2. AI in PE
Aldaron, a "transformation equity" firm, closed an ~$885M debut fund (reported Oct 15-16; still the latest news).
Founded by ex-Palantir and ex-Carlyle executives, it targets US companies worth $200M-$1B. Half its 12 staff are engineers who work inside portfolio companies. Its first deal, Oak Point Partners, reportedly went from 1-2 to 10-12 potential deals identified a week. The pitch is revenue growth rather than headcount cuts (Private Equity Wire, citing WSJ; Aldaron release).
Portco flag (food/CPG and distribution, e.g. Tropical Cheese):
the Beige Book says consumer-facing firms face tighter margins as "price-sensitive customers continue to resist price hikes." Firms are protecting margins with "selective price hikes, targeted incentives, and menu changes," and fuel surcharges are spreading through supply chains (Federal Reserve). Our read: that argues for AI pricing, promotion and routing tools over generic copilots.