GREY Journal Daily News Podcast

Capitolis completed a $220 million financing round ahead of its planned acquisition of eSecLending, according to Securities Finance Times. Capitolis, led by CEO Gil Mandelzis, provides optimization and marketplace services that help banks and prime brokers reduce exposures and improve capital efficiency. In 2022, Capitolis raised $110 million in a Series D at a valuation of about $1.6 billion, with strategic backing from Citi, JPMorgan, and State Street. eSecLending operates as an independent securities lending agent known for auction based programs that serve institutional asset owners. The combined platform would aim to pair lending supply and pricing with balance sheet optimization under evolving capital rules. Competitive players include EquiLend, Pirum, Broadridge, FIS, and large custodial agency lenders such as State Street and BNY Mellon.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/

Capital is rotating toward AI, with Microsoft investing $10 billion in OpenAI in 2023, Amazon announcing up to $4 billion for Anthropic, and Google adding $2 billion, while Nvidia crossed a $2 trillion market cap in 2024. Enterprise vendors launched assistants such as Salesforce Einstein GPT, Adobe Firefly, Zoom AI Companion, and SAP Joule, and buyers are seeking verified ROI. Klarna said in 2024 its OpenAI powered assistant handled roughly two thirds of customer service chats, work it equated to about 700 full time agents. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon reported more than 300 AI use cases in production and over 2,000 people focused on AI and data in 2024. The SEC fined Delphia and Global Predictions $400,000 combined in March 2024 for misleading AI claims. Markets rewarded clear AI impact, as seen with Palantir's demand for its Artificial Intelligence Platform, and punished unclear narratives, as with Chegg's 48 percent stock drop in May 2023.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/

Al Jazeera reported that U.S. stocks hit all-time highs as investors increased bets on AI. Benchmarks including the S&P 500, the Nasdaq Composite, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced. The rally centers on companies tied to semiconductors, cloud infrastructure, and AI-enabled software. Concentration risk has grown as passive flows favor large index weights. Stronger equity markets can reopen the IPO window, support secondary sales, and spur M&A interest, while borrowing costs and lending standards still constrain budgets. Founders should align go-to-market with AI budgets, maintain runway discipline, and plan for volatility.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/

Schneider Electric said it would acquire PTC in what Morningstar described as the French group’s largest acquisition to date. The move would add PTC’s engineering and product lifecycle management software, including Creo, Windchill, ThingWorx, and Vuforia, to Schneider Electric’s portfolio that includes AVEVA and the EcoStruxure platform. The deal is subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals, with potential reviews in the United States, the European Union, and by CFIUS. Schneider Electric previously took AVEVA private in 2023, following AVEVA’s 2021 acquisition of OSIsoft. Competitors include Siemens, Dassault Systèmes, Autodesk, Rockwell Automation, Emerson, Honeywell, and Hexagon AB. Customers should expect shifts in bundling, pricing, and integration as the companies outline a combined roadmap.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/

IDC identifies the user interface as a new battleground for enterprise software as AI features move into daily tools. Microsoft embeds Copilot across Microsoft 365 at $30 per user per month and ties context through Microsoft Graph. Google offers Gemini for Workspace at $30 per user per month inside Gmail, Docs, and Meet. Salesforce links Einstein Copilot to Data Cloud and Slack, with Slack AI priced at $10 per user per month. ServiceNow, Atlassian, Zoom, and Adobe add assistants within their apps, while Notion, Canva, and OpenAI compete for front-line usage. Buyers face stacked per-seat costs and governance demands, and founders adjust go-to-market with suite marketplaces and API-first integrations.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/

Bloomberg reported that Citi led global IPO underwriting through September, highlighting a shift in league table leadership that influences issuer decisions. Underwriters shape pricing, allocation, research support, and early trading stability, with tools such as the greenshoe helping manage volatility. Founders weighing a U.S. listing must balance sector expertise, research influence, and sales coverage across their syndicate while navigating SEC confidential submissions under the JOBS Act. Boards are comparing venues such as Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange, and some consider cross-border options including depositary receipts, London, or Hong Kong. Preparation around audited financials, governance, and investor materials positions issuers to act when windows open, as macro conditions driven by Federal Reserve policy and market volatility set valuation ranges.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/

Stock futures are rising as investors await a new earnings season and the Federal Reserve's meeting minutes. Earnings calls from banks, consumer brands, industrial suppliers, and software vendors will inform credit conditions, pricing power, and demand. The Fed minutes will reveal how policymakers assessed inflation, labor markets, and financial conditions, which can influence Treasury yields and borrowing costs. Founders can adjust financing structures, sales forecasts, and budgets based on these signals. Venture, private credit, and IPO activity tend to improve when rate volatility eases and valuations stabilize. Monitoring guidance, yields, the dollar, and oil can help operators align hiring, spending, and liquidity planning.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/

PYMNTS.com reported that OpenPayd is preparing for a 2027 US stock market listing. The company operates a banking-as-a-service and payments platform that supports embedded accounts, payments, and foreign exchange for enterprises. A US listing would require US GAAP alignment or IFRS reconciliation, PCAOB-standard audits, and Sarbanes Oxley controls. Regulators have increased scrutiny of third-party risk management for banking-as-a-service, which will factor into investor diligence. Comparable listings such as Marqeta, Flywire, dLocal, Wise, and Adyen show markets favor profitability and retention. Founders using embedded finance should expect tighter onboarding, clearer service levels, and stronger compliance reviews as vendors prepare for public markets.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/

Sam Altman linked questions about controlling superintelligence with OpenAI’s financing choices in a Fortune interview. OpenAI continues to prioritize catastrophic misuse categories through its Preparedness work and previously pledged about 20 percent of compute to alignment research. The company restructured safety oversight in 2024 with a board-level Safety and Security Committee after senior safety leaders departed. OpenAI has not pursued a near-term IPO, opting for private capital and a 2023 employee tender that reportedly valued the company around $86 billion. A deep partnership with Microsoft supports compute needs while reducing pressure to list. Competitors like Anthropic and Google DeepMind emphasize safety as policy frameworks in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union tighten.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/