Private Equity 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 19, 2026, 2:30 PM ET
Dealmaking & Exits
Major European buyout firms are moving on significant exits, with CVC and Nordic Capital exploring options for Cary Group that could yield an enterprise valuation exceeding €3 billion. In adjacent activity, Permira is preparing to exit its stake in Altamar CAM, a global private markets investment firm managing €20 billion in assets, by selling to Mercer. These moves come as portfolio companies face extended holding periods across the board, with HVAC companies Audax and Keystone reportedly seeking buyers while Pophouse Entertainment simultaneously acquired the music interests of Tina Turner snagging the icon's catalog and partnering with BMG.
Sector Activity & Investments
Activity across US healthcare and infrastructure remains strong, exemplified by LS Power agreeing to acquire 4.4 gigawatts of natural gas generation capacity from Constellation Energy for a substantial $5 billion. In the health tech space, Blackstone-backed Chartis acquired Chicago-based healthcare advisor Leap AI, while in the life sciences segment, a merger between B-Flexion Life Sciences-backed Paratek and Radius Health was financed by a reported $1.3 billion credit facility arranged by Sixth Street. Further afield, ICG is backing railway maintenance provider Comcreta to support expansion amid increased investment in Italian rail infrastructure.
Secondaries Market Dynamics
The secondaries market is showing a discernible shift in focus away from technology, as investment bankers observe less interest in tech-heavy portfolios reacting to recent market disruptions. This preference change is driving demand for other asset classes, even as certain GPs demonstrate highly disciplined selling behavior; secondaries players are bringing sales to market with a more methodical approach than typical limited partners. Reflecting this evolving strategy, Bindley Capital-backed Guardian Pharmacy Services priced a specialized ‘synthetic secondary’ offering, while HighVista Strategies appointed a new head to launch a GP-led secondaries strategy focused specifically on the lower middle market.
Fundraising & Capital Deployment
Global capital deployment continues, with development banks actively supporting regional funds; the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development committed $40 million toward the Templeton Türkiye Private Equity Fund, which is targeting a total raise of $300 million. In Europe, the need for mid-market capital is being met through specialized vehicles, as Ares led continuation vehicles for two different European mid-market assets: one for Fremman’s nursery operator Kids Planet exceeding £400 million, and another for MCH raising €300 million for a frozen baked goods asset. Furthermore, BNP Paribas Asset Management Alts invested in Farm Carbon, a climate-focused vehicle aiming to scale methane reduction efforts within the agricultural sector.
Venture Capital & Startup Ecosystems
While established buyout firms navigate exits, venture capital remains focused on AI and specialized tech, with Index backing Parallel in a $20 million Series A to deploy AI agents within hospital systems. Separately, Palantir veterans are launching Edra with $30 million secured, including backing from Sequoia, to automate operational data workflows. The broader UK and Irish startup scene faces external pressures, as a recent survey suggests one in five UK founders plan to emigrate within the next year, even as areas like ‘revenuemaxxing’ drive growth in certain startups ranking among the fastest-growing. Regulatory bodies are also attempting to streamline support, with Innovate UK seeking to simplify engagement for companies wishing to collaborate with them.
Tax & Governance Considerations
For general partners, proactive estate planning involving carried interest is becoming an increasingly important factor in wealth management, as CPAs advise that gifting a portion of carried interest early can effectively exclude future appreciation from the GP’s taxable estate. On the governance front, despite headlines suggesting LPs are pivoting away from direct investing, this trend is not fully borne out in practice, as high-profile shifts do not reflect a reduced willingness among limited partners to engage in co-investing opportunities. Finally, portfolio management requires clear metrics, as experts argue that many AI initiatives fail because firms must measure tangible business outputs rather than merely discussing AI pilot programs.