Private Equity 8-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 18, 2026, 7:30 AM ET
European Dealmaking & Fund Activity
Ares Management structured a €300 million continuation fund for Europastry following the portfolio company’s aborted initial public offering, a maneuver designed to allow MCH Private Equity to maintain control over the asset. Separately, Oakley Capital secured the Mid-Cap Europe Deal of the Year award from PE Hub, coinciding with news that its portfolio company, ETNA, is with the acquisition of Brolis Defence Group, a manufacturer of high-precision electro-optical systems crucial for European and NATO defense applications ETNA to acquire Brolis Defence Group. This activity in the defense technology sector appears timely, as the Iran war has brought Europe’s air defense startup capabilities into sharp focus, with industry experts citing an "impossible to ignore" capability gap Iran war puts Europe’s air defence startups in the spotlight.
Asia Expansion & Credit Markets
Apollo Global Management has made its inaugural dedicated hire for its planned $1 billion Singapore private credit fund, recruiting an executive from Warburg Pincus to anchor the new strategic venture in Asia. This push into regional credit markets follows a trend of international expansion, as a Singaporean buyout shop recently planted its first overseas flag in Hong Kong, intending the new office to bolster investment activities and investor relations capabilities Singaporean buyout shop plants first overseas flag in HK. Meanwhile, European businesses continue to view the UK as an attractive operational base, leveraging its infrastructure as an "amazing hub for investors and customers" despite post-Brexit complexities ‘An amazing hub for investors and customers’.
Venture Capital Scrutiny & Market Leaders
The current climate is forcing founders to confront harsh realities, with Alma CEO Louis Chatriot speaking frankly about "hard choices" and dismissing startup hype as "bullshit" in the face of tighter funding conditions Bluffing! Deception! Murder!. This increased skepticism arises even as some digital marketplaces demonstrate significant growth; for instance, the wellbeing platform Healf recently topped Sifted’s third UK and Ireland leaderboard, signaling where capital is currently flowing within the venture ecosystem Wellbeing marketplace Healf tops Sifted’s third UK and Ireland leaderboard. This contrasts sharply with the more established private equity environment where continuation funds are being deployed to manage asset ownership through market volatility Ares drives €300m continuation fund for Europastry.