Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has placed private equity and finance executives in key roles at the Social Security Administration (SSA), reinforcing Donald Trump’s push to eliminate waste and fraud in federal programs. 

Among those appointed are Antonio Gracias of Valor Equity Partners, an early investor in Tesla and SpaceX, former Lone Pine Capital executive Scott Coulter, and ex-Shift4 executive Michael Russo, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Blackstone is reviewing strategic options for Hello Sunshine, the media company it bought for $900m through Candle Media in 2021.

A potential merger with another media company is under consideration as Blackstone reassesses its holdings in the changing entertainment market.

According to Reuters, discussions are ongoing, though Hello Sunshine is not actively seeking buyers. As media consolidation accelerates and content investment strategies shift, Blackstone and Candle Media executives are looking for ways to expand the company’s scale and profitability.

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Swiss private markets heavyweight Partners Group recorded a 4% increase in assets under management (AUM) in 2024, reaching $152bn, driven by strong fundraising momentum.

The firm secured $22bn in new commitments, with evergreen funds accounting for $8.4bn, or 39% of total inflows.

Partners Group highlighted 2024 as a record year for its evergreen investment strategies, attributing the success to the continued expansion of its private wealth distribution network. The firm launched seven new evergreen strategies, bringing its total in this segment to 20 funds. These vehicles now represent 32% of its total AUM.

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