Private Equity 24 Hours

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

Private Equity Strategy and Exits

The private equity sector is navigating a profound shift away from the cheap-debt, high-multiple era, embracing a new standard where investment hold periods stretch to “12 is the new,” emphasizing operational substance over financial engineering. This strategic re-calibration is evident in recent exit activity, where Advent is preparing to sell its entire stake in hair care brand Olaplex to Henkel for $1.4 billion, which will see the company delisted from Nasdaq upon closing. Concurrently, dealmaking momentum continues, with HIG Capital agreeing to divest its Brazilian internet service provider to Claro for approximately $750 million, while in a move expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, Advent will invest in the engineering and consulting firm Atwell, signaling continued appetite for specialized industrial services.

Sector Focus: Healthcare and Technology

Dealmakers are increasingly targeting specific high-growth niches, particularly in healthcare, where Kearney’s Paula Bellostas Muguerza pointed to a "$1 trillion gap" driving interest in women’s health, alongside active pursuit of pathology assets by firms including Astorg, Cinven, and Nordic Capital currently being pursued in that area. In the technology space, corporate buyers are active, as evidenced by SAP’s forthcoming acquisition of New View Capital-backed Reltio, which is slated to finalize in the second or third quarter of 2026. Meanwhile, LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group, finalized its exit from occupational health provider PAM Healthcare to Optima Healthcare, underscoring the dynamic nature of exits in the consumer health segment shaped by GLP-1 and preventative products.

Venture Capital Surge and Geographic Hotspots

The broader venture capital environment shows pockets of intense activity, exemplified by Austin, Texas, where funding for startups reached an all-time high for the city, confirming the strength of the Lone Star State’s capital market. Globally, massive capital injections continue to define the top tier of financing, highlighted by OpenAI disclosing a further $10 billion raise, which led the week’s large funding rounds alongside other significant infusions into AI and defense-related growth-stage companies. This investment wave is mirrored in focused European tech hubs, where investors are actively seeking the “next DeepMind in Oxford” amid a deeptech boom, and Spanish investors are closely watching 11 local AI startups for future growth potential.

Talent Shifts and Credit Market Activity

In response to the shifting market dynamics and reduced deal volume, some firms are undergoing internal adjustments, such as Speedinvest, which announced a 10% staff reduction following a recent period of internal churn. Simultaneously, sophisticated financing arms are expanding their capabilities, with Evercore bolstering its Europe-based credit secondaries team by hiring four professionals, including two new arrivals from PJT. Further evidence of deepening activity in private credit markets comes from Bonaccord making a minority investment in the commercial real estate credit platform Prime Finance, a move intended to strengthen its balance sheet and expand its platform infrastructure.

The Intersection of AI and Operational Value

As firms move past mere hype, the focus in technology investing is squarely on realizing tangible operational value through artificial intelligence integration, a theme central to understanding how companies are successfully scaling with AI. This search for demonstrable impact is filtering down to emerging players, such as Brahma, a Synthesia rival, which is forecasting $100 million in revenue by leveraging generative AI capabilities. Even in the early-stage incubator environment, the latest cohorts are pushing boundaries, with 16 startups from YC W26 Demo Day showcasing novel applications ranging from addressing doomscrolling to advancing humanoid robot training.