Media Highlights

Bloomberg News: The Tape

“While it’s more expensive than it was a year or two years ago, the total explosion in private credit that we’ve seen over the last couple of years has really made debt still a possible and meaningful source of capital. We just completed a $460M transaction that was exclusively done in the private credit market” said our President and Co-founder Ted Smith on Bloomberg Markets Radio. Listen to Ted’s perspectives on the 2023 tech M&A market and his expectations for 2024.

Bloomberg News: The Tape Read More »

The Deal

Cisco, Splunk and the Future of Strategic Software M&A

“We have now started to see stabilization with businesses meeting earnings expectations due to cost reductions, the equity markets showing more strength and a peaking of interest rates which is allowing companies to tap the equity markets again and deploy capital to do M&A deals.”

Our Partner and Head of M&A Wayne Kawarabayashi discussed with Chris Nolter of The Deal his expectations for M&A activity to accelerate from now into 2024.

Cisco, Splunk and the Future of Strategic Software M&A Read More »

Bloomberg Markets - The Close

Bloomberg Markets: The Close

After a tough first half of 2023, “green shoots are starting to appear now, deals are being talked about and they’re getting done,” according to our President and Co-Founder Ted Smith during a recent appearance on Bloomberg News “The Close.” Check out why Ted is so optimistic about the deal environment starting at 1:03:38.

Bloomberg Markets: The Close Read More »

Private Debt Investor

The void in venture banking is getting bigger

“Larger direct lenders who might have financed venture deals are stepping into what was historically a bank capital opportunity for less risky deals.”

Director Jono Peters sat down with Robin Goldwyn Blumenthal to discuss how our team is busy getting deals done as mid-market venture lenders are filling the current void in venture banking. Read his outlook on venture debt in Private Debt Investor.

The void in venture banking is getting bigger Read More »

9fin

Apollo’s private Wolfspeed deal helps keep sensitive IP under wraps

Apollo’s private Wolfspeed deal marked one of the largest private credit deals for a public company. Managing Director Michael Moore sat down with Sami Vukelj of 9fin to discuss how the deal highlights private credit as an attractive option for large borrowers.

Read Michael’s insights on how this transaction speaks to the fact that private credit can do these types of deals with speed and certainty.

Apollo’s private Wolfspeed deal helps keep sensitive IP under wraps Read More »

Bloomberg

AI Excitement Seen Jumpstarting Sleepy IPO Market — Just Not Yet

The thinking behind current deals is ‘which of my portfolio companies can I use to acquire AI assets in order to turbocharge those portfolio companies, rather than what are the interesting early- to mid-stage AI companies out there that I can acquire independent of my portfolio today?”

Our Co-Founder and President, Ted Smith recently discussed the state of the #AI #IPO market with Bloomberg’s Natalia Kniazhevich. Read some of his insights in Natalia’s latest piece.

AI Excitement Seen Jumpstarting Sleepy IPO Market — Just Not Yet Read More »

Bloomberg

Why Union Square Is Trying to Get Ahead of AI: Bloomberg Deals

“Artificial Intelligence is developing so quickly. It’s going to have scale and direct impact so quickly that people are trying to place their bets there to really get a handle on it. I’m not an #AI expert at all but I think that’s one where if you’re not out in front of it, you’re going to miss out.”

Our Managing Director and Head of Sponsor & Venture Coverage Emily Todd Anderson sat down with Liana B. Baker and Kamaron Leach to discuss her role at the firm, advice for career advancement and where this year is headed in terms of deal flow. Read some of her insights on changing market dynamics and our current focus on AI in the Bloomberg Deals newsletter

Why Union Square Is Trying to Get Ahead of AI: Bloomberg Deals Read More »

Pitchbook

VCs expected an M&A wave. Dealmaking fell to a decade low instead.

Our Co-founder and President, Ted Smith and Partner and Head of M&A, Wayne Kawarabayashi chatted through where tech M&A is headed this year with Marina Temkin, CFA at PitchData Although deal making is now a lengthy and more diligent process, there is no longer a large rift in price expectations between buyers and sellers and they argue a rebound in acquisition activity is on the horizon.

