Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: April 10, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

Private Equity Fundraising & Credit Markets

Activity in private credit remains strong, evidenced by Blackstone securing $10 billion for its newest opportunistic credit vehicle, capitalizing on persistent investor demand to deploy capital amid current market volatility. This continued appetite for debt solutions contrasts with movements in the structured credit secondary market, where Arcmont’s Ares-led $2.5 billion vehicle is reportedly hitting the "absolute sweet spot," with CEO Anthony Fobel noting an enormous benefit to the growing credit secondaries space and an openness to dealing with traditional competitors. Furthermore, major asset owners are actively managing portfolios; China’s Ping An Insurance is exploring a secondaries process for a circa $1 billion portfolio, marking the sixth instance the insurer has attempted such a sale, suggesting a strategic shift in asset allocation among large institutional LPs.

Sector-Specific Acquisitions & Exits

The middle-market M&A scene saw several targeted transactions across specialized sectors. Sterling acquiring Healthcare Linen Services Group from York Private Equity demonstrates continued PE interest in essential business services, while in the medical technology space, Avista purchased Bentech Medical from Greyrock and Hermitage Equity Partners. The personal care sector is also attracting attention, with firms like Advent, Round Table, and Gemspring gaining traction by focusing on brands building direct consumer relationships. Meanwhile, in the healthcare field, following Blackstone and TPG’s recent take-private of medtech developer Hologic, Advent and Avista are betting on women’s health, a segment viewed as underinvested by private capital.

Dealmaking in Tech, Defense, and Infrastructure

Consolidation continued across technology and infrastructure, often involving minority stakes or strategic add-ons. Blackstone taking a minority stake in Rowan Digital Infrastructure, which is already backed by Quinbrook, signals ongoing private equity focus on data center assets. In the defense sector, Madison Dearborn-backed Aevex, a drone provider based in Solana Beach, California, has set its initial public offering pricing terms, signaling a potential exit path for its backers. Elsewhere, platform companies expanded their footprint: Gryphon-backed Caylent, an Amazon Web Services partner, acquired tech firm Pronetx, while Granite Creek-backed Salem One, a direct marketing agency, purchased brand development agency Smash Brand.

European Tech Funding & Public Market Activity

European technology financing showed signs of strengthening, with the region minting the highest number of $1 billion-plus startups in four years, indicating a mature private funding environment despite overall deal volume shifts. This contrasts with global fintech trends where, as of early April 2026, total venture funding reached $12 billion across just 751 deals, representing a 5% increase in dollars raised compared to the prior period but fewer overall transactions. While large PE exits are being planned, such as EQT divesting its stake in a Nordic ferry operator, GTCR finalized its acquisition of Zentiva, a developer of generic and specialty medicines. Separately, venture activity saw a substantial raise from U.S. semiconductor firm SiFive, which led the week’s funding rounds by securing $400 million for custom chip designs, alongside significant capital flowing into aerospace and biotech startups.