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

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

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

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

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

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

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

M&A dealmaker denial over world’s ‘morbid symptoms’ risks rude awakening – Continental Drift
OPINION: Deal bullishness rules as geopolitical rupture rocks Western world; Carney draws line under old world order with Davos intervention, as inflation, consumer weakness and credit signals point to shaky reality

Credit secondaries poised for continued rapid growth – Antares CEO
Extended hold times and backlog of exits are driving increased activity, while credit secondaries volume more than doubled last year

CPP Investments open to buying another asset manager
The Canadian institutional investor, which acquired Antares a decade ago, would be open to another deal, head of capital solutions David Colla said at a media roundtable

TPG, Jackson Financial strike partnership focused on private credit
TPG will take a minority stake in Jackson and start by managing at least USD 12bn of the insurer’s assets

Blue Owl calls off BDC merger
The firm previously planned to merge its listed BDC, OBDC, with the nontraded BDC, Blue Owl Capital Corporation II

Finastra's banking software assets pique sponsor interest ahead of NBO deadline
EXCLUSIVE: Non-binding offers due on 11 November; Cinven, Brookfield, Warburg Pincus among suitors

Ares to acquire systematic credit shop BlueCove
The London-based fixed income manager invests in high-yield, corporate investment grade, convertible bonds and other liquid credit assets

Millennium Management explores buying a CLO manager
EXCLUSIVE: the global investment firm, with a multi-strategy hedge fund, is looking to enter the CLO business

HPS partners with Vistina on investment grade ABF
The new collaboration will give HPS parent company BlackRock greater access to the growing ABF market for its investors

Eagle Point and Apple Bank strike equipment finance JV
The new platform will offer bespoke financing options to companies with limited access to traditional bank lending programs

Insurer CNO takes minority stake in Janus Henderson’s Victory Park
CNO Financial Group also agreed to commit a minimum of USD 600m to new and existing investment strategies by the private asset-backed credit firm