The “Megadeal” is back, and Goldman Sachs has capitalized to retain its undisputed #1 ranking for 2025. In a year defined by political shifts and the return of “Ubiquity of Capital,” Goldman advised on 32% of the entire global M&A market ($1.48 Trillion in volume), securing the top spot for both deal volume and fee...
In the gold rush of Large Language Models (LLMs), the most valuable player might just be the scoreboard. LMArena (formerly Chatbot Arena) has tripled its valuation to $1.7 billion in just eight months, closing a fresh $150 million funding round. 💰 THE DEAL METRICS: ⚖️ THE STRATEGIC THESIS: Why is a comparison platform worth nearly...
The line between “TradFi” and “DeFi” just got a lot blurrier. Morgan Stanley has filed to launch its own Bitcoin and Solana ETFs, signaling a major strategic shift from “passive facilitator” to “active issuer” in the digital asset space. 🚀 THE DRIVERS: 1️⃣ Regulatory Clarity: Under the new administration, the regulatory fog is lifting. 2️⃣...
The barriers to entry for the Arab world’s largest stock exchange are coming down. The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) of Saudi Arabia has announced that starting February 1, the financial markets will open to all foreign investors, effectively eliminating the restrictive “Qualified Foreign Investor” (QFI) status that previously limited direct access to major institutions. 🔓...
The consolidation of US Regional Banking continues. Shareholders of Comerica and Fifth Third Bancorp have overwhelmingly approved their $10.9 billion merger, clearing the path to create the 9th largest bank in the United States. 📊 THE DEAL SCORECARD: ⚔️ THE ACTIVIST DRAMA (HoldCo vs. The Board): This approval comes despite a fierce campaign by activist...
Private Equity giant TPG is making a massive bet on suburban rental demand. The firm has acquired a majority stake in Quarterra, the multifamily development and investment platform spun out of homebuilder Lennar, and has committed an additional $1 billion to fuel its growth. 🏗️ THE STRATEGY: Targeting the “Missing Middle” This isn’t just about...