In case you missed it, read last week’s issue here

Private Equity Eyes AI Infrastructure

Blackstone, KKR, and Apollo have all increased investments in companies powering AI infrastructure—from data centers to chip suppliers.
Why it matters: The next wave of PE deals may not be in traditional LBOs, but in AI-adjacent infrastructure. It’s a sign of how deal flow is evolving.

Tip: Understanding AI’s impact on sectors like logistics, data, and hardware can help you stand out in PE interviews.

SEC Proposes Tighter PE & Hedge Fund Rules

The SEC is pushing for new disclosure rules that would require private equity and hedge funds to be more transparent about fees, conflicts of interest, and performance. These changes could increase compliance costs and shift how deals and reporting are structured in alternative asset management.

Student Takeaway: Regulatory awareness is important for roles in private markets, legal advisory, and even IB coverage groups.

Every finance bro’s favorite term

Definition: EBITDA = Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization. It’s used as a proxy for core operating performance and is a key input in valuation models.

Example: Let’s say a company reports:

Why EBITDA Matters: EBITDA is used in valuation (EV/EBITDA multiples), credit analysis, and LBO models. It's also often “adjusted” to normalize for one-time costs or non-core items.

Don’t just build a discounted cash flow (DCF) model—learn how to explain it clearly. In interviews, bankers often care more about your ability to walk through logic than get the math perfect.

Pro tip: Practice this structure: project FCF → calculate WACC → discount → add terminal value → derive enterprise/equity value. Keep it under 90 seconds.

AI, inflation, and rising deal volume are reshaping finance this year—and students who stay ahead now will be better prepared when it counts. But beyond the headlines, don’t forget: mastering the basics still wins. Knowing how to walk through a DCF, explain EBITDA clearly, or talk intelligently about a current deal is what sets top candidates apart.

The earlier you master the hard skills, the easier they will be when you need to use them. Read in between the lines of these skills. Don’t just know them, understand them.

Welcome to Campus Capital. Each week, we’ll break down the finance world in 5 minutes or less.
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My name is Braunsen Bax, I’m a finance and accounting student-athlete at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois (45 mins outside of Chicago). I graduated from Walton High School in Marietta Georgia. Outside of the classroom I compete in the throws events for the Track & Field team, 35 time NCAA DIII national champions. I’ve had a love of finance and the business world since my sophomore year of high school and started Campus Capital to share that love with my community and like minded individuals in a similar position, with similar goals. My mission is to help people like me shape their futures to ensure they reach their goals while being up to date and educated in the Finance industry.