Private Equity 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 17, 2026, 1:30 PM ET
Private Equity Dealmaking & Exits
The exit pipeline continues to present significant challenges for private equity firms, with even assets acquired during less frothy market periods struggling to find buyers, illustrating persistent valuation gaps. This environment contrasts with high-profile deal activity, as Advent and Cinven explore a potential €25 billion divestment of TK Elevator amid takeover discussions involving Kone. Elsewhere, Warburg Pincus is evaluating strategic options for subprime auto lender Exeter Finance, potentially targeting a $3 billion transaction. Furthermore, Seaport successfully exited its holding in tech firm Exacom to Motorola Solutions, while Accel-KKR secured an award for exiting Smart Communications in Europe.
Activity across North America saw several platform expansions and new backing. Kinderhook Industries claimed the PE Hub’s Mid-Cap North America Deal of the Year award, while HIG Capital is reportedly testing the market for its industrial services company, JT Thorpe, whose business model tied to industrial outages should appeal to large-cap buyers. In strategic acquisitions, LFM integrated manufacturer Power Built into its American Automation Group platform, and Knox Lane-backed Ruppert Landscape acquired Landscapes Unlimited to bolster its commercial landscaping services. In the specialized lending sector, NewMile and Haywood Lane provided capital to Wilkerson Crane Rental to fund fleet expansion and strategic M&A.
Sector-specific deal flow showed momentum in infrastructure, industrials, and healthcare. EIG-backed MidOcean Energy secured a $500 million commitment from Japan’s Idemitsu Kosan to accelerate the expansion of its LNG platform. In the industrial cold chain, Sagard-backed Norbec purchased Canadian Curtis, a designer of prefabricated freezer rooms, while PE-backed Technimark added Rage Custom Plastics to its portfolio of engineered injection-molded components. Healthcare saw M&A activity as Hildred-backed SportsMed acquired The Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Center across New Jersey and Connecticut. Furthermore, TPG launched One Aged Care to capitalize on burgeoning demand for elderly healthcare services across Singapore and Malaysia.
Technology & Growth Equity
Discussions surrounding large-scale technology investments are heating up, particularly in the artificial intelligence sector, where TPG, Bain, Brookfield, and Advent are finalizing advanced talks with OpenAI regarding a potential $10 billion enterprise AI venture. This focus on AI investment arrives alongside warnings that the sector’s current funding dynamics could exacerbate existing wealth gaps for women if they remain excluded from leadership and capital access. In European growth equity, Upvest raised $125 million with backing from Tencent and Sapphire Ventures, while Oakley Capital invested in French firm Groupe Senef, leading to a full exit for Isatis Capital.
In software consolidation, Main Capital’s portfolio companies Cisbox and Millum merged to create a broader source-to-pay software provider spanning the DACH and Nordic regions. Meanwhile, Nordic Capital is poised to acquire a majority stake in trade surveillance business Trading Hub, with existing investor Summit Partners retaining a minority share. The specialized vendor onboarding space also saw capital influx, as Candex extended its Series C round to over $40 million to help enterprises streamline payments to global, irregular vendors.
Investor Mandates & Geographic Shifts
Limited Partners are adjusting their mandates amidst evolving market conditions, with the State of Maine planning its second reduction in its private equity allocation target in four years, suggesting potential secondary sales in specific portfolio areas. Geographically, capital flows from the Gulf region may see a redirection, as Middle East investors are reportedly eyeing domestic opportunities instead of US or European targets, according to Andrei Rotaru, head of Middle East PE. In Europe, the issue of sovereignty for fintech firms remains a growing concern for investors, while new venture funds composed of seasoned scaleup executives are attempting to identify Europe’s next decacorn.