Archives

DesignVerse Raises $5.5 Million Seed Funding To Advance AI‑Driven Modernization Of Mission‑Critical Enterprise Software

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

DesignVerse, an AI enterprise software startup whose platform has already helped modernize aviation infrastructure across Europe, has raised more than $5.5 million in seed funding. The company said the round underscores growing demand for AI systems capable of safely upgrading mission‑critical software used in sectors where reliability, auditability, and strict compliance are non‑negotiable. DesignVerse’s technology has been adopted by organizations responsible for critical infrastructure, including EUROCONTROL, which coordinates air traffic across Europe.

Bristol Myers Squibb And Hengrui Pharma Enter $15.2 Billion Global Collaboration To Advance 13 Early‑Stage Programs

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

Bristol Myers Squibb and Hengrui Pharma have formed a broad global collaboration and license agreement that brings together 13 early‑stage programs across oncology, hematology, and immunology. The companies said the partnership is designed to accelerate early innovation, strengthen clinical proof‑of‑concept development, and advance a diverse portfolio of next‑generation medicines for patients worldwide.

Anduril Raises $5 Billion Series H At $61 Billion Valuation For Defense Industrial Expansion

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

Anduril has announced a $5 billion Series H funding round, bringing its valuation to $61 billion and marking one of the largest private raises in the defense technology sector. The round was led by Thrive Capital and Andreessen Horowitz, reflecting a dramatic shift in investor appetite toward companies building advanced defense capabilities.

SAP And Palantir Deepen Alliance To Power Next‑Generation AI Migration For Enterprise ERP

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

SAP and Palantir have expanded their strategic partnership to introduce new AI‑supported data migration capabilities designed to help enterprises modernize their core systems and advance toward SAP’s vision of the Autonomous Enterprise. Announced at SAP Sapphire, the collaboration brings together SAP’s agent‑led migration toolchain and Business AI with Palantir’s AIP to simplify and accelerate some of the most complex data migration scenarios facing global organizations.

Apollo Takes Majority Stake in Noble Environmental

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

Apollo announced its managed funds have acquired a majority interest in Noble Environmental, a vertically integrated waste management company serving the Northeast, Mid‑Atlantic, and Midwest regions of the United States. The investment supports a platform that spans solid waste collection, hauling, transfer, and disposal, as well as a growing renewable natural gas business that converts landfill gas into pipeline‑quality fuel.

TWFG Expands National Footprint With Acquisition of Fortress Insurance Services

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

TWFG has acquired Fortress Insurance Services, adding four new agency locations and a seasoned team of insurance professionals to its growing national platform. The company said the acquisition strengthens its presence in the Upper Midwest and reinforces its strategy of expanding through high‑quality independent agencies that share its commitment to personalized service and long‑term client relationships.

Nutrabolt Names Andrew Archambault President and COO

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

Nutrabolt has appointed Andrew Archambault as President and Chief Operating Officer, a move the company says will strengthen its commercial and operational capabilities as it scales across energy beverages and active nutrition. Archambault will oversee sales, supply chain, and international operations, stepping into the role as Nutrabolt continues to grow its portfolio, which includes C4 Energy, Bloom, Cellucor, and Xtend.

EQT Launches Take‑Private Bid for Kakaku.com as Japan Deal Activity Rises

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

EQT said it will launch a tender offer through BPEA Private Equity Fund IX to acquire Kakaku.com, one of Japan’s most established digital marketplace and consumer platform operators. The offer price is set at JPY 3,000 per share, and the company’s board of directors and Special Committee have unanimously supported the transaction, recommending that shareholders tender their shares.

Ritholtz Wealth Management Launches ‘Porterhouse’ Equity SMA Strategy In Partnership With Franklin Templeton

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

Ritholtz Wealth Management has launched Porterhouse, a new equity separately managed account strategy developed in partnership with Franklin Templeton and designed to give clients a focused, momentum‑driven way to own market leaders. The firm, which oversees more than $7.6 billion in assets for high‑net‑worth households and institutions, said the strategy will be available exclusively to Ritholtz clients and will complement its core asset allocation models.

UFOFLEET Acquires FleetMaster From Cox Automotive To Accelerate AI‑Driven Fleet Modernization

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

UFOFLEET, the intelligent operating system built by UFODRIVE, has acquired FleetMaster from Cox Automotive in a move designed to accelerate the modernization of the global fleet and mobility sector. The company said the deal will expand its reach across Europe, the Americas, and Asia‑Pacific while bringing its AI‑powered infrastructure to FleetMaster’s established rental, leasing, and dealer management platform.

