The retreat of European banks from Wall Street is officially over. Santander (SAN) has announced a definitive agreement to acquire US regional lender Webster Financial (WBS) in a deal valued at $12.2 billion. The move serves as a massive strategic bet by Executive Chair Ana Botín, catapulting the Spanish giant into the top tier of...
The regulatory risk premium in the US just got too high for one of Europe’s oldest activists. Eric Knight, founder of Knight Vinke Asset Management, revealed that his fund has sold the last of its US holdings, declaring the market “uninvestable” under the Trump administration due to unpredictable policy application. Instead, he is pivoting capital...
The boardroom battles are over. The checkbook is out. Billionaire investor Nelson Peltz (Trian Partners) announced at the WSJ Invest Live event that he is looking to “go back to his roots” and acquire companies outright, signaling a strategic pivot away from the minority-stake activism that defined his last two decades. 🔄 THE STRATEGY SHIFT:...
Why sell a golden goose when you can just refinance the coop? EIG Global Energy Partners has hired PJT Partners to structure a new “continuation fund” for its massive stake in Saudi Aramco’s oil pipeline network. The move allows EIG to roll over the asset—originally acquired in a $12.4 billion deal in 2021—keeping it on...
The fight for survival in the EV pure-play market continues. Polestar (PSNY) announced Monday it has secured a $400 million equity investment from Feathertop Funding Limited (backed by Sumitomo Mitsui and Standard Chartered). This critical infusion comes as the Swedish automaker fights to shore up its balance sheet amidst slowing global EV demand and high...
The era of ignoring the activist investor in Japan is statistically over. As Keidanren prepares for a historic “frank exchange of views” with Elliott Investment Management, new data reveals why the country’s most powerful business lobby is finally coming to the table. Activism has graduated from the fringes to the mainstream of Japan Inc. 📈...