News Summary

• The latest iteration of the Beverly Hills confab, which brings together the biggest names in finance and investing, kicks off on Sunday.
• It’s in many ways fitting that the event — which earned the nickname “The Predators’ Ball” in its original iteration as financiers struck often-hostile deals to buy and sell companies — is happening at this inflection point for the industry.
• The war in Iran has left the Middle East on edge, and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is causing an energy crunch around the world.
• The rapid advancement of AI has led to widespread fear that jobs could soon disappear and existing software businesses — many of which rely on private credit financing — might see significant drops in revenue.