Jason Philyaw

CDT Roundup: Cold Front, Hot Government Capital

For the wintry week ended Jan. 31, the CDT Roundup saw 11 deals reported with a total value of nearly $4 billion — and the bulk of that was, in essence, a preferred equity funding deal involving the federal government.

A week earlier, eight deals were reported with only three disclosed values totaling a little more than $1.3 billion. This time last year there were 16 deals worth a little more than $10 billion that passed across our desk. That and more in this edition of CDT Roundup.

February 1, 2026 Jason Philyaw

USA Rare Earth Gets $3.1B Federal Funding, PIPE to Expand Supply Chain for Minerals

Latham and White & Case advised on the deal which includes a federal government stake in the publicly traded magnet manufacturer. USA Rare Earth operates a Rare Earth minerals mining facility in Hudspeth County in West Texas.

January 27, 2026 Jason Philyaw

AI Wellness and Solar Shine in a Week Dominated by the ‘Private’ in PE

For the week ended Jan. 24, there were just eight deals reported to the CDT Roundup, with only three disclosed values totaling a little more than $1.3 billion. The week prior had 19 deals valued at nearly $18.4 billion, while the year-ago saw nine deals worth about $6.8 billion reported.

The Roundup hasn't seen a cumulative weekly value that low since the week ended June 14 when the nine deals reported had a combined value of $478 million, and that figure is the lowest tallied by the CDT Roundup since May 2020.

As sometimes happens, the week was heavy on private equity deals that the players chose to keep ... well, private. That and more in this edition of CDT Roundup.

January 25, 2026 Jason Philyaw

Energy Dominates as Deals Hit $18.4B (The Best Week Since November)

The week ending Jan. 17 saw 19 deals reported to the CDT Roundup with a total value of more than $18.4 billion.

The week prior had 18 deals valued at nearly $9 billion, and there were 19 deals worth about $7.4 billion during the same week last year. But last week was the best week by value since an absurd 21-deal, $75 billion week in early November.

That and more in this edition of CDT Roundup.

January 18, 2026 Jason Philyaw

Mitsubishi Enters U.S. Shale Business with $7.5B Deal

Mitsubishi Corp. said Friday that it has entered the U.S. shale gas business with the acquisition of specific assets from Dallas-based private investment firm Aethon Energy Management for about $7.5 billion. Latham & Watkins advised Aethon and Vinson & Elkins represented Mitsubishi.

January 16, 2026 Jason Philyaw

Talen Energy Acquires Three Midwestern Power Plants for $3.5B

Houston energy infrastructure company Talen Energy said Thursday that it has acquired two power generating plants in the PJM market from New Jersey-based investment firm Energy Capital Partners for $2.55 billion cash and about $900 million in stock. Talen General Counsel John Wander worked with Kirkland & Ellis and White & Case on the deal.

January 15, 2026 Jason Philyaw

CDT Roundup: Slow Start, Big Punch: 18 Deals, Nearly $9B

For the first full week of 2026, the CDT Roundup saw 18 transactions with a reported total value of nearly $9 billion (specifically $8.958 billion), the majority of which from just three deals. About a dozen firms circled back in early January with private equity or private investment deals that closed in mid-December.

And since we're closing the books on 2025, let's pause for a brief look at the numbers specific to The Roundup in this week's edition.

January 11, 2026 Jason Philyaw

Balch & Bingham Nearly Doubles Austin Presence with Duggins Wren Mann & Romero

Balch Managing Partner Stan Blanton said the firm “could not have found another group of lawyers who offer the expertise and talent” of Duggins Wren Mann & Romero, particularly in the electricity and gas sectors.

January 6, 2026 Jason Philyaw

Vistra Buys Cogentrix Energy in Deal Valued at About $4B

Vistra Corp. said Monday that it acquired Cogentrix Energy for about $2.3 billion cash, about $925 million in common shares and the assumption of $1.5 billion of debt. Vistra used Latham & Watkins, Sidley Austin and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton as outside legal counsel. King & Spalding advised Cogentrix.

January 5, 2026 Jason Philyaw

CDT Roundup: A Quiet End to a Busy Year

The week ending Jan. 3 — the day Larry David claims is the last day you can wish someone Happy New Year — had just two deals reported, with one of DFW's favorite Tex-Mex chains acquiring one of DFW's favorite Cajun spots through bankruptcy court and the announcement of an ATM offering by a Michigan energy company highlight this edition of the CDT Roundup.

January 4, 2026 Jason Philyaw