The biggest consumer merger of the decade just cleared its most critical hurdle. Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has recommended that shareholders vote FOR the ~$40 billion merger between Kimberly-Clark (KMB) and Kenvue (KVUE). The vote is scheduled for January 29. ⚖️ THE ISS RATIONALE: Despite significant market skepticism, ISS concluded that “on balance, support for...
The White House is opening a new front in the battle for housing affordability: your retirement account. Economic adviser Kevin Hassett confirmed today that the Trump administration plans to unveil a proposal at Davos next week that would allow Americans to use 401(k) funds for home down payments without the current punitive penalties. 🔓 THE...
According to insights from the ICR Conference in Orlando—gathering 3,000+ CEOs and bankers—the sector is pivoting from “Tariff Paralysis” to an IPO super-cycle. After U.S. tariff announcements sidelined deals in early 2025, confidence has returned, driven by a backlog of exits and renewed corporate clarity. 🔔 THE IPO WATCHLIST: Bankers report a queue of “high-quality...
The dealmaking revival is finally hitting the regional banking bottom line. PNC Financial Services reported a standout Q4 beat today, with shares hitting a 4-year high as the bank capitalized on a surge in investment banking fees and record Net Interest Income (NII). 📊 THE NUMBERS (Q4 Beat): 🤝 THE DEALMAKING WAVE: PNC is riding...
The “European Defense” narrative is moving from political rhetoric to bankable reality. Piraeus Bank has become the first lender in Greece to sign a strategic agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB), securing up to €100 million in funding specifically targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the defense and cybersecurity sectors. 🛡️ THE LEVERAGE...
The line between “Public” and “Private” markets has officially dissolved. JPMorgan Chase, the world’s top fee-earning investment bank, announced today the formation of a new “Private Capital Advisory & Solutions” team. The move is a direct response to the “Stay Private Longer” phenomenon that has seen companies like SpaceX and OpenAI reach mega-cap valuations without...