Private Equity Bros Weekly

Ever wondered how top investment banks structure a board deck?

📊 Weekly Summary

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

Trump clashed with Fed Chair Powell during a rare visit. US jobless claims hit a multi-month low, while Eurozone business activity reached an eleven-month high. Meanwhile, the US and EU are nearing a trade deal with 15% reciprocal tariffs, even as Trump finalizes sweeping tariffs ahead of the August 1st deadline.

Over 40% of Americans saw real wage declines, inflation outpacing earnings growth. In markets, meme stocks surged again, and PE continuation fund exits hit record highs. Singapore’s GIC warned of overheating in private credit, and green bond issuance fell sharply as global climate policies are rolled back.

Let’s break it down.

📌 When did you last upskill your financial modelling toolkit?

RE Case Study | FoF Model | LBO Model | DCF Model

📈 Recent Finance News

Trump and Powell sparred in a rare Fed visit: The visit came as Trump intensified criticism of the chairman and pushed for interest rate cuts (CNBC)

US jobless claims fell to the lowest since April: The numbers are calming fears that the labor market has weakened dramatically (PBS)

Eurozone business activity growth hit an eleven-month high: Signs of recovery emerge in the bloc's services sector, suggesting a stronger Q3 start (EN)

US and EU near trade deal with 15% reciprocal tariffs: Rate would cover most goods, but bloc is reinforcing retaliation plans if Trump rejects deal (Guardian)

Over 40% of Americans saw real wage declines: Inflation continues to erode household income despite nominal growth (AInvest)

US clean‑energy project cancellations reached $22B in H1: Policy uncertainty and grid bottlenecks weighed on developers (YF)

Singapore’s GIC signals caution on private credit: The sovereign wealth fund warns of overheating risks in alt-lending boom (GIC)

Meme stock surge underlines market froth: Massive stock moves in Kohl’s and Opendoor are sparking speculation of a new meme stock wave (RT)

PE continuation fund exits shattered records in H1: Private equity firms are increasingly turning to continuation funds to exit ageing investments (PEW)

Green bond issuance fell by one-third amid ESG pullbacks: It is due to the rollback of climate change policies in the United States and Europe (YF)

🔍 Newly Released Reports

• Guide: Organic Growth for Financial Advice Firms (Aegon)

• The Entrepreneurial Business from Startup to Exit (JCK)

• Navigating a Dynamic Lending Market (William Blair)

• Cross-Border Capital Investment in U.S. CRE (Invesco)

• The Blueprint for Middle-Market Private Equity (GCM)

• Resetting the Clock on the PE Cycle (Roland Berger)

• Energy Transition Investment Trends in India (EY)

• Finding Opportunities in Private Markets (TRP)

• Private Equity Global Outlook Q3-25 (Weil)

• Clean Energy M&A Market Update (PwC)

🤝 M&A Activity

Pinnacle Financial and Synovus to merge in an all-stock regional bank deal (YF)
Deal Value: $8.6B

JD.com in advanced talks to acquire Germany’s Ceconomy (TN)
Potential Deal Value: $2.6B

Corpay to acquire UK-based payments firm Alpha (FF)
Deal Value: $2.2B

Waystar to acquire Advent-backed Iodine Software (Waystar)
Deal Value: $1.3B

Cinven nears deal for data consultancy Artefact (PEW)
Potential Deal Value: $1.2B

NewPrinces buys Carrefour’s Italian operations (Euronews)
Deal Value: $1.2B

Torrent Power in talks to acquire L&T’s thermal power unit (BS)
Potential Deal Value: $1B

CPPIB to exit JV with India’s Phoenix Mills in all-cash deal (YF)
Deal Value: $631M

Union Pacific in mega US railroad merger talks with rival Norfolk (CNBC)
Deal Value: Undisclosed

Saudi football club acquired by Harburg Group in first foreign deal (SP)
Deal Value: Undisclosed