Meme - When it comes to European infrastructure…the sky’s the limit

Ad-Vantage Europe

News, WEEKLY SPIN

Mast be appealing; European infrastructure that is. As the Financial Times reports, UniSuper, the Australian pension fund, has acquired an indirect 5% stake – worth $677 million – in Vantage Towers, the European telecom masts business owned by Vodafone.This is the first signal of intent by UniSuper as it looks to increase its global infrastructure investment portfolio. Vodafone sold a chunk of Vantage Towers to a consortium of investors last November including KKR; the PE giant through whom UniSuper has made the investment. Mobile telecom towers are vital to the roll-out of 5G (and beyond). No doubt other infrastructure investors will be looking to take ad-Vantage of future opportunities in Europe.

inspired by Financial Times

Getty outta here

News, WEEKLY SPIN

It is understood that Getty Images has turned down a $4 billion takeover bid by US venture capital firm, Trillium Capital.The proposed offer slipped out of focus because Getty Images, who only went public in 2022, claimed it was not “sufficiently credible”, according to PetaPixel. It hasn’t been a great few weeks for M&A, with Microsoft’s planned $69 billion acquisition for Call of Duty creator Activision Blizzard rejected by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority. Whether Getty Images receives fresh bids over the coming months remains to be seen. For now though, the message seems 8K-pixel clear: Getty outta here!

inspired by The Art Newspaper

Meme - It may look like a crack. But it’s just an illusion

Crack Spread

News, WEEKLY SPIN

With falling stock prices, fund losses and a difficult fundraising environment, some of the private equity industry’s biggest players are starting to see cracks emerge Blackstone and The Carlyle Group have seen their share prices fall by 20% and 14% over the past 12 months. Blackstone’s real estate fund has attracted significant redemptions from investors as fears rise over the state of the US commercial real estate market. Apollo too is believed to be struggling to raise capital for its 10th fund as investors weigh up the future prospects for PE returns. Maybe the cracks will turn out to be temporary, or just a façade; like One River North, a new building under construction in Denver which will feature a green space running through its middle like a huge earthquake-induced crack.

inspired by Fox Business

Meme - Man United sure know how to attract a crowd

Carl-EYE on Manchester United

News, WEEKLY SPIN

Geographically it is only a short distance from Carlisle in the North of England to Manchester. But the road ahead could be a long one as one of the world’s leading PE houses – The Carlyle Group – enters the competitive fray to buy a stake in Manchester United.It is understood that the US powerhouse has submitted an offer for a minority investment. Elliott Management and Ares Management are also thought to be interested, as well as Sixth Street. The UK’s richest man, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, owner of INEOS chemicals group, is hoping to take outright ownership of the club, as is the chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank, Sheikh Jassim. The Red Devils, as they are known, are one of the richest clubs, with a purchase price in excess of $5 billion. Now that The Carlyle Group has expressed a minority interest, the excitement is starting to build. Who will be the ultimate winner? Watch this space.

inspired by The Telegraph