Jan 20, 2024

I recently learned that a new book has been released by a former top advisor to the ousted civilian government in Myanmar. The book, titled “An Unlikely Prisoner” by Sean Turnell, provides a firsthand account of life in Myanmar under the ruling military junta and offers insights into policy developments in the country. Additionally, the World Bank’s Myanmar Economic Monitor reports little economic growth in the near term, with spiking poverty, declining wages, and other economic challenges.

In other news, Chinese regulators are reviewing aspects of the business practices of Shein, a fast fashion giant expected to have one of the year’s largest U.S. IPOs, which could significantly delay the company’s listing plans. In the realm of venture capital deals, several companies have raised significant funding, including Myrealtrip, a South Korean online travel platform, and Mediterranean Food Lab, an Israeli startup using solid-state fermentation to create flavor ingredients. Finally, in the private equity space, Blackstone has agreed to buy Tricon Residential, a Toronto-based REIT focused on single-family homes and apartments in the U.S. and Canada, for around $3.5 billion.

Today in the world of finance, there have been several interesting developments in terms of investments, acquisitions, and public offerings. Some of the notable highlights include the investment in Om Mushroom Superfood, a nutraceuticals company based in Carlsbad, Calif., by various partners. Additionally, Opta Group, a portfolio company of Speyside Equity Advisers, acquired Anker, a Pittsburgh-based maker of metallurgical additives, from Continuim Equity Partners. In terms of public offerings, BBB Foods, operator of more than 2,200 discount groceries in Mexico, filed for a $300m IPO and plans to list on the NYSE.

In personnel news, Andrea Picard is joining Golub Capital as co-head of global institutional sales, and Vlad Savic joined Blue Vision Capital as managing partner. These are just a few of the many developments in the world of finance that are shaping the industry landscape.

Stay Well!