Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: March 26, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

Dealmaking & Exits: Sector Focus

Private equity dealmaking remains active across specialized sectors, though some areas face headwinds; Advent exited OLAPLEX selling the premium beauty brand to Henkel in a transaction valued at $1.4 billion, coinciding with reports that M&A in the beauty sector faces pressure from Middle East conflict PE dealmaking in beauty under pressure. Concurrently, firms continue to pursue niche technology plays, with Clearlake Capital acquiring Qualus from New Mountain amid rising power demand, an exit that provided a payout for Cool IT Technologies employees following KKR’s earlier investment. In other transactions, Audax and Greenbriar co-sold airport services firm AGI to Lone Star after acquiring it in mid-2021, while Sun European invested in B&H Worldwide, a logistics firm specializing in aerospace components, indicating continued M&A in aerospace support services Sun European buys Heathrow-based logistics biz.

Healthcare & Life Sciences Transactions

The healthcare vertical shows significant PE interest, particularly in specialized care and women’s health; Olympus Partners-backed EyeSouth acquired Aslett-Kurica Eye Center, furthering consolidation for the Atlanta-based eye-care management services organization. Meanwhile, buy-out firms view women’s health as highly investable, citing the impending closure of Blackstone and TPG’s $18.3 billion take-private of Hologic as a market indicator. Elsewhere, Trinity Hunt-backed Allvia expanded its workforce services platform by snapping up HR Pals, and Sovereign-backed Affinia made an add-on acquisition following its initial investment in the founding firm, LB Group, in May 2023.

Technology & Software Consolidation

Software portfolio companies are beginning to hit maturity walls, prompting strategic moves, as demonstrated by FPE’s investment in Point74 which acquired compliance platform Quor to build the UK’s first unified food software platform. In the insurtech space, Terminus Capital took a majority stake in Andesa, planning to bolster application development and administrative tool scalability. Separately, the defense technology sector saw Advent commit capital to Shield AI, with a portion of the proceeds earmarked to finance Shield AI’s planned purchase of Sagewind Capital portfolio company Aechelon Technology Inc.

Geographic Focus & Fundraising Trends

Global investment strategies are increasingly featuring the Middle East, with Alterra backing General Atlantic’s investment in Wireless Logic as Middle East investment activity continues apace. This regional focus is also evident in the UAE, where Blackstone committed $250 million to Advanced Digital Gaming Technology as part of a broader $1 billion regional bet, despite geopolitical tensions. For General Partners targeting the Gulf region, success hinges on managers who double down on regional commitments and closely serve investor needs. In the UK, while London remains a focus, other regions are proving highly investable It isn’t just London calling, even as early-stage funding dynamics shift, with seed rounds skewing larger toward $10 million and above Seed Funding Hasn’t Stalled.

Firm Strategy & Market Infrastructure

Firms are actively adapting their strategies to market conditions, including exploring secondary markets; Chicago-based healthcare specialist Linden mulls entering the secondaries market, joining a trend among sector-specific buyout firms. Financing aspects of the private capital ecosystem are also evolving, with anecdotes suggesting AI is already playing a larger role in investor relations An anecdote on how AI is already playing, while traditional fund finance processes are experiencing friction. To facilitate liquidity and exits, Bank of America launched a Private Capital M&A Group specifically to unlock PE exits. Furthermore, Bain Capital secured a A$430 million loan, equivalent to approximately $300 million, to finance its acquisition of an Australian wealth management firm.

Venture & Early Stage Insights

While established PE looks to mature assets, the venture ecosystem continues to generate novel concepts; a recent Y Combinator Demo Day showcased 16 compelling startups, ranging from tools redirecting doomscrolling to firms focused on training humanoid robots 16 of the most interesting startups. This innovation pipeline is monitored closely by deeptech investors, identified as being particularly active in 2025 These were the most active deeptech investors. Separately, insights from tech giants reveal avenues for collaboration, with OpenAI’s Laura Modiano discussing how startups can best partner with the tech giant through mechanisms like hackathons.