Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: March 26, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

Dealmaking Activity Heats Up Across Sectors

Private equity deal flow remained active across specialized technology and infrastructure plays, with Clearlake Capital agreeing to acquire Qualus from New Mountain Capital amid soaring power demand, a transaction which also provided KKR-backed CoolIT Technologies employees with a substantial payout upon exit. In software consolidation, FPE-backed Point74 acquired compliance platform Quor to forge the UK’s first unified food software offering, while Terminus Capital took a majority stake in insurtech firm Andesa to bolster its administrative tool scalability. Elsewhere, Advent committed capital to defense technology firm Shield AI, with a portion earmarked to fund Shield AI’s subsequent acquisition of Sagewind Capital’s portfolio company, Aechelon Technology Inc.

Exits and Capital Movements Bolster Returns

Firms realized substantial exits in consumer and services verticals, as Advent completed the sale of premium beauty brand OLAPLEX to Henkel for $1.4 billion, reflecting accelerated M&A activity in high-end cosmetics despite geopolitical headwinds noted by legal counsel BCLP. In the consulting space, TowerBrook concluded a continuation fund for business consulting firm EisnerAmper, with Carlyle Alp Invest spearheading the transaction alongside co-lead Hamilton Lane. In infrastructure services, Audax and Greenbriar jointly sold airport services provider AGI to Lone Star, marking the exit from a co-investment made in June 2021.

Geographic Focus and Financing Trends

Middle Eastern capital continued to fuel cross-border activity, demonstrated by Alterra backing investment in European IoT firm Wireless Logic, signaling sustained interest in the region’s deployment of capital. Simultaneously, firms were securing significant debt facilities to finance acquisitions; Bain Capital secured an A$430 million loan, approximating $300 million, to support its purchase of an Australian wealth management business, while Blackstone committed $250 million as part of a broader $1 billion bet on a UAE payments platform. Furthermore, Bank of America launched a specialized Private Capital M&A Group aimed at unlocking private equity exits, addressing the growing need for exit facilitation in the current environment.

Software Portfolio Management and Sector Add-ons

Portfolio companies are actively expanding through bolt-on acquisitions, as seen with Trinity Hunt-backed Allvia snapping up to deepen its US workforce services platform, and Sovereign-backed Affinia making an add-on following its initial investment in the founding firm, LB Group, during May 2023. In the logistics sector, Sun European invested in B&H Worldwide, a Heathrow-based firm specializing in aerospace component management, consolidating holdings in aviation logistics. On the technology front, anecdotal evidence suggests that software portfolios face an impending maturity wall, while GPs are simultaneously navigating friction in the fund finance process, even as AI begins playing a larger role in investor relations functions.

Venture Capital Dynamics and Sector Bets

While seed funding has not entirely stalled, data indicates a skew toward larger, more competitive raises, with only rounds exceeding $10 million demonstrating growth in deal volume in the US market, according to Crunchbase data. In specialized markets, VITL secured $7.5 million to enhance its e-prescribing marketplace targeting the burgeoning GLP-1 cash-pay clinic sector, while AI notetaking startup Granola achieved unicorn status following a $125 million Series C fundraising round. In sports investment, Synergy Sports Capital acquired, a US professional youth league, indicating private capital appetite for niche sports properties.