Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: March 27, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

Deal Activity & Sector Focus: Tech & Healthcare

Private equity dealmaking continues to show heavy interest in specialized technology and healthcare sectors, even as broader M&A faces geopolitical headwinds. In defense technology, Advent committed capital to Shield AI, with a portion earmarked to finance the firm’s planned acquisition of Sagewind Capital portfolio company Aechelon Technology Inc. Simultaneously, the healthcare space is seeing sector specialists move into adjacent markets; Olympus Partners-backed EyeSouth acquired Aslett-Kurica Eye Center, an Atlanta-based eye-care management services organization. Interest in women’s health remains high, potentially validated by the impending close of Blackstone and TPG’s $18.3 billion take-private of Hologic, suggesting substantial runway for further investment in the segment. In enterprise software, FPE-backed Point74 acquired UK compliance platform Quor to construct a unified food software platform.

AI Investments & Emerging Tech Trends

Venture capital and private equity interest in artificial intelligence remains intense across global hubs, with investors actively seeking the next major breakthrough. In the UK, investors are specifically hunting for 'the next DeepMind' near Oxford amid a burgeoning deeptech ecosystem, while Spanish investors are also tracking 11 specific AI startups showing promise. On the commercial front, the quiet competitor Brahma is forecasting $100 million in revenue, positioning itself against established players like Synthesia. Furthermore, the initial stages of funding are skewing toward larger, more competitive rounds, as Crunchbase data shows that only seed deals valued at $10 million and above experienced growth in the U.S. market during 2025 according to recent analysis.

Exit Activity & Secondary Market Moves

Firms are actively executing profitable exits across consumer and infrastructure assets, while some specialists are exploring the secondary market for liquidity. Advent finalized its exit from OLAPLEX via a $1.4 billion sale to Henkel, capitalizing on accelerated M&A in the premium beauty space. Conversely, healthcare-focused firm Linden mulls a dedicated secondaries strategy, becoming the latest sector specialist to embrace the secondary market. In infrastructure, Clearlake Capital purchased Qualus from New Mountain, providing a significant payout for employees of Cool IT Technologies following KKR’s exit. In the airport sector, Audax and Greenbriar divested AGI to Lone Star, concluding their co-investment period that began in June 2021.

Geographic Focus & Fundraising Dynamics

Geographic strategies are proving differentiated, with Middle Eastern capital playing an increasingly active role in backing global deals, even as regional conflicts pressure certain sectors. Managers who commit deeply to the Middle East market are expected to see better fundraising success, a trend supported by Blackstone committing $250 million to a UAE payments platform as part of a $1 billion regional bet. In Europe, Alterra backed General Atlantic’s investment in Wireless Logic, reinforcing Middle East involvement in European technology assets. Despite pressures on beauty M&A due to regional conflict, Sun European acquired B&H Worldwide, a Heathrow-based logistics firm specializing in aerospace components, following its investment in a similar logistics business Sun European invested in Heathrow-based logistics.

Financing, Portfolio Management, and Investor Relations

Firms are seeking specialized financing solutions and deploying technology to manage investor relationships amid operational friction. Bain Capital secured a A$430 million loan, equivalent to approximately $300 million, to finance its acquisition of an Australian wealth management firm. Meanwhile, the administrative side of private equity is seeing technological integration, with anecdotal evidence suggesting that AI agents are already influencing investor relations. This technological shift comes as embattled software portfolios face a looming maturity wall, forcing GPs to navigate friction in the fund finance process. In portfolio management, Terminus Capital invested in insurtech firm Andesa, intending to bolster application development under new majority ownership.

Ancillary Deals and Talent Pipeline

Beyond large buyouts, add-on acquisitions continue across various services platforms, while new tech cohorts are emerging. Trinity Hunt-backed Allvia acquired workforce services platform HR Pals, and Sovereign-backed Affinia made an add-on acquisition following its initial investment in LB Group in May 2023. In sports investment, Synergy Sports Capital acquired League One Volleyball Salt Lake, a professional youth league. On the talent front, Bank of America launched a Private Capital M&A unit specifically designed to unlock private equity exits for clients. Finally, the pipeline for future deals remains active, evidenced by the wide array of innovations presented at YC W26 Demo Day, featuring 16 interesting startups ranging from humanoid robot training to tools addressing doomscrolling habits.