Private Equity Bros Weekly

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📊 Weekly Summary

Hi there,

A quick snapshot of the week’s biggest developments in global finance:

Bond markets kicked off 2026 at a great pace, with global issuance hitting a record $260B. IB activity remains robust, with global revenue exceeding $100B. In private markets, the largest buyout firms captured their biggest share of US fundraising in more than a decade, and Carlyle signaled expectations for a rebound in PE deals.

Trump indicated a Fed leadership decision is approaching, as JPMorgan outlined strategic themes pointing toward a more asset-based economy by 2026. Saudi Arabia moves to fully open its capital markets to foreign investors, while oil sentiment turned sharply bearish in a Goldman survey.

Let’s dive in.

📈 Recent Finance News

JPMorgan outlines 10 strategic themes that could shape the 2026 outlook: Analysts highlight a potential shift to an asset-based economy (Inv.)

Global bond sales hit record $260B to kick off 2026: Corporates and sovereigns issued the most bonds ever as demand remains strong (YF)

Top 10 PE funds capture biggest US fundraising share in over a decade: KKR, Blackstone, Bain Capital raised $10B+ for new buyout funds (PEW)

Trump signals Fed decision reached in NYT interview: BlackRock’s Rick Rieder is among four finalists to succeed Jerome Powell (YF)

Saudi Arabia opens capital markets to foreign investors: The kingdom eliminated restrictions to boost liquidity and draw global capital (IDN)

Goldman survey shows investors turn sharply bearish on oil: The survey highlights downside risks for crude prices as positioning tilts heavily bearish (Inv.)

Investors see Venezuelan oil move reshaping energy and markets: US moves on Venezuela oil fuel rallies in energy stocks and oil-linked assets (NPR)

Morgan Stanley named 184 new managing directors: It represents a 6% rise from 2025, with 70% in revenue-focused jobs (YF)

Global IB revenue exceeded $100B in second-best year ever: Investment banking fees held near record levels as deals remained strong (RT)

Europe bond sales topped $71.3B in a record-breaking day: European debt markets saw rare heavy issuance amid favorable conditions (FP)

Italy & Portugal added to record week of global bond sales: Includes government debt deals and a heavy slate of corporate and financial offerings (YF)

Carlyle sees a good year for PE deals after ‘tricky’ 2025: The buyout giant expects deal activity to rebound in middle markets (PEI)

Japan’s struggling bond market faces another big supply shock: Rising issuance adds pressure to local yields and liquidity (YF)

Luxury watch prices hit a two-year high in the secondary market: Boosted primarily by demand for dress watches favored by celebrities (BBG)

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🔍 Newly Released Reports

• Global M&A Outlook: From Turbulence to Transformation (JPM)

• AI, Risk Exposure, and Pursuing Scale in Global Tech M&A (MF)

• 2026 Outlook: The Wind Is Rising, But The Crew Is Ready (AIS)

• What Will Drive Primary Market Issuance In 2026? (S&P)

• Private Equity Fundraising Report - Full Year 2025 (PEI)

• Addressing Top of Mind Issues for Fintech (KPMG)

• ESG Value Creation in Private Equity (Stanford)

• Q4-25 Macro and Markets Review (Bernstein)

• 2025 M&A Review & 2026 Outlook (Lazard)

• UK Public M&A Review and Outlook (PW)

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🤝 M&A Activity

Glencore and Rio Tinto in talks over mega all-share mining merger (CNBC)
Potential Deal Value: $260B

Merck in talks to acquire cancer drug developer Revolution Medicines (FW)
Potential Deal Value: $28B–$32B

Chevron and Quantum Energy Partners seek to buy Lukoil’s assets (PEI)
Potential Deal Value: $22B

HSBC to buy out minority shareholders of Hang Seng Bank (SCMP)
Deal Value: $14B

Comerica to be acquired by Fifth Third Bank in all-cash-and-stock sale (RT)
Deal Value: $10.9B

Advent explores renewed control of InPost in potential deal (PEI)
Potential Deal Value: $6.6B

Hg to take financial software firm OneStream private (YF)
Deal Value: $6.4B

Apollo-led consortium sells stake in US metal container plants to AB InBev (FB)
Deal Value: $3B

Bajaj Group acquires Allianz’s remaining stakes in insurance units (ET)
Deal Value: $2.4B

TPG nears acquisition of UnitedHealth's Optum UK software business (GF)
Potential Deal Value: $1.6B

Mobileye agrees to buy Israeli startup in cash-and-stock deal (BBG)
Deal Value: $900M

KKR agrees to buy sports investment firm Arctos Partners at $1B valuation (SP)
Deal Value: Undisclosed

UK fintech giant Revolut in talks to buy Turkish digital bank FUPS (FF)
Deal Value: Undisclosed

I Squared Capital to buy infrastructure safety firm Ramudden Global (Triton)
Deal Value: Undisclosed

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