Good morning, dealmakers.Obey Martin Manayitihere with the Wire. I’ve got a deal-packed Wire for you today, featuring a wide variety of sectors. First up: People are spending more money on cats, dogs, birds and fish than ever before, as pets have become members of the family. PE firms are capitalizing on pet popularity, as we see in a couple of items today. Earlier this morning, Apax Digital Funds announced that it has invested more than $100 million in Petvisor, a veterinary and pet services client engagement software provider. And at 12:00 pm ET, PE Hub editor-in-chief MK Flynnwillhost a complimentary webinar with BC Partners’ Michael Chang about the firm’s long investment in PetSmart. Earlier this year, BC brought in Apollo to co-invest in PetSmart, which BC has owned since 2015. It’s one example of how firms are getting creative in a challenging exit environment. Switching sectors, I wrote a Deep Dive on a deal in the pharmaceutical industry. I focused on Nordic Capital’s majority investment in IntegriChain, a data and technology provider, targeting “middlemen” who gobble billions of dollars from elevated drug pricing. I also want to call your attention to RTC Partners’ announcement yesterday that it has invested in four marketing and sales services firms, to tap on the growing need for brand management. PE Hub has seen a flurry of marketing and advertising deals this year. Let’s get to those stories now. Pet lovers Apax Digital Funds has invested more than $100 million in Petvisor, a veterinary and pet services client engagement software provider, alongside other backers that include Frontier Growth, PeakSpan Capital, and Petvisor’s management team. Upgrade to the premium version of the Wire to learn more about the transaction, and to read about a handful of previous PE deals leveraging our love of pets. Something to talk about Tune in at 12:00 pm ET today to PE Hub editor-in-chief Mary Kathleen Flynn’s talk with BC Partners’ Michael Chang about today’s challenging exit environment and how the firm brought in Apollo to co-invest in PetSmart, which BC has owned since 2015. The webinar is complimentary. Click here to register. The webinar is a preview of what’s to come at Private Equity International’s NEXUS 2024, which we’re hosting March 6 – 8 at the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes. NEXUS 2024 promises to set the stage and provide a preview of what’s to come for dealmakers as the year unfolds. Meet the GPs and LPs you’ve seen quoted in PE Hub over the years. Hear from luminaries about how the challenging economy is playing out in the deal landscape. Keynote speakers include: Jonathan Gray, president and chief operating officer, Blackstone; Howard Marks, co-founder and co-chairman of Oaktree Capital Management; and David M. Rubenstein, co-founder and co-chairman of The Carlyle Group. Click here to learn more about NEXUS 2024. Pharma data revolution The pharmaceutical industry has been a “laggard” when it comes to adopting technology, said Daniel Berglund, Nordic Capital’s co-head of healthcare and the head of the Stockholm-based private equity firm’s US team. Subscribers to the premium version of the Wire may read my interview with Berglund. Brand management RTC Partners yesterday scooped up four North America-based marketing and sales services firms – fama PR, Intelisent, MarketBridge, and Quarry, to tap the growing need for brand management in the corporate world. Upgrade to discover more on the deal. Back in April, I rounded up six PE-backed deals in digital marketing. And then in September, Rafael Canton followed up with another six deals in marketing and advertising. That’s it for me today. PE Hub’s Michael Schoeck will be back with the newsletter tomorrow, filling in for Chris Witkowsky, who’s on vacation. Have a nice day, Obey Read the full wire commentary on PE Hub ... | 