Pulse 2.0

Pfizer: Up To $1.5 Billion Funding Agreement With Blackstone Life Sciences To Advance Monthly GLP-1 Obesity Drug

Hancock Whitney: $3.2 Billion Trustmark Acquisition To Create $58 Billion Regional Bank

Filana Therapeutics: Jill Quigley Joins Board Ahead Of Simufilam Phase 2a Study

Viasat: $450 Million U.S. Space Force Contract For Golden Dome Space Data Network Backbone Development

PAI Pharma: Nexus Pharmaceuticals Acquisition Adds Over 20 Hospital Injectable Products

Open Road Resorts: Rustic Timbers Acquisition Adds First Wisconsin Campground

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 1:24 PM

Open Road Resorts has acquired Rustic Timbers Door County Camping in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin, expanding its portfolio to 11 parks and entering the Wisconsin market.

Honeywell: $23.2 Million Navy Order For Radiation-Hardened Microelectronics Equipment

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 1:21 PM

Honeywell International has received a $23.2 million Navy job order to provide integrated-circuit factory equipment and sustainment support for strategic radiation-hardened microelectronics.

Massumi + Consoli: Silicon Valley Office Launches With Matt Stewart

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 1:15 PM

Massumi + Consoli plans to open an office in Silicon Valley with the addition of private equity and mergers and acquisitions partner Matt Stewart. The Palo Alto location will establish the law firm in a major center for technology transactions, private capital, and strategic acquisitions.

Parkway Corporation: New Hope Acquisition Expands National Parking Portfolio

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 1:12 PM

Parkway Corporation has acquired a surface parking lot and two fully leased commercial buildings at the intersection of Main and Bridge Streets in New Hope, Pennsylvania. The investment extends Parkway’s national strategy of acquiring centrally located parking assets in markets with constrained supply and multiple sources of demand.

E Ink: Strategic Soofa Investment Advances Solar-Powered Community Signage

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 1:11 PM

E Ink has made a strategic investment in Soofa to expand the adoption of solar-powered electronic paper signs for cities, property owners, and community organizations. The partnership combines E Ink’s display technology with Soofa’s kiosks, advertising operations, and municipal relationships.

Slickdeals: Jarrett Sidaway Named CEO To Lead Next Growth Phase

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 1:10 PM

Slickdeals has appointed Jarrett Sidaway as CEO, selecting an executive with experience across digital commerce, consumer savings, shopping discovery, and online marketplaces.

British Business Bank: Additional £40 Million Commitment Supports Harwood Fund

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 1:09 PM

The British Business Bank has committed an additional £40 million to Harwood Private Capital to increase the availability of flexible financing for smaller and lower-middle-market businesses across the United Kingdom.

Gibson Dunn: 120-Lawyer Transatlantic Private Funds Team Joins Firm

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 1:09 PM

Gibson Dunn is adding a transatlantic private funds group of more than 120 lawyers, including 23 partners, from Weil, Gotshal & Manges. The lawyers will join the firm’s New York, Washington, D.C., and London offices on January 1, 2027.

Ridero: $2.7 Million Pre-Seed Funding Expands Flexible Vehicle Financing

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 1:06 PM

Ridero has raised $2.7 million in total pre-seed funding to develop AI-powered financial infrastructure for vehicle leasing and other residual-based financing products. RiverPark Ventures, NY Ventures, Green Egg Ventures, Blackpoint Capital, and Potamkin Ventures backed the company. Ridero will use the financing for product development, institutional partnerships, technology integrations, and team expansion.

Jupiter Asset Management: William Lopez And Selina Tyler Named Client Group Co-Heads

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 1:04 PM

Jupiter Asset Management has appointed William Lopez and Selina Tyler as co-heads of its Client Group, effective January 1, 2027. The company also announced related leadership changes involving strategy and CCLA.

Kirkland & Ellis: Tax Partner Jason Vollbracht Joins Firm

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 11:45 AM

Kirkland & Ellis has recruited Jason Vollbracht as a partner in its Tax Practice Group, adding an attorney whose work focuses on the federal income tax considerations associated with private equity, mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, and real estate transactions.

MaxCyte: $151.8 Million Akron Bio Acquisition Expands Cell Therapy Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 11:44 AM

MaxCyte has agreed to acquire Akron BioProducts from affiliates of Arcline Investment Management for $151.8 million. The transaction is expected to close before the end of 2026, subject to customary conditions.

Lockheed Martin: $88.2 Million Navy Submarine Systems Engineering Contract Modification

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 11:43 AM

Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems has received an $88.2 million Navy contract modification for systems engineering and integration work supporting U.S. Navy submarines. The Manassas, Virginia-based contractor will perform the work under a previously awarded contract identified as N0002425C6108.

N26: Franklin Templeton Partnership Supports Digital German Retirement Account

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 11:42 AM

N26 plans to launch a fully digital, state-subsidized private retirement account in Germany on January 1, 2027, subject to regulatory certification. Franklin Templeton will serve as the exclusive investment and product partner for the account’s standard portfolio.