VCs expected an M&A wave. Dealmaking fell to a decade low instead. Read More »

Bloomberg Markets - The Close

Bloomberg Markets: The Close

“Large enterprise software players are going to have to respond to this next generation use of AI in their own offerings or they risk falling behind.” Our President and Co-founder Ted Smith discussed the future of tech and why we expect to see increased deal activity in the AI space this year with Romaine Bostick and Scarlet Fu on this episode of Bloomberg News “The Close.” Tune in to Ted’s interview at 1:51:45.

Bloomberg Markets: The Close Read More »

ChatGPT May be Just the Beginning, as AI Spurs PE and M&A Activity

“Whether it’s protecting everything we are doing online, anti-fraud or securing critical infrastructure, cybersecurity solutions have become crucial parts of everyday life.” Wayne Kawarabayashi, our partner and head of M&A, expects tech M&A activity to be particularly hot within cybersecurity this year. Check out his other tech related outlook perspectives featured in PE Hub.

ChatGPT May be Just the Beginning, as AI Spurs PE and M&A Activity Read More »

Bloomberg

Bloomberg Deals: A Union Square Advisors Banker Previews Tech M&A Trends to Watch

Today’s Bloomberg Deals newsletter features our Partner and Head of M&A, Wayne Kawarabayashi’s conversation with Trista(Xinyi) Luo and Liana B. Baker regarding our 2023 Outlook Report. Wayne shares his biggest takeaways on this year’s M&A market, thoughts on new technology like ChatGPT and more. Check it out.

Bloomberg Deals: A Union Square Advisors Banker Previews Tech M&A Trends to Watch Read More »

WSJ

Union Square Advisors on When the Deal-Making Engine Will Rev

“Union Square [Advisors] said it anticipates a recovery in deal-making activity sometime this year because there’s simply too much capital in firms’ reservoirs and on corporate balance sheets for it to sit idle for too long.” Venture Capital insights from our 2023 Outlook Report are featured in The Wall Street Journal Pro VC Newsletter. Check it out.

Union Square Advisors on When the Deal-Making Engine Will Rev Read More »

M&A Reader predictions

As we head into 2023, the Tech M&A regulatory environment is getting tougher. Our Head of M&A, Wayne Kawarabayashi shares his predictions on how U.S./China political tensions will affect cross-border transactions in the latest edition of Dan Primack’s Axios Pro Rata Newsletter. Check out what he’s expecting next year here: https://bit.ly/3VbYoTA

M&A Reader predictions Read More »

WSJ

Fed Rate Increases Upended Funding Markets in 2022. Here’s What CFOs Can Expect in 2023.

As private credit continues to heat up, our Capital Markets Managing Director Michael Moore has message for public issuers: “If you don’t have to go out into this market right now, don’t go today.” However, he strongly advises that folks should be ready to go at a moment’s notice to take advantage of expected air pockets of opportunity in the new year. Find out what Moore believes CFOs and bankers can expect in 2023.

Fed Rate Increases Upended Funding Markets in 2022. Here’s What CFOs Can Expect in 2023. Read More »

CNBC

We’re willing to sacrifice a little of the ‘go-go growth’ for profitability, says Union Square’s Smith

In an appearance on CNBC TechCheck our Co-Founder & President Ted Smith discussed #techmna, defensible business models and how if companies need to sell, they “simply have to accept the current valuation realities.” Watch the full segment with anchors Carl Quintanilla and Deirdre Bosa at https://cnb.cx/3hrg6E6

We’re willing to sacrifice a little of the ‘go-go growth’ for profitability, says Union Square’s Smith Read More »

Private equity circles fallen stars of pandemic IPO boom

In a recent interview with Sujeet Indap at the Financial Times, our Co-Founder & President Ted Smith discussed the advice he is sharing with BoDs and management around valuations, given rising interest rates and a potential recession. “If you are two years from your IPO and an initial price spike, then the company’s current market price is much more important to assessing value in a potential transaction.” Read more here.

