Private Equity 8-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 15, 2026, 6:30 PM ET
Major Technology Acquisitions
Google's largest acquisition ever at $32 billion for cybersecurity firm Wiz marks a dramatic shift in Big Tech's M&A strategy, according to Shardul Shah of Index Ventures. The deal, which values Wiz at a premium of 60% over its last private valuation, signals heightened competition in cloud security as enterprise demand for AI-driven threat detection surges. Industry analysts note this is the first time Google has acquired a unicorn at such a premium since its 2022 Mandiant purchase.
Private Equity Infrastructure Expansion
Blackstone secured $1.2 billion in financing to back Air Trunk's expansion into Japanese data centers, part of a broader push by private equity into AI infrastructure assets across Asia-Pacific. The credit facility, arranged with major banks including Morgan Stanley, will fund construction of facilities designed to support AI workloads for hyperscale clients. This follows similar moves by KKR and Carlyle into the region's data center market, which is projected to grow 18% annually through 2028.
Venture Capital Activity
Index Ventures' Shardul Shah, who led the Wiz investment, revealed that the cybersecurity startup's revenue grew 300% year-over-year before the Google acquisition, driven by enterprise demand for zero-trust architecture. The firm's portfolio now includes 15 cybersecurity companies, with total AUM exceeding $15 billion. Meanwhile, Sequoia Capital announced a $500 million fund targeting early-stage AI infrastructure companies, focusing on startups building foundational models and specialized hardware.
Private Equity Market Trends
Private equity deal volume fell 12% in Q1 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to Pitch Book data, as higher interest rates and geopolitical uncertainty dampened leveraged buyout activity. However, dry powder remains at record levels of $2.59 trillion, with firms increasingly targeting distressed assets and secondary buyouts. The healthcare and technology sectors continue to attract the most capital, accounting for 42% of total PE investments in the quarter.