Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: April 13, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

Private Equity Dealmaking & Portfolio Activity

Private equity firms continued an active M&A pace across diverse sectors, highlighted by MKH Capital acquiring 22 behavioral health facilities operated by Haven Health Management to fuel expansion across the US and Puerto Rico. In software and IT services, STG secured the freight management software firm Carrier Logistics Inc., planning to integrate advanced agentic AI frameworks into its core architecture, while Bridgepoint-backed Alpha FMC agreed to purchase JPSB Group, a specialist in Sim Corp-focused technology consulting. Further activity involved OpenGate-backed S&G divesting Delaney Hardware to Hillman Solutions Corp., and the Italian bakery producer Fornaio del Casale, backed by Aksìa, completing three distinct add-on acquisitions.

In infrastructure and industrial plays, Eurazeo agreed to buy Netco, an international operator specializing in conveyor system servicing, from Ardian, amidst broader sector interest where firms are seeking an edge in defense dealmaking, exemplified by Warburg Pincus launching a dedicated European defense investment platform. Elsewhere, Staple Investments backed Corporate Travel Services, which intends to maintain its current leadership team post-acquisition, while in a more niche transaction, MusicBird acquired the catalog of Supertramp bassist Dougie Thomson, securing master royalty income from recordings like "Goodbye Stranger."

Fund Strategy Shifts & Talent Movements

Large general partners are adjusting strategic focus and expanding talent pools, evidenced by Thoma Bravo deciding to wind down its dedicated growth equity strategy, opting not to raise a subsequent vehicle after the co-heads of that business departed. Concurrently, institutional investors are refining their approach to private equity allocations; while some LPs remain wary of GP hyperbole, others are embracing new mandates, such as a US fund that is reportedly acting like a sovereign wealth fund. Talent acquisition remains competitive, with Maple Park appointing Grant Mueller as VP to oversee deal execution and portfolio management, and EQT hiring Teia Merring, formerly USS’s senior investment director for private equity, to serve as global head of strategic partnership solutions.

Data Centers and Public Market Flux

Major players are preparing significant liquidity events, notably Blackstone filing for an initial public offering of its new data center acquisition vehicle, offering a potential incentive where IPO investors purchasing a minimum of 100 shares "will receive an additional 1 percent of their investment amount in shares of our common stock" Blackstone files. This move into public listings for specialized infrastructure comes as IT services deals continue to close, including transactions led by Gen Nx360 and AEA Investors in 2026. Separately, in the public markets, London-listed fintech Wise is set to downgrade its listing status this quarter, reflecting broader shifts in capital market sentiment.

Venture Capital & AI Impact

The venture capital ecosystem shows resilience in specific technology niches despite broader market caution regarding hype, with China leading Asia's startup funding to its highest level in over three years, deploying $27.4 billion across Q1 financings, a nearly twofold increase year-over-year. Within the software development space, Vercel is signaling IPO readiness, with its CEO Guillermo Rauch attributing a revenue surge to the adoption of its platform by developers building AI agents, positioning the 10-year-old company favorably against peers struggling post-Chat GPT. VCs focused on regulatory innovation are also securing capital, as Eka Ventures raised £80 million specifically to back startups that are actively "leaning into regulation." However, the intense focus on AI is also drawing scrutiny, with some observers questioning if VCs have already forgotten the excesses of 2021, while the retreat over the proposed OpenAI Stargate project has exposed perceived cracks in the UK's tech ambitions.