Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: April 14, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

Private Equity Fundraising & Credit Strategies

Carlyle landing a $1.5 billion first close for its new asset-backed income fund signals continued momentum in scaling credit platforms, even as specialized strategies gain traction in the secondary market. Sycamore Tree Capital Partners launched a dedicated credit secondaries investment platform to capitalize on rising demand for liquidity, a trend mirrored by Samsung Asset Management eyeing co-investments and secondaries for downside protection against macro flows. Further demonstrating secondary market depth, Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Ardian agreed to acquire a $1 billion portfolio from CIC at a discount, suggesting opportunistic buying continues across mature assets.

Dealmaking & Sector Focus

The M&A arena saw activity across healthcare, industrials, and technology infrastructure, with dealmakers showing a preference for continuation vehicles (CVs) for existing holdings. Olympus Partners agreed to purchase fiber installation provider Network Connex from Orix Capital Partners, a transaction where Carlyle AlpInvest is closely monitoring CV activity, having already led four such deals this year. In the healthcare space, AIP is taking medtech firm Avanos Medical private in a transaction valuing the company at approximately $1.272 billion, while MKH Capital acquired Haven Health Management, including 22 behavioral health facilities slated for expansion across the US and Puerto Rico. Elsewhere, Gen Nx360-backed Horsburgh & Scott acquired Franklin Machine & Gear, bolstering its industrial gearing solutions portfolio.

Strategic Shifts & European Activity

Firms are rethinking core strategies to align with perceived market resilience, as seen by Thoma Bravo exiting its growth equity platform to concentrate capital on core buyouts. Simultaneously, major European players are circling high-profile assets, with EQT, Advent, and KKR showing interest in exploring options for the Swiss firm Poly Peptide Group. In defense investment, MEAG-Warburg Pincus’s recent deal suggests US managers are increasingly exporting their expertise into the European defense sector, reflecting growing appetite there. Meanwhile, in the Nordics, tech-focused investor Alder moved two assets into an Article 9 sustainability-focused continuation vehicle, which Pantheon led with €250 million.

Talent Moves & Technology Themes

The intense competition for operational expertise and technology remains evident through key executive appointments and thematic investment strategies. Lovable poached a new engineering chief directly from Meta, citing the transformation sweeping the entire industry, while specialized firms continued to bolster their investment teams; THL Partners appointed Dave Guilmette as an executive partner focused on fintech and insurance, and Infinedi Partners tapped Rohan Arora as a principal to lead deal sourcing and exits. In thematic investing, TPG expanded its sports strategy by agreeing to acquire Learfield, a media and technology platform for college athletics, while Battery Ventures partners noted that software companies resilient to AI disruption often possess deep end-market knowledge beyond just the core product. Furthermore, European venture funding climbed nearly 30% year-over-year in Q1 2026, reaching $17.6 billion, driven largely by AI investments, even as overall deal volume fell sharply.