Norwest: $4 Billion Fund Expands Global Multi-Stage Investment Strategy

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 11:42 AM

Norwest has closed Norwest 18, a $4 billion global investment fund that will back venture and growth equity opportunities across technology, healthcare, and consumer markets. The vehicle is the largest fund in the firm’s 65-year history and increases its total capital under management to $18 billion.

OncoNano Medicine: Brett Giroir Appointed CEO To Advance Oncology Pipeline

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 11:40 AM

OncoNano Medicine has appointed Brett P. Giroir as CEO. Giroir had been serving as chairman and interim chief executive and will continue leading the clinical-stage oncology company as it advances its therapeutic programs and partnerships.

Fourth: Trey Yost And Kristi Kelly Join Executive Leadership Team

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 11:39 AM

Fourth has appointed Trey Yost as chief revenue officer and Kristi Kelly as chief human resources officer. The additions strengthen the company’s commercial and organizational leadership as it seeks to expand the adoption of its restaurant operations technology.

General Dynamics: $117.6 Million In Navy Awards And Contract Actions

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 11:37 AM

General Dynamics business units received three Navy contract actions with a combined announced value of approximately $117.6 million for enterprise IT services, Virginia-class submarine materials, and undersea research.

Five Point Infrastructure: Deep Blue Stake Sold To Diamondback Energy And KKR

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 11:37 AM

Five Point Infrastructure has agreed to sell its majority interest in Deep Blue Midland Basin to existing minority owner Diamondback Energy and KKR for cash consideration.

Cohen & Company: Daniel Cohen Returns To CEO Role

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 11:36 AM

Cohen & Company has appointed Executive Chairman Daniel G. Cohen as CEO, effective November 10, 2026. He succeeds Lester R. Brafman, who stepped down at the close of business on the same date.

One United Properties: $43 Million Investment Supports Miami’s ORA Tower

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 11:35 AM

One United Properties and its co-investors are investing $43 million in the project company developing ORA by Casa Tua, a planned 77-story residential and mixed-use tower in Miami’s Brickell district.

Analogic: Executive Appointments Strengthen Security Detection Leadership

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 11:33 AM

Analogic has appointed Bill Frain as president of Aviation Security Solutions and hired Stephanie Larkin as general counsel. The appointments support the company’s expansion across aviation security and other detection markets.

Echelon Payments: Strategic CREATE. Investment Expands Payments Partnership

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 11:32 AM

Echelon Payments has made a strategic investment in CREATE. Payments, advancing a partnership that began when CREATE. joined Echelon’s Strategic Partner Program in September 2025.

Presence: Jess Wang Named CEO As Kate Eberle Walker Becomes Executive Chair

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 11:30 AM

Presence has appointed Jess Wang as CEO, succeeding Kate Eberle Walker, who has transitioned to executive chair of the company’s board. The leadership change gives Wang responsibility for expanding Presence’s special education technology and teletherapy services while allowing Walker to remain involved in long-term strategy.

Skadden: Three Partner Hires Expand Private Equity, Sports, And Technology Capabilities

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 11:29 AM

Skadden has recruited Navneeta “Nav” Rekhi, Steve Argeris, and Max Scott as partners, strengthening its private equity, sports, and intellectual property and technology transactions practices. All three attorneys will join from Weil, Gotshal & Manges.

Dave Cantin Group: Sid Barron To Co-Lead Athlete Investment Services

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 11:28 AM

Dave Cantin Group has named Sid Barron co-leader of its Athlete Investment Services practice alongside partner and President Brian Gordon. Barron will apply four decades of dealership ownership, operations, manufacturer relations, and corporate development experience to partnerships between professional athletes and automotive retailers.

Google: Gemini 4 Hydrogen Launches With Faster Agentic AI, 1 Million-Token Context Window, And New Multi-Model Orchestration

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 7:36 AM

Google has introduced Gemini 4 Hydrogen, a new artificial intelligence model designed to deliver faster execution, improved reasoning, and greater efficiency across software development, enterprise workflows, and everyday AI applications. The model features a 1 million-token context window, four adjustable reasoning levels, and expanded capabilities for autonomous AI agents, while Google is also introducing a multi-model orchestration system that coordinates different Gemini models within a single workflow.

Agile Robots: $500 Million Series F Led By SoftBank With Nvidia Participation At $8.5 Billion Valuation

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 4:42 PM

Agile Robots, a Munich, Germany-based developer of AI-powered industrial robotics, has raised $500 million in Series F funding at an $8.5 billion valuation, according to The New York Times. The financing was led by SoftBank Group, with participation from Nvidia, Hitachi Group, including Hitachi Ventures, T.Capital, and other investors. The round brings Agile Robots' total funding to approximately $2 billion and positions the company among Europe's most valuable robotics businesses.

Installed Building Products: $698 Million Old Dominion Group Acquisition Expands Commercial Installation Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 4:34 PM

Installed Building Products has acquired Old Dominion Group at an enterprise value of $698 million, net of $27 million in transaction bonuses, expanding its mechanical and industrial installation business.

BCP Investment: Investcorp Credit Management BDC Merger Targets Greater Scale

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 4:33 PM

BCP Investment Corporation has agreed to merge with Investcorp Credit Management BDC, combining the investment companies in a transaction intended to reduce expenses, improve financing economics and increase trading liquidity.