Strategic buyers drive financial services M&A as sponsors face AI disruption pressure
PE facing challenges on investment and exit sides; investment management maintains rising deal count, while sponsor appetite remains strong for insurance brokerages

Buyout Highlights – Overview of Europe Buyout and Financing Trends 1H26
The European Buyout Highlights 1H26 shows that activity rebounded strongly in the first six months of the year, with aggregate sponsor-backed deal value rising 86% year over year to EUR 110.2bn, signaling a recovery in large-cap M&A despite a softer transaction environment overall

Consumer giants' portfolio overhaul pushes M&A to near-record highs
Unilever leads consumer giants’ retreat from underperforming categories; dealmakers shift attention toward fast-growing categories in beauty, health and wellness

Hogan Lovells Cadwalader launches with eight CLO partners
EXCLUSIVE: The newly merged law firm now has the largest structured finance legal team in the world, with 40-45 partners globally in leveraged finance and fund finance

Bain Capital's head of European credit says he’s still a strong believer in services
PODCAST: Speaking with Lisa Lee on the latest episode of Credit Exchange, Gauthier Reymondier says he is still a “strong believer” in the European services sector

Global banks call for pension reforms to strengthen Europe’s financial sovereignty

Balbec Capital buys UK bridging lender

Direct lenders trade USD 5bn Dun & Bradstreet private credit loan at 95 cents on dollar
EXCLUSIVE: The giant USD 5bn unitranche, which brought together more than 20 direct lenders to back Clearlake’s acquisition of Dun & Bradstreet last year, is now being shown to private credit managers at a discount

Hayfin explores sale of US CLO business
EXCLUSIVE: Hayfin commits to US private credit and fundraising, as it's shifting away from US CLOs

Abry Private Debt acquires USD 330m private credit portfolio
Abry partnered with Coller Capital on the credit secondaries transaction

UK public M&A rides scale wave as clouds obscure macro outlook – White & Case’s Patrick Sarch, with John West – podcast
While deal volumes reach significant highs in the UK, the numbers are largely being driven by big deals with expensive price tags. But these big-ticket transactions may not be the tide that lifts all boats, says White & Case’s Patrick Sarch, speaking with Mergermarket's John West

Lazard to acquire Campbell Lutyens in private funds push
The USD 575m acquisition will create a third global division known as “Lazard CL” that will focus on fund placement, advisory on fund secondaries and GP capital advisory

European M&A faces 1H hangover with Iran-impacted earnings – Continental Drift
Megadeal run undiminished by Middle East conflict; cocktail of risks threatens almighty headache if equity party ends

Scale trumps fear but 1Q26 M&A volume obscures sponsor frustration – Dealspeak EMEA
1Q26 M&A volume EUR 332.1bn, up 38% year-on-year, but volume of deals below EUR 1bn fell 25% YoY in March; key themes include AI fallout, GPs’ tech woes and sector rotation

M&A volume leap 20% to USD 1.38tn in first quarter of 2026
Even the Iran conflict has not arrested momentum among larger deals. A mammoth USD 122bn capital raise from OpenAI closed on the last day of the quarter, according to Mergermarket data

AI blockbuster deals surge as Middle East conflict test dealmaker confidence
Mergermarkets M&A Highlights 1Q26: Global M&A volume jumped 22% to the second highest start ever

EQT, Advent, Cinven embrace deal flexibility as hedge against Middle East chaos
ECM Pulse:Optionality trumps predictions in chasing LP returns; uncertainty dogs IPO prospects as bid-ask gap remains

Macquarie expands CLO ambitions with acquisition of Euro platform Spire
The deal sees Macquarie expanding its CLO management presence across the Atlantic, as competition for a slice of the European market hots up

Software shakeout delays exits for some, opens buying window for others
Exit alternatives to full sales likely to pick up for software-focused sponsors; disruption may yield opportunities for take-privates, roll-ups of sub-scale players

New York Life Investment Management and Candriam increase Kartesia stake to 80%
The two firms previously held 33% of the ownership of the private debt company, which is expected to enter the European CLO market soon

Europe's nationally focused M&A law firms see opportunities amid transatlantic tensions
ANALYSIS: Nationally focused law firms emphasise trust, privacy, tailored advice; super-boutique Slaughter & May continues with 'Best Friends' on the Continent

Schroders, InPost deals boost 2026 takeover pipeline by EUR 19bn
InPost agrees EUR 7.8bn deal with Advent, FedEx; modest premium for Schroders may open for rivals

CLO platform M&A sees green shoots
ANALYSIS: CVC’s recent agreement to acquire Marathon Asset Management in a deal that sees the top European CLO player double-down on its US CLO presence may prove the start of trend 

We’re looking at a multi-year M&A uptick – Morgan Stanley head of private credit and equity David Miller
PODCAST: Speaking on the latest episode of Credit Exchange with Lisa Lee, Miller highlighted the impact of the large amount of fundraising and deployment that occurred in the 2020-2022 period as significant for his positive outlook

Cadwalader eyes CLO comeback post-merger
EXCLUSIVE: Cadwalader confirms plans to remain in the CLO business, and hopes to expand its client offering after the Hogan Lovells merger