Private Markets

A recent survey commissioned by BlackLine has unveiled a concerning reality for Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) worldwide, with nearly 40% expressing a lack of complete trust in the accuracy of their organization's financial data. This revelation poses significant challenges for strategic decision-making, especially when business leaders are grappling with a myriad of external uncertainties...

According to a recent survey by BDO, 2024 has not played out as anticipated in the world of middle-market finance. Despite initial hopes for stability, two-thirds of the 600 middle-market CFOs surveyed expressed concerns about economic volatility, comparing it to or deeming it even riskier than the challenges faced in 2023...

A recent report suggests that the nation's largest defined benefit (DB) pension plans in the U.S. have achieved a remarkable turnaround, marking the first time since the 2008 financial crisis that their liabilities are fully funded. According to a Willis Towers Watson (WTW) analysis of the Fortune 1000 companies sponsoring DB pension plans, the aggregate funding status reached 100% by the end of 2023, a notable increase from 98% in 2022 and a substantial recovery from the 77% recorded in 2008...

In the fast-paced world of finance, Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) are presented with a myriad of challenges that simultaneously unfold as opportunities. One such opportunity that has significantly impacted the 21st-century finance landscape is the relentless pace of innovation, a phenomenon PayByPhone's CFO, Nick Hamill, emphasizes...

Public companies should anticipate robust enforcement of the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) new cybersecurity rules, even as challenges in compliance persist, according to experts. The rules mandate public companies to disclose any "material cybersecurity incidents" to the SEC via Form 8-K within four days of determining it as a material breach. All covered entities, excluding smaller reporting businesses, are required to adhere to the new breach disclosure requirements...

In the early twentieth century, the New York Stock Exchange saw the active trading of numerous corporate bonds, yet investors faced limited information about these securities. This scenario changed in 1909 when John Moody introduced a letter-grade system to rate bonds, offering investors a simplified yet crucial tool for evaluating risk. Carola Frydman, a finance professor at the Kellogg School, along with researchers Asaf Bernstein and Eric Hilt, explored the transformative impact of Moody's innovation on financial markets...

Private equity giant Blackstone is set to acquire the pet care app Rover in an all-cash deal valued at $2.3 billion, according to an announcement by the companies. The deal will pay Rover shareholders $11 per share, representing a 61% premium over Rover's average share price in the past 90 trading days...

Blackstone, the world's largest alternative asset manager, has announced a definitive agreement for private equity funds managed by its affiliates to acquire Civica, a global leader in public sector software solutions, from Partners Group. While financial terms remain undisclosed, the deal underscores Blackstone's strategic move to bolster its presence in the government technology (GovTech) space...

Blackstone, a leading investment manager, is reportedly in the final stages of raising approximately $400 million for its Blackstone Private Credit Fund (BCRED), aiming to secure additional investment advantages. The New York-based firm plans to raise funds through collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) secured by loans held by its flagship $52 billion private credit fund, according to documents viewed by the Financial Times...

In the face of challenges in the private equity fundraising landscape, French buyout group PAI Partners has successfully closed its latest fund, PAI Europe VIII, raising an impressive $7.59 billion. This exceeded the company's initial target and stands as a testament to investor confidence in PAI's Real Economy strategy and its consistent performance throughout economic cycles...