Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: March 27, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

Sector Focus: Healthcare & Life Sciences

Private equity activity in healthcare remains concentrated, with several firms pursuing pathology assets, including Astorg, Cinven, and Nordic Capital, signaling continued interest in specialized diagnostics. This focus on high-margin medical services follows recent large transactions; for instance, LDC completed its exit from occupational health provider PAM Healthcare to Optima Healthcare, even as consumer health dealmaking is being shaped by the GLP-1 weight-loss drug phenomenon and preventative care trends. Separately, the sector is seeing growth in specialized platforms, demonstrated by Olympus Partners-backed EyeSouth acquiring Aslett-Kurica Eye Center to bolster its management services organization focused on eye care in the Atlanta region. Furthermore, women's health is highlighted as a particularly attractive area for investment, with Kearney pointing to the pending $18.3 billion take-private of Hologic by Blackstone and TPG as a bellwether for future deal flow.

Technology & Defense Investments

Dealmaking in technology continues to be driven by infrastructure and specialized software, as evidenced by Clearlake Capital acquiring Qualus from New Mountain Capital amid surging power demand, a transaction that simultaneously provided a "handsome payout" for employees of KKR-backed Cool IT Technologies upon its exit. In the defense technology space, Advent committed capital to Shield AI, with a portion of the investment earmarked to finance the firm’s acquisition of Aechelon Technology Inc., a portfolio company previously held by Sagewind Capital. Meanwhile, software consolidation is occurring in niche markets; FPE-backed Point74 bought Quor to establish the UK’s first unified food software platform, integrating Quor's compliance capabilities. In the broader software ecosystem, investors are grappling with an approaching "maturity wall" for embattled software portfolios, according to one market observer, while AI interest remains fierce, especially in European hubs like Oxford where investors are hunting for the next DeepMind.

Platform Building & Geographic Expansion

Firms are actively building out platform companies across various sectors, including a minority investment by Bonaccord in Prime Finance to strengthen the commercial real estate credit platform's balance sheet and expand its offerings. In the specialized services realm, Terminus Capital took a majority stake in insurtech firm Andesa to fund continued application development and enhance administrative tool scalability. The sports investment vertical saw Synergy Sports Capital snapping up League One Volleyball Salt Lake, a US professional youth league, suggesting an appetite for controlling stakes in growing amateur sports ecosystems. Looking geographically, managers who commit to the Middle East and cater to local investor needs have a better chance of success in that region’s fundraising environment, where a "fundraising oasis awaits" dedicated GPs according to market commentary.

Secondaries and European Tech Trends

The trend of established general partners entering the less liquid secondaries market continues, with Chicago-based healthcare specialist Linden mulling a secondaries strategy as more buyout firms seek liquidity solutions. In European technology, startup ecosystems are showing resilience and specialized growth; for example, Austin, Texas, saw its startup funding hit an all-time high despite broader market concerns, reinforcing the city’s status as a venture hub. Spanish investors are tracking 11 local AI startups, while in the UK, investors are keenly watching companies like Brahma, a Synthesia rival forecasting $100 million in revenue. Furthermore, geopolitical events, such as the conflict in Iran, are potentially influencing investment theses, with some analysts suggesting the situation could boost Europe’s climate startups. Separately, the increasing role of technology in back-office functions is evident in investor relations, where AI tools are already playing a greater role in managing communications as noted in a recent side letter.