Private Equity 8-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 18, 2026, 12:30 PM ET
Dealmaking and Exits Dominate Headlines
Activity across the private equity spectrum showed a mix of major exit preparation and strategic bolt-on acquisitions. KKR, Silver Lake, and General Atlantic are reportedly preparing for partial exits as Reliance Jio advances plans for a $4 billion initial public offering, testing investor appetite for large-scale tech listings. Separately, TDR Capital and I Squared Capital are exploring options for a potential $15 billion IPO of Aggreko, or a direct stake sale, signaling high valuation targets for energy infrastructure assets. In contrast, deal volume shows the continued appetite for smaller, strategic purchases: PE-backed Tech24 successfully acquired Pacific Standard Service, a commercial foodservice equipment repair firm, while Truelink-backed SouthernCarlson strengthened its construction supply distribution platform by purchasing Greenwald Supply Direct.
Continuation Funds and Award Winners
The trend of GP-led secondary transactions continues to gain traction, particularly when primary IPO routes are complicated. Following an aborted listing, Ares Management successfully drove a €300 million continuation fund for Europastry, which supports MCH Private Equity’s strategy for the premium frozen baked goods company. This activity contrasts with recognized successes in smaller markets, where HIG Capital secured PE Hub’s Small-Cap North America Deal of the Year award for its Koozie exit, and Ronin Equity completed a GP-led secondary deal for AeriTek, which also featured new backing from Partners Capital in a continuation vehicle for AeriTek Global. Meanwhile, in Europe, Oakley Capital was recognized with the Mid-Cap Deal of the Year award while its portfolio company, ETNA, moved to acquire defense technology developer Brolis Defence Group.
Sector Focus: Climate Tech and AI Investment
Growth equity investors are channeling capital into sustainability and deep technology, often targeting specialized B2B services. Idealist, alongside the Canada Growth Fund, spearheaded a C$50 million investment into Solugen, a sustainable agriculture company, signaling strong institutional interest in agricultural decarbonization. In climate tech, Bain Capital made a growth investment into Duravent Group, an existing portfolio company previously backed by Egeria. On the AI front, Sequen secured $16 million in Series A funding to deploy its proprietary AI ranking and personalization technology across broader consumer businesses. Further bolstering climate-related infrastructure, EQT and the World Bank collectively backed Candela with €30 million to finance the global rollout of its electric watercraft platform.
Personnel Moves and Infrastructure Focus
Firms are actively building out specialized teams to manage increasingly complex credit and international mandates. Apollo Global Management hired a former Warburg Pincus executive to staff its new $1 billion Singapore private credit fund, while simultaneously partnering with NYSE owner Intercontinental Exchange to construct new private credit data infrastructure. In response to growing mandates, UK’s Border to Coast pension pool finalized its alternatives leadership by hiring a lead Portfolio Manager focused on PE, credit, and climate as its total asset pool nears £110 billion. Further expanding their operational depth, Behrman Capital appointed Eric Smith as an operating partner to advise on operational matters, and Kain Capital added Sameer Mathur as a partner. On the geographic expansion front, one Singaporean buyout shop planted its first overseas flag in Hong Kong to support investor relations and investment activities.
Liquidity Concerns and Fintech Funding
Underlying market concerns about liquidity are influencing pension allocations and prompting new financing structures. Reports suggest a US pension fund has deliberately slashed its private equity allocation due to lingering liquidity concerns, even as the APAC region receives a much-needed liquidity boost from public pension sources. These liquidity dynamics are influencing deal timing, with PwC suggesting uncertainty over the 2026 IPO outlook while noting a secondary boom is underway. In fintech, Warburg Pincus is with its investment in TheGuarantors, expected to close by the end of Q2 2026. Meanwhile, a separate startup, online funeral planning platform Meadow Memorials, raised a $9 million Series A led by Lachy Groom and Haystack.