (CNBC)

JPMorgan sees record US buybacks jumping by another $600B: The labor market showed fresh signs of softening as unemployment pressures build (YF)

ECB held rates steady at 2% as tariff fallout lingers: Trump’s tariff agenda has left the ECB grappling with global economic uncertainty (CNBC)

A record number of PE firms will become zombie funds this year: Fundraising struggles and weak exits are stranding capital across the industry (YF)

China's bond drop is luring large global funds back into the market: Investors are finding value in Chinese debt as yields rise (FB)

Hong Kong stock ETFs see record China inflows on AI, biotech craze: Mainland investors pile into thematic sectors through HK channels (BT)

Dubai's housing boom is stoking fears of another crash: Record sales are fueled by rising home prices and an influx of foreign buyers (TRD)

An Apollo executive predicts the dissolution of some PE firms: Industry leaders warn of shakeouts as fundraising challenges mount (YF)

EM portfolios funnel near $45B in August but cracks are showing: Despite inflows, concerns remain over dollar strength and local vulnerabilities (RT)

Oracle signed a $300B computing deal with OpenAI: One of the largest cloud contracts ever marks a landmark tie-up in the AI infrastructure race (CIO)

📊 These are the financial models professionals trust in live deals.

Merger Model | RE Case Study | LBO Model

🔍 Newly Released Reports

• Thematic Outlook: Finding Growth in a Fragmented World (WT)

• IPO Preparation Strategies for PE-Backed Businesses (FMG)

• GenAI on Wall Street: Opportunities & Risk Controls (Arxiv)

• Private Credit Secondaries: Market Overview (Evercore)

• AI in Private Equity: Creating Value with AI (Infosys)

• Reps & Warranties in Tech M&A (Mayer Brown)

• The Rise of Alternative Investments (UBS)

• 10 Questions for Private Credit (Apollo)

• Global Insurance Run-Off Survey (PwC)

• Private Markets Barometer (IFMI)

🤝 M&A Activity

Blackstone, CVC, and KKR bid for Siemens Healthineers’ diagnostics unit (PEI)
Potential Deal Value: $7B

Carlyle and EQT are among final bidders for Starbucks’ China stake (YF)
Potential Deal Value: $5B

GTCR to acquire generic drug maker Zentiva from Advent (PT)
Deal Value: $4.8B

Bain Capital announced the strategic sale of WinTriX’s China operations (Bain)
Deal Value: $4B

ICG-led consortium acquires stake in Infra Group from PAI Partners (PEI)
Deal Value: $3.5B

Vantage Data Centers secures investment from GIC and ADIA (BW)
Deal Value: $1.6B

Tega Industries to buy Molycop in consortium with Apollo (Molycop)
Deal Value: $1.5B

Italian tech firm Bending Spoons to acquire Vimeo (YF)
Deal Value: $1.4B

Vector Capital to acquire SingleStore from Google and Dell Technologies (PEI)
Deal Value: $500M

Paramount Skydance prepares bid for Warner Bros. Discovery (BBC)
Deal Value: Undisclosed