Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: May 1, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

Deal Flow & Exits

Private equity dealmaking saw a notable exit in the healthcare sector as AnaCap sold the French private bank Milleis to LCL and Crédit Agricole Assurances, comprising Milleis Banque and its subsidiaries like Milleis Vie. Elsewhere in buyouts, ArchiMed announced its definitive agreement to take Esperion Therapeutics private in an $1.1 billion transaction anticipated to conclude in the third quarter of 2026. In platform consolidation plays, Searchlight is moving to invest in B2B events firm Closer Still Media, which is currently backed by Providence Equity Partners, suggesting continued appetite for specialized information services.

New Capital & Firm Launches

The industry welcomed the official rollout of new private equity firm Mako, co-founded by former United Airlines chairman and CEO Oscar Munoz. In concurrent fundraising news, Neuberger committed capital to back Flow Control Group, though existing majority owner KKR will retain control, indicating a structure where new financial partners secure significant minority stakes. Furthermore, Inflexion agreed to acquire a minority stake in Marktlink Capital, a firm that provides access to private equity, venture capital, and private credit funds across both North America and Europe.

Sector Focus: AI & Defense Tech

The accelerating impact of artificial intelligence is reshaping investment theses, with TPG observing that the shift from a defensive to an offensive AI posture acts as a "positive weapon" for the firm's portfolio, which has already demonstrated 20% year-on-year growth despite technological disruption. This strategic capital deployment contrasts with seed-stage funding where the San Francisco Bay Area concentrated capital in 2025, capturing a growing share of both deals and dollars in early-stage financing. In defense tech, the week’s largest U.S. venture rounds were dominated by aerospace, culminating in a $600 million raise for space security startup True Anomaly, alongside other sizable AI applications in fintech and marketing.

Specialized Investment Mandates

Firms are actively targeting niche markets, with multiple private equity players currently eyeing eye care assets for potential platform investments and subsequent consolidation, including major names like Goldman Sachs, Gryphon Investors, Mid Europa, and Olympus. Separately, Avenue Sports Fund made an investment into professional soccer, backing The North Carolina Courage, which is chaired by Steve Malik. Meanwhile, direct-to-consumer brands are finding alternative financing routes; DTC skincare brand Musely secured $360 million in non-dilutive capital from General Catalyst specifically earmarked to super-charge customer acquisition efforts.

Personnel & Operational Shifts

Mid-market and growth equity firms continued to bolster senior ranks, with Riverwood appointing Mac Hofeditz as managing director, following his previous tenure at Vector Capital Management. The entrepreneurial ecosystem continues to produce high-value exits, as demonstrated by a founder whose philosophy of "having fun" helped secure a billion-dollar exit from a business involving leftover fish skins. The focus on operational expansion amid global complexity is also evident, with European startups navigating the challenges of AI-driven global expansion and compliance, while venture capital attention remains fixed on hardware innovation, with VCs identifying 15 hardware startups to watch in 2026.