By Arik Rashkes , Head of the Financial Institutions Group, Solomon Partners Artificial intelligence is no longer just a technology story for financial institutions. It is quickly becoming a valuation story. For years, AI has been framed as a tool to improve efficiency, enhance customer experience and modernize operations. That framing is no longer sufficient.…
By Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Marc Cooper In May, Solomon Partners hosted its 14th Annual Consumer Retail Dinner, welcoming more than 100 consumer retail executives. This event serves as a key industry inflection point, with participants reflecting on important changes since last year’s dinner and what they anticipate for the year ahead. This year’s…
By Jeff Jacobs , Head of M&A and COO of Investment Banking, Solomon Partners Over the past few weeks, I’ve compared notes with M&A bankers and deal lawyers around the country. The conversations have been remarkably consistent: The “new normal” in dealmaking is persistent uncertainty. And yet, the tone isn’t bearish. If anything, many senior…
By Craig Muir , Head of Software, Data & Analytics Technology dealmaking is open again — but it is more selective, more forensic, and more influenced by AI than anything I’ve seen in my career. Buyers still want to do deals, and there is plenty of capital on the sidelines. The question isn’t whether there’s…
Subscribe Episode Description In this episode of Solomon Connects , Solomon Partners’ Head of Capital Advisory Vinod Chandiramani joins M&A Director Chris Moynihan to discuss how more complex capital markets are reshaping financing and recapitalization decisions across the middle market. They explore why proactive capital planning, creative capital solutions, and hybrid capital are increasingly critical…
Subscribe Episode Description In this episode of Solomon Connects, Solomon Partners’ Head of M&A and COO of Investment Banking Jeff Jacobs joins M&A Director Chris Moynihan to break down the key forces shaping M&A activity following a strong but complex first quarter. They discuss the return of large-cap strategic buyers, persistent valuation gaps, and rising…
Why the exhibitions sector has become one of the most sought-after categories in private equity For much of the past two decades, the B2B events sector was viewed as a reliable if somewhat pedestrian corner of the information services ecosystem. The investment thesis was straightforward: exhibition sponsors and attendees tend to be loyal, with revenues…
By Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Marc Cooper As warmer weather returns and we adjust our thermostats, I sat down with Head of Business Services Group Tim Shea to discuss M&A trends in essential service sectors. Tim, your team had a record year of deal activity in 2025. What’s been driving the strength of essential…
Subscribe Episode Description In this episode of Solomon Connects , Solomon Partners’ Head of Financial Sponsors Sash Rentala joins M&A Director Chris Moynihan to discuss the evolving M&A landscape amid elevated rates, macro uncertainty, and supply‑demand imbalance for assets. They explore why A‑quality assets continue to trade, what’s holding back broader exit activity, and how…
By CEO Marc S. Cooper As 2026 unfolds, questions around US bankruptcies, capital structure stress, and the durability of recent credit strategies remain top of mind for investors and corporate leaders alike. This month I sat down with the firm’s Head of Capital Advisory Vinod Chandiramani to discuss what may lie ahead for financing, capital solutions, liability management, restructurings, the broader economy, and expansion…
By CEO Marc Cooper David Shiffman joined the firm in May 2012 and, in addition to continuing as Co-Head of the Consumer Retail Group, he was recently promoted to Head of Investment Banking. We talked about how the role strengthens coordination and senior oversight for clients—and how it supports Solomon’s next generation of bankers. Those…
By Solange Velazquez , Managing Director in Technology From investment to dealmaking, AI was, unsurprisingly, the main topic of conversation at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show, the largest gathering of franchised new car and truck dealers in the United States, held in Las Vegas last month. Investors remain bullish on a specific segment…
