Private Equity Bros Weekly

📊 Weekly Summary

A look at the top stories in finance and economics this week:

Central banks remain active, with the ECB cutting rates for the fourth time to 3% and Switzerland surprising markets with a 50 bps cut. China pledged increased fiscal spending to boost consumption, while UK GDP unexpectedly contracted by 0.1% in October, presenting challenges for Labour's growth agenda.

In the US, CPI rose by 2.7%, highlighting ongoing inflationary pressures. Global ETF assets soared to $15 trillion, driven by US investor inflows into equities. Meanwhile, Wall Street executives project M&A activity to surpass decade averages under the Trump administration.

Let’s break it down.

📈 Recent Finance News

ECB cut rates for a fourth time to 3%: The euro initially fell against the dollar following the announcement (CNBC)

China pledged bigger fiscal spending to boost consumption: Yield on 10-year government bonds slid below 1.8% for first time (YF)

US CPI rose 2.7%, the most in seven months: Indicating persistent inflationary pressures despite Fed interventions (RT)

UK GDP shrinks unexpectedly by 0.1% in Oct: Underlines scale of challenge for Labour to get the economy growing (Guardian)

Global ETF assets soared to $15T: US leads inflows as investors shift from mutual funds and pour into Wall Street equities (FT)

US high-yield credit set for best returns in eight years: Driven by strong refinancing activity and risk-on sentiment (USN)

Goldman expects 2025 dealmaking to surpass 10-year averages: M&A activity set to increase under upcoming Trump administration (BT)

Switzerland cut rates by a surprise 50 bps to 0.5%: The bank also issued a new conditional inflation forecast (CNBC)

Wall Street hopes rate cuts will force clients out of cash in 2025: Cash in money markets rose by about $824 billion in 2024 (YF)

Trump advisers seek to shrink or eliminate bank regulators: Suggesting a possible shift in US financial oversight policies (RT)

🔍 Newly Released Reports  

• What to Look for in a Purchase Price Allocation (Mercer Capital)

• Maximizing M&A Success with Integration Strategies (PwC)

• Accessing Private Markets through Evergreen Funds (FA)

• The Role of LT Investors in Energy Transition (PwC)

• Guide to Royalty Investing (Partners Group)

• 2025 Outlook (Morgan Stanley)

• Impact Investing (World Bank)

🤝 M&A Activity

Axiata and Sinar Mas to merge Indonesian telecom units (YF)
Deal Value: $6.5B

Bain Capital increases offer for Fuji Soft (JT)
Deal Value: $4.3B

Patient Square Capital to take Patterson Companies private (YF)
Deal Value: $4.1B

Blackstone acquires Tokyo’s Garden Terrace Kioicho (Blackstone)
Deal Value: $2.6B

Bain Capital offers to buy Australia’s Insignia Financial (BT)
Deal Value: $1.7B

Saudi conglomerate Zahid Group offers to acquire Barloworld (AGBI)
Potential Deal Value: $1.3B

Warburg Pincus to acquire a 20% stake in UK United Trust Bank (BNN)
Potential Deal Value: $663M

Triton Partners to acquire Bosch's security systems operations (Triton)
Deal Value: Undisclosed

Healthcare company Bausch + Lomb explores a sale (FP)
Deal Value: Undisclosed

ReNew Energy Global considers privatization (BW)
Deal Value: Undisclosed