Private equity circles fallen stars of pandemic IPO boom Read More »

Bloomberg

The Citrix Turning Point in Markets: Q&A

In a recent Credit Brief Q&A with Jill Shah of Bloomberg on the topic of advising borrowers, our Capital Markets Managing Director Michael Moore says, “If you’ve only lined up two or three potential parties at the table to evaluate that capital, you may be left at the altar without a solution.” You can read the entire piece discussing everything from Citrix to the state of the private credit market here.

The Citrix Turning Point in Markets: Q&A Read More »

Pitchbook

M&A in a time of change

Our Managing Director and Head of Sponsor Coverage Emily Anderson was recently featured on PitchBook Data’s ‘In Visible Capital’ podcast to discuss drivers of PE & M&A volume, trending sectors in the PE space, current volatility in the market, and more.

M&A in a time of change Read More »

The Deal

Hard Times for Software Attract Sponsors, Suitors

In a recent interview with The Deal’s Chris Nolter, our Co-Founder and President Ted Smith, Partner and Head of M&A Wayne Kawarabayashi and Managing Director Andrew Atherton shared insight into the recent valuation crunch that has hit the enterprise software space and how it is spurring transactions. Learn more about why these technology companies are specifically focused on larger, needle-moving transactions.

Hard Times for Software Attract Sponsors, Suitors Read More »

Mergermarket

Microsoft’s Activision move could trigger big gaming and metaverse deals, advisors say

“The holy grail is to be able to stream games live across various devices to enable true cross-platform gaming, where one player using an Xbox can play against another on a PlayStation.” Our Managing Director Todd Holman and Mark Andress at Mergermarket discussed the future consolidation of the gaming space.

Microsoft’s Activision move could trigger big gaming and metaverse deals, advisors say Read More »

Business Insider

Junior bankers are behind on training — and it’s causing stress across Wall Street

In a recent interview with Business Insider’s Reed Alexander, our Partner Devon Ritch shared insight into how we have adapted our training for first-year analysts in a hybrid deal-making environment. This included adding “office hours,” where senior bankers set time aside to meet with junior bankers to discuss the inner workings of a deal and get them excited about their career.

Junior bankers are behind on training — and it’s causing stress across Wall Street Read More »

Forbes

Digital Innovation Surprised Many Last Year, But Can It Be Sustained?

Over the last 12 to 18 months, it has been encouraging to see several developments in the deployment and use of enterprise technology. Ubaid Dhiyan recently spoke with Forbes’ Joe McKendrick about the exciting opportunities he sees for entrepreneurs in terms of technology and innovation, including the use of AI for consumer applications.

Digital Innovation Surprised Many Last Year, But Can It Be Sustained? Read More »

Creditflux - An Acuris Company

Credit Rendezvous: ready and waiting

Mike Meyer, Partner and Head of Capital Markets, spoke with Creditflux for their “Credit Rendezvous” feature. Among other things, Mike weighed in on the timely topic of SPACs — “The boom in SPACs opens up a whole new capital market as a buyer for our product… When we have a sell-side M&A mandate we can sell to a private equity firm, we can sell to a strategic buyer, or now we can sell to a SPAC.”

Credit Rendezvous: ready and waiting Read More »

Business Insider

Blackstone is limiting investors’ voting rights in a $1.6 billion deal that could leave bondholders short-changed if things go awry

In a recent interview with Insider, our Managing Director Mark Villanueva discussed what capping investors’ voting rights means for creditors and why he expects to see this language in more acquisition-linked financing.

Blackstone is limiting investors’ voting rights in a $1.6 billion deal that could leave bondholders short-changed if things go awry Read More »

Business Insider

The IPO market is on fire after a short-lived drought – here are the hottest public debuts to keep an eye on, and which banks are eyeing big fees for pulling them off

Our Co-Founder and President, Ted Smith, told Business Insider that while he has high hopes for the tech IPO market, he believes “the vast majority of exits of venture-backed companies in tech are still going to come from M&A, not an IPO.”

The IPO market is on fire after a short-lived drought – here are the hottest public debuts to keep an eye on, and which banks are eyeing big fees for pulling them off Read More »

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