Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: April 10, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

Private Equity Fundraising & Credit Markets

Blackstone anchored a busy fundraising period by securing $10 billion for its newest opportunistic credit fund, capitalizing on sustained investor appetite for deploying capital amidst market volatility. This activity in credit markets is mirrored by Arcmont's $2.5 billion collateralized loan obligation (CLO) vehicle, which its CEO described as being in the "absolute sweet spot," indicating strong demand for specialized debt strategies. Separately, Ping An Insurance is testing the secondary market again, exploring a circa $1 billion portfolio sale, marking at least the sixth time the insurer has initiated such a process to manage its large asset holdings.

Sector-Specific M&A and Investments

Dealmaking remained active across niche sectors, with Sterling announcing an acquisition of Healthcare Linen Services Group from York Private Equity, signaling ongoing consolidation in essential business services. The personal care space is also drawing heavy inflows, as evidenced by deals involving firms like Advent, Round Table, and Gemspring, which are focusing on brands building direct consumer relationships. In healthcare technology, Blackstone and TPG finalized their take-private of Hologic, a women’s medtech developer, illustrating private capital’s interest in specialized medical device developers, especially in areas like women’s health deemed underinvested.

Furthermore, technology infrastructure and specialized manufacturing saw targeted investment. Blackstone acquired a minority stake in Rowan Digital Infrastructure, which is already backed by Quinbrook, pointing to continued capital deployment into essential digital backbone assets. In manufacturing, Granite Creek-backed Salem One, a direct marketing agency, expanded its capabilities by acquiring brand development agency Smash Brand. Meanwhile, exits included EQT divesting its stake in a Nordic ferry operator, while GTCR completed its acquisition of Zentiva, a large generics and specialty pharmaceuticals business.

Venture Capital and European Tech Growth

Venture activity saw a shift toward larger, less frequent investments globally, particularly within the financial technology sector, where funding totaled $12 billion across only 751 deals through early April 2026, a 5% increase in dollars year-over-year despite the reduced deal count. European technology startups experienced a notable boom in billion-dollar valuations, minting the highest number of unicorns in four years. Specific large funding rounds included SiFive raising $400 million for its custom chip designs, alongside substantial capital raises in aerospace, biotech, and defense sectors, even without a single mega-round leading the weekly tally. The ecosystem is further supported by a wave of new capital, with 2026 already seeing numerous first-time European VC funds launched.