Private Equity 8-Hour Briefing

Last updated: March 18, 2026, 6:30 AM ET

Asia-Pacific Private Equity Expansion & Hiring

Apollo Global Management has made its inaugural dedicated hire for its $1 billion private credit strategy in Singapore, bringing on a former Warburg Pincus executive as the firm deepens its commitment to Asian debt markets. This move mirrors a broader trend of regional expansion, as evidenced by a Singaporean buyout shop establishing its first overseas office in Hong Kong to bolster investment support and investor relations capabilities. These actions signal heightened activity in Asia-Pacific, contrasting with domestic personnel shifts in Australia, where the Future Fund lost two senior leaders managing its private equity and real assets portfolios.

European Venture & Market Dynamics

European businesses are finding success by leveraging the UK as an amazing hub for both investors and customers, according to recent analysis focused on cross-border growth. Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions are driving investment focus in specific defense sectors; the Iran war has put European air defense startups into the spotlight, as industry observers point to an "impossible to ignore" capability gap. In the domestic venture scene, Healf, a wellbeing marketplace, topped Sifted's latest UK and Ireland leaderboard, while Alma's CEO, Louis Chatriot, discussed the need for founders to make "hard choices" and dismissed startup hype as "bullshit" during a recent interview.