Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: April 13, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

Dealmaking Activity Heats Up Across Sectors

Private equity deal flow showed continued momentum across various verticals, with STG acquiring freight management software firm Carrier Logistics Inc. to integrate advanced agentic AI frameworks into its core architecture. In specialized consulting, Bridgepoint-backed Alpha FMC agreed to purchase JPSB Group, a firm focused on Sim Corp technology implementation, signaling continued M&A activity in financial technology services. Elsewhere in healthcare, MKH Capital completed the acquisition of 22 behavioral health facilities under Haven Health Management to fuel expansion throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico, while OpenGate-backed S&G divested Delaney Hardware to Hillman Solutions Corp.

IT Services & Infrastructure M&A

The IT services sector remains a focus for dealmakers, exemplified by activity from firms like Gen Nx360 and AEA Investors leading recent transactions, while Blackstone filed for an IPO for a newly acquired data center vehicle. This move by Blackstone to take public its infrastructure arm is notable, as the filing suggests investors purchasing a minimum of 100 shares in the offering will receive an additional 1 percent of their investment amount in common stock. Further indicating strategic portfolio management, Aksìa-backed Fornaio del Casale executed three bolt-on acquisitions to expand its Italian bakery product footprint, following its establishment in 1969.

Talent Shifts and Strategic Realignment

Major firms are actively reshaping leadership and strategy, with EQT recruiting Teia Merring, formerly the senior investment director for private equity at the Universities Superannuation Scheme, to serve as global head of strategic partnership solutions. Concurrently, Maple Park appointed Grant Mueller as Vice President within its investment team, assigning him responsibility for both deal execution and ongoing portfolio management. In a more strategic shift, Thoma Bravo plans to wind down its dedicated growth equity strategy, opting not to raise a subsequent vehicle after the departure of the two co-heads of that business.

Venture Capital and AI Exposure

While some traditional growth strategies contract, venture capital continues to chase opportunities in emerging technologies and regulated sectors. Vercel's CEO Guillermo Rauch indicated the developer tool and hosting platform is readying for an IPO, benefiting from increased demand driven by AI agent development, contrasting with struggles seen at many pre-Chat GPT startups. In Europe, Eka Ventures secured £80 million to back startups that are actively "leaning into regulation," suggesting a thematic focus on compliance-heavy industries. Meanwhile, reports suggest Anthropic is plotting a challenger to OpenAI, even as concerns surface regarding the viability of large-scale UK tech ambitions following setbacks like the retreat of OpenAI's Stargate project.

Asset Class Diversification and Asia Funding

Private equity investors are diversifying into niche assets, as demonstrated by MusicBird acquiring the catalog of Supertramp bassist Dougie Thomson, securing master royalty income from hits like “Give a Little Bit.” In the broader Asian market, overall startup funding in Q1 reached $27.4 billion across all stages, marking the highest level in over three years and nearly doubling the amount deployed in the preceding quarter, with China leading the surge. Separately, a major European firm, Eurazeo, is set to acquire Netco, an international operator specializing in conveyor system maintenance, from Ardian, reinforcing investment interest in industrial servicing assets, a sector where defense dealmaking is also heating up.