Antoine Gara

Another big crypto scoop from team @FT

Cantor Fitzgerald close to $4bn Spac deal with bitcoin pioneer Brandon Lutnick in late-stage talks with Adam Back in latest move to use blank cheque vehicles to buy the cryptocurrency

It's "crypto week" in Washington, and also at Cantor Fitzgerald.

The firm long led by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and now his sons is finalizing a $4bn+ bitcoin buying deal with one of its many Spacs.

Read the @FT scoop here: www.ft.com/content/a4a3...

If you want to understand finance, you have to watch the big private capital groups. Fascinating read by @antoinegara.bsky.social on how they are drifting apart on strategy - Blackstone sticking to a fee-based approach, while Apollo and KKR embrace insurance-powered models www.ft.com/content/cbac...

Donald Trump’s plans for Fannie and Freddie would mean payday for hedge funds Critics warn privatisation of the mortgage giants would enrich Wall St but endanger the housing market

My colleague @pollard.bsky.social and I look at what could be one of the biggest policy decisions of Trump's administration -- and the multibillion-dollar hedge fund windfall among some of his most ardent supporters that hangs in the balance.

www.ft.com/content/d6d6...

TMTG confirms our reporting less than a day after calling the FT "dumb."

ir.tmtgcorp.com/news-events/...

Trump media group plans to raise $3bn to spend on cryptocurrencies US president’s administration and family have become staunch advocates for digital assets

BIG scoop from team @FT

President Trump's media company is preparing to raise $3bn to buy cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. The move comes as Trump promises pro-crypto regulation & administration officials will soon descend on Vegas for an industry confab.

www.ft.com/content/cc55...

Donald Trump considers order to open US retirement plans to private equity Move would pave the way for savers to access funds focused on corporate buyouts and other high-octane deals

Our scoop earlier this week on President Trump's consideration of an executive order to further propel private equity funds into 401k savings plans.

www.ft.com/content/aeda...

The FT will have some follow up reporting and analysis soon.

Andreessen Horowitz in talks to help buy out TikTok’s Chinese owners [FREE TO READ] Venture capital group could join last-gasp bid by allies of Donald Trump to take control of video app owned by ByteDance

FT SCOOP: US venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz is in talks to invest in TikTok as part of an effort led by Trump to wrest control of the popular video app from its Chinese owners

on.ft.com/4iXce94

w @antoinegara.bsky.social @ivanlevingston.bsky.social & @georgehammond.bsky.social

CoreWeave triggered defaults after breaching terms on Blackstone loan [FREE TO READ] US cloud company seeking blockbuster $32bn IPO had to remedy serious administrative errors in December

CoreWeave, the cloud computing group seeking to launch a blockbuster $32bn IPO, violated several key terms of a $7.6bn loan last year, triggering a series of so-called technical defaults.

Full details only in the FT, w/ @tabbykinder.bsky.social and @antoinegara.bsky.social on.ft.com/4c4F44x

FT names Gara its US private equity and deals editor - Talking Biz News Antoine Gara has been named U.S. private equity and deals editor at The Financial Times. He has been covering private capital for the past four years. Gara previously was a senior at at Forbes, where ...

@antoinegara.bsky.social named US private equity and deals editor at @financialtimes.com: talkingbiznews.com/media-news/f...

The curious cachet of the steampunk kitchen What is it about a Victorian meets high-tech aesthetic that is catnip for the high-spec cooking crowd?

luv the victorian meets hi tech aesthetic
www.ft.com/content/3fc1...

Muted M&A rains on dealmakers’ New Orleans parade Rainmakers at annual corporate gathering hope Trump dealmaking bump will still materialise

Really great color piece on the souring of the dealmaking market from New Orleans. Also FT was first to spot the vibe shift in January. @sindap @JFK_America @mroliverbarnes

www.ft.com/content/68ab...

Macron unveils plans for €109bn of AI investment in France French president speaks ahead of AI summit in Paris involving executives such as OpenAI’s Sam Altman

www.ft.com/content/fc6a...

What Jared Kushner did next The president’s son-in-law has built a global business in part with relationships from his time in the first Trump White House

What Jared Kushner did next—The president’s son-in-law has built a global business in part with relationships from his time in the first Trump White House. www.ft.com/content/da95... @financial-times.bsky.social @antoinegara.bsky.social

Always mildly disconcerting when after a heavy installation project there are a few screws and washers left over. Anyhow, onwards…

US life insurer Brighthouse Financial seeks to sell itself Prominent private capital managers expected to bid for group with market value of $3bn

An M&A scoop for the Bluesky @sindap.bsky.social

www.ft.com/content/e341...

A kingdom for a sprig of rosemary.

Prediction: The cyclopentane is the next frontier for comfortable home living and the design of the modern kitchen.

5th ave. threads, 6th st. cred

The race to make the greatest Christmas ad How British retailers became obsessed with winning the nation’s hearts

Many a Christmas day I reflect on friends and family, goals I set that were accomplished and the ones that were missed. Lessons learned. Personal and mental wellness and which global mega conglomerate was able to reach my soul.

www.ft.com/content/5cbd...

YouTube video by Movieclips Moneyball (2011) - He Gets On Base Scene (3/10) | Movieclips

The tables have turned #Yankees #Hal

m.youtube.com/watch?v=PlKD...

Order of importance, general health or finishing the leftovers?

… guests. Crap.

BlackRock has deal to buy private credit manager HPS Transaction for prized lender could cost $12bn and be announced after Thanksgiving holiday

A scoop before Thanksgiving: BlackRock has a handshake deal to buy HPS Investment Partners, as it looks to bolster its alternative investment business with the addition of one of the biggest private credit groups @arashmassoudi.bsky.social @brookeamasters.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/971b...

…running out of thyme

ChatGPT: “how do I cook a turkey. Why is there so much rosemary in the fridge. Do these carrots have any use? Celery??? The recipe says turnips but that seems skippable.”

China’s defence minister placed under investigation for corruption US officials say probe is part of wider operation to uncover graft in People’s Liberation Army

China’s defence minister placed under investigation for corruption

www.ft.com/content/6414...

Core, always taking one for the team….

Mubadala Capital agrees C$12.1bn deal for Canadian asset manager CI Financial Asset management subsidiary of Abu Dhabi’s state investment fund seeks more exposure in North America

Mubadala Capital agrees C$12.1bn deal for Canadian asset manager CI Financial

Asset management subsidiary of Abu Dhabi’s state investment fund seeks more exposure in North America

on.ft.com/49awcsS via @antoinegara.bsky.social Chloe Cornish @financialtimes.com

Generally, I’m pro tourist... sometimes. But I just walked by someone comparing Grand Central terminal to Caesar’s Palace and the Venetian in Las Vegas.