Dubai Holding And ICD Complete Strategic Transaction In Emaar Properties

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

Dubai Holding and the Investment Corporation of Dubai have completed a strategic transaction in which Dubai Holding acquired a 22.27% equity stake in Emaar Properties from ICD. With this acquisition, Dubai Holding’s total ownership in Emaar Properties rises to 29.73%, making it the company’s largest shareholder. The move strengthens Dubai Holding’s long‑standing partnership with Emaar and reflects its confidence in both the developer’s market position and the long‑term fundamentals of Dubai’s real estate sector.

Function Acquires SuppCo To Bring Trust And Clarity To Supplements

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

Function has acquired SuppCo, the independent trust layer that helps people understand and organize what they put into their bodies, beginning with supplements. The acquisition brings together Function’s continuous biological testing platform with SuppCo’s evidence‑based supplement analysis, creating a unified model that connects what is happening inside the body with the inputs that influence long‑term health.

American Securities Completes Sale Of CPM To Rosebank Industries

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

American Securities has completed the sale of CPM Holdings to Rosebank Industries in a transaction valued at approximately $2.1 billion, marking a major exit for the private equity firm after an eight‑year partnership. CPM, headquartered in Blaine, Minnesota, is a global leader in highly engineered process equipment and automation solutions serving the oilseed, animal feed, renewable energy, plant‑based food and industrial materials sectors.

Accord Asset Partners Completes Sale Of Majority Stake In DME Express To Palladium Equity Partners

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

Accord Asset Partners has completed the previously announced sale of its majority equity interest in DME Express to Palladium Equity Partners. The transaction, which closed on March 25, 2026, marks Palladium’s second investment in the hospice sector and its second platform investment through Palladium Equity Partners VI. CEO Mark Borneleit and his leadership team will continue running the business as Palladium partners with them to support the company’s next phase of growth.

Trucordia Acquires Assets Of Richardson Insurance, Expanding Personal And Commercial Lines Presence In Idaho

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

Trucordia has acquired the assets of Richardson Insurance, a long‑standing Idaho‑based personal and commercial lines agency founded in 1988 by Randy Richardson. Over nearly four decades, Richardson Insurance built a loyal client base by emphasizing education, accessibility and strong relationships—an approach that aligns closely with Trucordia’s client‑first philosophy. The acquisition strengthens Trucordia’s presence in Idaho while adding a business known for high retention and deep community roots.

ID Signsystems Acquired To Accelerate Growth And Build An Integrated Signage Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

ID Signsystems has been acquired by entrepreneur James Van Thof, marking a new phase of investment and expansion for the Rochester‑based architectural signage and branded environments firm. The company will continue operating under its established brand and team while focusing on scaling capacity, enhancing technology and pursuing both organic growth and strategic acquisitions.

Veritiv Acquires Quick Pak And Stickel Packaging Supply To Expand Regional Packaging Capabilities

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

Veritiv has acquired Quick Pak, Inc. and Stickel Packaging Supply, strengthening its packaging platform and expanding its presence in both Central Florida and the Northeast. The acquisitions add complementary product lines, deepen regional customer coverage and bring experienced teams into Veritiv’s growing packaging business.

Coupa Acquires Rossum To Accelerate End‑To‑End Autonomous Spend Management

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

Coupa has acquired Rossum, the AI‑first leader in intelligent document processing, expanding its capabilities across the full source‑to‑pay lifecycle. The acquisition builds on a long‑standing partnership focused on automating complex invoicing for Accounts Payable teams. By integrating Rossum’s transactional large language model and purpose‑built IDP architecture, Coupa aims to deliver faster processing, deeper cost savings and greater data control across both direct and indirect spend.

Thomson Reuters And Anthropic Expand Partnership To Connect Claude With CoCounsel Legal

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

Thomson Reuters has expanded its partnership with Anthropic through a new Model Context Protocol integration that connects Claude directly to CoCounsel Legal. The integration allows legal professionals to move seamlessly between general‑purpose AI and citation‑grounded legal workflows, bringing fiduciary‑grade standards into environments where accuracy and verifiability are essential. The company positioned the move as a response to the widening gap between fast, convenient AI tools and the rigor required for professional legal work.

Baker McKenzie Adds Cybersecurity And Data Privacy Attorney Katherine Hanniford As Partner

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

Baker McKenzie has added Katherine Hanniford as a Partner in its Data & Cyber Practice in Washington, DC, strengthening the firm’s global capabilities in cybersecurity, data privacy, and incident response. Hanniford brings extensive experience advising multinational organizations on cybersecurity risk management, regulatory compliance, governance, and crisis response across highly regulated sectors, including financial services, healthcare, and technology.

