Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: March 24, 2026, 10:30 AM ET

Dealmaking Activity and Exits

Private equity firms are actively pursuing exits and new acquisitions across various sectors, though some public market actions are meeting resistance. Advent exited a £46 million stake in customer review platform Trustpilot, an action that coincided with a sharp decline in the company’s share price following the discounted sale. In contrast, Blackstone is looking to crystallize value from its recent Paris real estate purchases, appointing agents to market a portfolio of Parisian apartments, targeting a €100 million disposal from its larger €700 million acquisition. Meanwhile, GI Partners is reportedly advancing sale discussions for American Residential Services, a process that could value the business at approximately $3.5 billion. Further exits are materializing in Europe, where Francisco Partners agreed to sell music publisher Kobalt to Brookfield-backed Primary Wave.

Sector-Specific Transactions and Mandates

Activity remains high in specialized technology and services, with several firms deploying capital into niche platforms. Turnspire Capital Partners is preparing to collect first-round bids in mid-April for its portfolio company, USG Water Solutions, a municipal water utility service provider, signaling strong mid-market interest in essential infrastructure assets. In the software space, Main Capital invested in Gingco Systems, a developer of modular enterprise resource management software for intelligent workplaces. Defense and government technology saw movement as Arlington Capital announced its intent to acquire Eptec Defence, a specialist in naval and defense preservation services. Elsewhere, Princeton Equity Group provided backing to Kid Strong, an education program provider that has expanded to 184 centers supporting over 85,000 members across the US and Canada since beginning franchising in 2019.

Infrastructure and Energy Investments

Infrastructure funds are focusing on energy assets, particularly in the Gulf region and North America. Private equity and infrastructure investors are showing sustained interest in Gulf energy, with targets set for a $7 billion Kuwait pipeline deal as regional energy transactions move forward. In the US, Hull Street plans to acquire two power plants from Rockland, specifically securing the natural gas turbine facility Lee County Generating Station in Illinois and the dual-fuel Tait Electric Generating Station in Ohio. In the agribusiness sector, Generate Capital executed a divestiture, selling greenhouse operator Equinox Growers to Taylor Farms, supporting regional food supply chains.

European Activity and Consolidation

European markets are seeing both major carve-outs and strategic bolt-on acquisitions, alongside regulatory shifts impacting portfolio management. In the Nordics, Altor has agreed to terms to purchase Eltera, an electrical installation services provider, from Valedo. This transaction follows regulatory scrutiny, as the UK's Competition and Markets Authority finalized reforms for the pet care industry, which will impact private equity ownership in that space. In the race for large-scale industrial assets, Apollo Global Management and Bain Capital are reportedly leading the bidding competition against other interested parties for Continental's Conti Tech industrial unit, a deal potentially valued around €4 billion.

Talent, Secondaries, and Market Overhang

Liquidity mechanisms and talent acquisition are key operational concerns for general partners across the globe. The Asia-Pacific region faces a persistent challenge, as the number of portfolio companies held for over five years increased by 18% in 2025, suggesting slow exit velocity according to a recent Bain & Co report. In the secondaries market, the University of California system is testing investor appetite by shopping a $3 billion LP portfolio as it seeks liquidity. Furthermore, AI concerns are reportedly disrupting some secondaries processes generally are reportedly generally. On the talent front, specialized firms are making key hires; O2 tapped Rob Hays as its new Investor Relations head, bringing in experience from his previous role as a managing director at Clean Bridge Securities.

Technology and Fintech Focus

Investment in technology remains skewed towards AI infrastructure and specialized enterprise software, though overall US startup funding slowed in March due to fewer large AI rounds. Blue Fire Equity, which recently made its first platform investment in Jovian Concepts, emphasizes a specialization in defense and government technology. Meanwhile, in the realm of specialized enterprise software, Southfield has taken a stake in recruitment firm Metric Search, which services the medtech, life sciences, and data center sectors. On the public investment front, Blackstone is assessing a potential $200 million to $300 million investment in the Indian Premier League, marking a potential first foray into sports assets. Finally, in the UK, wealth managers are prioritizing specialized asset leadership, as Aware Super appointed Alex Satchcroft to lead its $11 billion private equity portfolio.