Private Equity 8-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 18, 2026, 9:30 AM ET
Dealmaking Activity & Portfolio Moves
The private equity deal pipeline saw varied activity across Europe and Asia, with several firms executing complex transactions to manage liquidity needs. Ares Management led a €300m continuation fund for the premium frozen baked goods company Europastry following an aborted initial public offering, a move that simultaneously supported MCH’s exit strategy for the asset. Separately, Warburg Pincus confirmed its investment into fintech specialist The Guarantors, with the transaction anticipated to conclude by the end of the second quarter of 2026, signaling continued appetite for financial technology plays. On the strategic sector front, Bain Capital invested in climate technology firm Duravent Group, which currently counts Egeria as an existing backer, demonstrating focus on environmental transition assets. Furthermore, Stephens Group-backed Astro Pak acquired Clean Sciences, a provider of high-purity cleaning services, in a vertical integration play.
Credit Market & Infrastructure Expansion
Firms are deepening engagement with private credit infrastructure while simultaneously facing scrutiny over liquidity provisions. Apollo Global Management partnered with Intercontinental Exchange, the owner of the NYSE, to develop new data infrastructure specifically targeting the opaque private credit sector, marking a push toward greater transparency tools. Reinforcing its commitment to the asset class, Apollo also hired a former Warburg Pincus executive to spearhead its new $1 billion dedicated private credit fund based in Singapore. Meanwhile, the broader industry faces headwinds regarding investor confidence; a furore over credit contamination could jeopardize private capital’s growing retail investor ambitions, exemplified by another unnamed US pension fund slashing its private equity allocation due to underlying liquidity concerns. However, the APAC region received a needed liquidity injection through a public-to-private transaction involving a public house asset sale.
Platform Expansion & Personnel Appointments
Firms are deploying capital via platform investments and bolstering operational expertise across their investment teams. KKR committed up to $310 million to form a strategic partnership with Allfleet and PMI Electro, aiming to substantially expand the Allfleet logistics platform. In geographical expansion, a Singaporean buyout shop planted its first overseas flag in Hong Kong to bolster both investment activities and critical investor relations functions. On the human capital front, Behrman Capital appointed Eric Smith as an operating partner to advise investment teams and portfolio company executives on management strategy. In a similar move to enhance operational support, Star Mountain tapped George Zahringer as a strategic portfolio partner following his tenure as co-founder of AZ Private Ventures. Separately, Ronin Equity took a minority stake in Aeri Tek Global via a GP-led secondary continuation vehicle, with Partners Capital participating as a new investor.
European Transactions & Secondary Market Moves
European dealmaking continued with specialist sector acquisitions and secondary market activity drawing attention. Oakley Capital earned the Mid-Cap Europe Deal of the Year award for its recent activities. In a related defense sector transaction, ETNA plans to acquire Brolis Defence Group, a manufacturer of high-precision electro-optical systems utilized by NATO defense ministries. The secondary market remains active, evidenced by Ronin Equity’s GP-led deal, while PwC analysts suggest the 2026 IPO market remains constrained, potentially fueling further secondary transactions as GPs seek exit pathways before broader public market accessibility improves. European businesses continue to view the UK as an attractive hub for investment and customer acquisition.