Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: April 16, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

Dealmaking & Sector Activity

Private equity firms continued an active M&A pace across specialized sectors, with Charterhouse agreeing to take veterinary pharmaceutical supplier Animalcare private amid sustained high pet ownership levels despite rising regulatory scrutiny in the sector. Elsewhere in platform building, Warburg Pincus-backed Service Compression expanded its North American natural gas services footprint by acquiring Axip Energy Services, while HIG Capital snapped up Inventus Power, a battery technology provider serving military and medical applications. In the insurance brokerage space, Lightyear-backed King Risk Partners bolstered its capabilities by scooping up Morin Associates, continuing the trend of consolidation among specialty brokers.

European Expansion & Exits

European dealmakers are focusing on strategic geographic expansion and portfolio monetization strategies. Eurazeo opened a new office in Munich, marking its third German location as it targets investment opportunities within the German Mittelstand. Meanwhile, General Atlantic is preparing for exit from its long-held position in fashion house Tory Burch, arranging a substantial $700 million leveraged loan to facilitate the monetization event. In the UK, London’s deal flow appeared strong, pulling further ahead of Paris and Berlin in Q1, though some market participants noted challenges, such as the recent closure of the Saa Stock event due to "real pressure from AI".

Fundraising & Capital Markets

Major venture capital operations secured significant dry powder for late-stage technology bets, even as some established firms managed redemption pressures. Accel announced raising $5 billion dedicated specifically to backing late-stage companies heavily involved in artificial intelligence development. Separately, while Anthropic is temporarily shrugging off VC funding offers that reportedly value the firm at over $800 billion, the fierce competition for access to AI infrastructure plays remains intense. In contrast, KKR has imposed redemption caps on its $532 million asset-based finance fund (K-ABF) following a rise in investor withdrawal requests, illustrating the divergence in liquidity management across the industry.

Technology & Compliance Investments

Investment activity targeted regulatory technology and cybersecurity platforms, signaling continued demand for AI-driven efficiency tools. Copenhagen-based fintech compliance startup Spektr secured $20 million in a Series A round led by NEA, utilizing artificial intelligence to automate manual compliance processes. In the cybersecurity space, Gryphon-backed Fortreum acquired compliance platform Kovr.AI, while Thoma Bravo partnered with Google Cloud to scale AI adoption across its $8 billion cybersecurity portfolio. Furthermore, the venture world is showing strong interest in foundational AI models, with 20VC leading a $3.6 million pre-seed round for Flare, a platform described as "TikTok meets Wikipedia."

Asset Sales & Portfolio Adjustments

Firms are actively managing existing assets, with some sales processes being relaunched to capture current market valuations. EQT has restarted the sale of its contact lens maker Ginko's China unit, seeking a valuation of at least $1 billion following an earlier exit by Advent. In the industrial space, Gemspring-backed Midland Industries acquired TSI, a manufacturer of fittings and valves, broadening its product lines in the hardware distribution sector. PE firms are also pursuing large infrastructure plays, as demonstrated by Blackstone and I Squared weighing a joint $3.8 billion bid for Ströer’s core advertising assets.

Secondary Markets & Strategy

The secondary market is beginning to see structured solutions emerge to manage manager alignment and asset distribution. While some critics view continuation vehicles (CVs) as mechanisms to entrench managers or delay necessary exits, proponents argue that a well-structured CV, featuring transparency, can effectively align interests. In a parallel development, Nordic Capital is reportedly considering another multi-asset CV, anticipated to be valued between €2 billion and €2.5 billion, testing the appetite for large-scale secondaries transactions this quarter.