Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: March 31, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

Deal Activity & Exits

Private equity dealmaking saw a flurry of activity across sectors, notably in wealth management and infrastructure, as Carlyle agreed to acquire a majority stake in MAI Capital Management, valuing the wealth platform at over $2.8 billion. Elsewhere, HGGC sold its Planet Fitness franchisee, Grand Fitness Partners, to Flynn Group, marking the exit of Monogram Capital Partners who was the prior majority owner before the 2021 investment. In European exits, Maven successfully sold AccessPay to Accel-KKR, a software firm specializing in connecting back-office finance systems to banks. Furthermore, Aurelius is preparing to divest its LSG Asia-Pacific airline catering business, which it acquired from Deutsche Lufthansa in 2023.

Sector-Specific Investments

Targeted growth investments expanded into specialized service providers and technology platforms. Oak Hill finalized its buyout of internet provider Hunter Communications, where Michael Wynschenk remains CEO, while Quad-C injected capital into independent medical exam provider Dane Street, with CEO Greg Powers staying in his leadership role. In the software space, TA Associates backed iBase-t, providing capital to scale the company's AI-driven manufacturing capabilities in aerospace and defence. Separately, Ambienta invested in Bridge, a producer of plant-based dairy alternatives.

Technology & Valuation Milestones

The technology sector continued to attract substantial capital, particularly areas intersecting with artificial intelligence. Wearable fitness technology provider Whoop secured $575 million in Series G funding, pushing its valuation to $10.1 billion. This rapid valuation growth mirrors broader trends, as the largest seed rounds over the last six months heavily favor AI companies operating at the nexus of computation and the physical world. In Europe, credit data startup 9fin was crowned a unicorn following a $170 million capital raise, signalling investor appetite for AI-native fintech solutions.

Credit, Secondaries, and Fund Financing

The private credit market demonstrated strong demand for liquidity solutions, with 17Capital closing its Credit Fund 2 at a record $7.5 billion for Net Asset Value (NAV) loans, reflecting accelerating financing demand. Demonstrating internal liquidity mechanisms, Ares spearheaded a $1.7 billion continuation vehicle for Antares, aiming to unlock private credit assets. In the secondary market, Palico is lowering fees to 5 basis points for transactions exceeding $50 million, signaling a drive to attract larger fund sales on its LP-led marketplace. Meanwhile, Dawson secured over $800 million for its latest GP financing strategy, surpassing its $500 million target.

Corporate Development & Personnel Changes

Firms continued to expand their operational footprints through acquisitions and internal promotions. Investcorp-backed Resultant acquired Liberty Advisor Group, a consulting firm serving PE firms, as part of its strategy to execute one to two add-on deals annually. In the infrastructure arena, Blackstone-backed Mundys is moving to secure a near 30% stake in Getlink amid its ongoing infrastructure investment push. Personnel movements included Angeles Equity Partners appointing Derek Rush as Vice President to focus on industrials sector investments, and Lime Rock promoting Jeffrey Scofield to President alongside Dylan Blackford to Managing Director.

Exits and Strategic Reviews

Sponsors are actively exploring exit pathways amid market conditions. Advent and Cinven are weighing either an Initial Public Offering or a sale for TK Elevator, amid external speculation regarding a potential deal with Kone. In strategic portfolio management, Blackstone agreed to sell its Fidere residential housing portfolio in Spain to Brookfield Asset Management for $1.4 billion. Conversely, Leonard Green is planning the $29.1 billion sale of Jetro Restaurant Depot, which services over 725,000 independent restaurants, to Sysco.

Infrastructure & Support Services

The fire and security sector saw multiple transactions, indicating consolidation pressure. Inflexion moved to acquire fire protection firm Marioff, a provider of high-pressure water mist suppression systems, while Hyperion-backed Ranger Fire and Security purchased Total Fire Group, strengthening its presence in the UK and Ireland. In the data and engineering services space, Hg is set to sell Geomatikk to Axcel, a company that digitizes infrastructure management. Furthermore, Fortress acquired bankruptcy services firm Omni Agent Solutions to fund technology development and scale core services.