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The Wire
Jul 22, 2024

Blackstone’s Schwarzman doubles down on data centers; cybersecurity still drives deals

Good morning, Hubsters. MK Flynn here with today’s Wire.

 

There’s been a whirlwind of news the last few days, including, of course, yesterday’s big announcement on the campaign trail.

 

While that development seems unlikely to affect dealmaking – at least in the short term – some of the headlines involving cybersecurity are likely to have an impact on transactions. Private equity firms have long invested in cybersecurity providers, and dealmaking activity shows no signs of letting up. Today, PE Hub is highlighting a handful of recent deals in the sector.

 

We’ve also got an interesting Q&A about deals involving physician practices, an area that’s facing more scrutiny these days.

 

And finally, we’ll share Blackstone’s ambitions to become the world’s largest AI infrastructure investor, featuring comments by chief executive Stephen Schwarzman.

 

Rolling up

Physician practice rollups have attracted private equity investments for years, but recently, PE’s role has come under fire from some regulators and healthcare advocates. While some sources have told PE Hub that some firms may be rethinking patient-facing investments, we’ve continued to see a lot of deal activity.


PE Hub’s John R Fischer turned to Mateusz Saykiewicz, a partner at Atlanta-based law firm Troutman Pepper who advises PE groups on these deals, to explain why firms continue to invest in doctors’ offices despite increased scrutiny.

 

Upgrade to the premium version of the Wire to read the interview and discover a slew of deals in the sector.

 

Listicle

Cybersecurity’s significance was underscored in recent weeks both by the attack on Disney that leaked data including internal communications and the global IT outage involving cybersecurity provider CrowdStrike.

 

PE Hub’s Obey Martin Manayiti rounded up seven recent cybersecurity deals, including three from Thoma Bravo.

 

Upgrade to read all about them.

 

AI infrastructure

Blackstone is doubling down on the data center boom supercharged by AI. In fact, the New York-based asset management giant “is positioning itself to be the largest financial investor in AI infrastructure in the world,” chief executive Stephen Schwarzman, said during his company’s second-quarter earnings call on July 18, reports Harrison Connery, a senior reporter at affiliate title PERE.

 

Upgrade to the premium version of the Wire to learn all about Blackstone’s data center investment strategy.

 

Care to weigh in?

“May you live in interesting times,” the saying goes. I’d say we’re living in interesting times right now.

 

Until now, sources have told us the upcoming election has had little impact on dealmaking – partly because both the two presumed major party candidates already had the job and their policies are well understood. Does the change in presidential candidate affect your dealmaking?

 

I’m also wondering if you or your portfolio companies felt any impact from the global IT outage last week? If you’d like to weigh in on either issue – or anything else PE deal related – I’d love to hear from you at [email protected].

 

That’s all for today. Craig McGlashan will be with you tomorrow.

Cheers,

MK

 

Read the full wire commentary on PE Hub ...

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Today's must reads
> More cybersecurity threats, more PE investments: 7 deals More...
> Physician practices still appeal to PE: Troutman Pepper‘s Mateusz Saykiewicz More...
> Schwarzman: Blackstone to become world’s largest AI infrastructure investor  More...
> Sweltering summer: 6 PE deals in HVAC More...
> Amberjack’s sale of Best Trash to HIG underscores value of environmental services More...

Also of note (may require subscriptions)

 

Some LPs have been frustrated by what they describe as a loophole in the GPs’ ostensible 80-100% management fee offset. (Buyouts)

 

Partners Group has a lot of ambitious plans in leveraging artificial intelligence to drive growth in FairJourney Biologics, Pascal Noth, head of private equity health and life Europe at Partners, told PE Hub Europe. “AI with its predictive power has the potential to really drive incredible results in the next 10 years. To unlock that opportunity, we’re planning to both add experts to the group organically and build collaborations and partnerships.”

 

QIC has scaled back ambitions for its inaugural commingled fund focused on natural capital, Agri Investor understands.

 

Spanish manager Asterion Industrial Partners has reached a €1.52 billion first close on its third flagship fund, Infrastructure Investor can reveal.

 

London-headquartered fund of funds manager Federated Hermes is planning to return to market with its sixth co-investment flagship this year. (Private Equity International)

 

Pretium Partners has closed its sixth single-family housing fund, Pretium Single-Family Rental Fund VI, with $1.5 billion in commitments, beating its target by 50 percent. (Private Equity Real Estate)

 

PE Deals

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> More cybersecurity threats, more PE investments: 7 deals More...
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> Avance invests in Alchemy Technology Group More...
> Verlinvest and Mistral Equity Partners acquire Insomnia Cookies from Krispy Kreme More...
> Diversis Capital acquires Infotech More...
> Novo Holdings to sell veterinary pharmaceuticals business Invetx to Dechra for $520m More...
People
> Kinderhook promotes Keenan and Bubis to managing director More...
> FalconPoint taps Maharaj as CFO and chief compliance officer More...
> Flexpoint Ford appoints Tamaroff as managing director for healthcare team More...

They said it

“I believe the consequences of AI are as profound as what occurred in 1880 when Thomas Edison patented the electric lightbulb. While it took years to develop commercially viable products, the subsequent buildout of the electric grid over the following decades has parallels to the creation of data centers today to power the AI revolution.”

— Stephen Schwarzman, CEO, Blackstone, on investing in AI infrastructure

 

Today's letter was prepared by MK Flynn

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