Cloopen Enters Merger Agreement For Going‑Private Transaction

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

Cloopen Group Holding Limited has entered into a definitive merger agreement that will take the company private in a transaction valuing the business at approximately $162.89 million. The deal will result in Cloopen becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of HoldCo, an entity controlled by a consortium led by founder and CEO Changxun Sun alongside several investment partners. The merger will be executed under Cayman Islands law, with Cloopen surviving as the post‑merger entity.

Vision Marine Announces Proposed Sale Of Fort Lauderdale Property For Up To $10 Million As It Centralizes Retail Operations

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

Vision Marine Technologies has announced a proposed transaction involving the sale of the property located at 1400 South Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for total consideration of up to $10 million. The sale is being executed by NVFL Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of the sellers in Vision Marine’s acquisition of Nautical Ventures Group. The company expects the transaction to generate approximately $5 million in non‑dilutive liquidity under its existing contractual rights, while also reducing annualized operating costs by roughly $1.2 million.

DexKo Global Acquires Carsten Stäbler To Expand European Customer Center Network

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

DexKo Global has strengthened its European service footprint with the acquisition of Carsten Stäbler GmbH, a well‑established specialist in suspension optimization, vehicle upratings, hydraulic leveling systems, trailer hitches, and motorhome retrofitting. The company, based in Waghäusel, Germany, is known for its deep technical expertise and long‑standing reputation in the motorhome and trailer market.

Sensor Tower Acquires AppMagic To Add SMB Intelligence Offering To Its Digital Insights Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

Sensor Tower has expanded its digital intelligence platform with the acquisition of AppMagic, a mobile app market intelligence provider known for its competitive insights and deep expertise in the mobile gaming ecosystem. The company says the acquisition will serve as the foundation for a new small and medium‑sized business (SMB) offering, broadening Sensor Tower’s reach across the global app economy.

Vistage Acquires TEC Canada To Expand CEO Peer Advisory Across North America

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

Vistage has acquired its longtime licensee, TEC Canada, in a move that expands the reach and impact of CEO peer advisory across the country. The acquisition brings together two organizations with a shared history dating back decades and strengthens Vistage’s presence in one of its most established international markets.

Dutch Bros To Acquire Phoenix East Valley Franchise, Expanding Company‑Operated Presence In Arizona

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

Dutch Bros has entered into an agreement to acquire the Phoenix East Valley franchise, marking a significant expansion of its company‑operated footprint in one of its key growth markets. The acquisition follows the retirement decision of longtime franchise owner Jim Thompson, who has been part of the Dutch Bros family for nearly two decades. The company expects to complete the acquisition of 29 shops in the third quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.

Salem Media To Be Acquired By WaterStone In Transformational Going‑Private Deal

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

Salem Media has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by WaterStone, a move that will take the company private and strengthen its long‑term mission across radio, digital media, streaming, podcasting, television and publishing. Under the terms of the agreement, WaterStone will acquire all outstanding shares of Salem Media common stock for $1.00 per share, representing a premium of approximately 250 percent over the company’s recent trading price.

Clear Capital Acquires Restb.ai To Expand AI‑Driven Property Intelligence Across Real Estate

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

Clear Capital has strengthened its real estate analytics and valuation technology platform with the acquisition of Restb.ai, the Barcelona‑based leader in AI‑powered computer vision for property analysis. The company says the acquisition will bring deeper, more actionable property intelligence to customers across the global real estate and mortgage ecosystem.

Owkin To Build AI Agents As Part Of Multi-Year K Pro License Agreement With AstraZeneca

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

Owkin, the agentic AI company focused on drug discovery and development, has announced an agreement with AstraZeneca to develop biopharma agents as part of a three-year licensing deal for K Pro, Owkin's AI Scientist platform for biopharma decision-making.

Akin Expands Global Private Equity Platform With Market‑Leading Team In New York And London

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 13, 2026

Akin has made a major strategic expansion to its global private equity platform with the arrival of a premier team across New York and London. The group includes Gerald Brant, Jeffrey Kochian, and Brittany Harrison — each returning to the firm — as well as Jonathon Hamill. Together, they bring senior sponsor relationships, deep execution capability, and critical mass at the intersection of control private equity, complex M&A, and capital solutions. Brant has been named head of Akin’s U.S. private equity practice.