Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: May 13, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

Deal Activity & Sector Investments

Private equity deal volume remained subdued in the first quarter globally, though aggregate deal value rose considerably, prompting firms to emphasize specialization. Sector activity saw several strategic takes: Quad-C Management invested in home décor designer Thibaut, which markets products under brands including Anna French and Coraggio. Meanwhile, Gallant Capital backed food labeling manufacturer NCCO, which services operators across North America and Europe, and Stone-Goff invested in real estate technology firm 5Q Partners, concurrently acquiring professional services firm One11 Advisors.

Exits & Portfolio Moves

Exits saw Argosy complete its divestiture of InTech Aerospace following its acquisition by CCE Group, closing out that investment cycle. On the platform build front, Axcel-backed AGRD Partners acquired Iceland's BBA Fjeldco, expanding its Nordic legal network which already includes firms like Synch and Next Law. In related industrial moves, Mutares sold Relobus, a major private operator of public bus transport in Poland, to Infracapital, while Apollo agreed to acquire Emerald Holding and Questex in separate deals, planning to merge the two B2B events businesses for a combined transaction value of $1.5bn.

Large-Scale Buyouts & Infrastructure

Mega-deals continue to shape the market, exemplified by EQT teaming up with the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Porsche Automobil Holding for a bid targeting Volkswagen's €8bn marine engine division, Everllence. Separately, EQT launched a tender offer to take Japan's Kakaku.com private at JPY 3,000 ($19. per share. In the financial services space, Ardian arranged a unitranche financing package to support IK Partners' leveraged buyout of French wealth manager Rhétorès Group. Further consolidation occurred in Italy, where Green Arrow Capital finalized its acquisition of DeA Capital, immediately creating the nation's largest alternative investment manager with €8bn in assets under management.

Fundraising & Capital Markets

Fundraising efforts are seeing divergence, with some established European mid-market players seeking to substantially increase fund sizes. Verdane is targeting €1.6bn for its next Europe-focused fund, Edda IV, which is more than double the size of its predecessor fund. In contrast, Kevin Hartz’s Aclosed its third fund at $450M, deploying capital across AI applications, fintech, and healthcare with an average initial check size projected between $3M. Supporting growth equity strategies, QIA committed $500M to deepen its existing partnership with General Atlantic for global growth equity strategies.

Technology, AI, and Valuation Trends

The appetite for high-growth technology assets remains intense, especially in artificial intelligence, though valuations are under scrutiny. Anthropic is reportedly in early talks to secure $30bn in new financing at a valuation potentially exceeding $900bn, even as the company warns investors against unauthorized secondary share platforms. Meanwhile, investment in biotech AI saw a massive capital injection as DeepMind spinout Isomorphic Labs raised $2.1bn. Mubadala's Zouhir Regragui commented that successful investments will be entrenched market leaders who utilize AI as an augmentation lever, rather than merely a cost-cutting measure, noting that insulation from AI disruption is a 'top priority' for capital allocation strategy.

Consulting, Advisory, and Talent Moves

The M&A boom is driving investment banks to bolster specialized capabilities. William Blair is acquiring Inner Circle Sports to integrate deeper expertise in valuing sports franchises, according to a firm representative. Simultaneously, the talent market continues to see lateral moves, with Pantheon recruiting Leif Lindbäck, a former TMT Europe co-head from CVC Capital Partners, to spearhead its push into GP-led secondaries transactions. Furthermore, sector-specific platform building continues in areas like elevator services, where Altaline and Haven launched Ascend Safety Collective, bringing aboard former executives from Kings III Emergency and ATIS to its board.

Geographic & Sector-Specific Conferences

The European private equity calendar is filling up with key regional gatherings, signaling continued focus on the continent. Conferences are scheduled for CEE's largest event in Warsaw this May, followed by Switzerland's major conference in Zurich in June, and Benelux's largest conference returning to Amsterdam in September. These events will likely address current headwinds facing certain technology segments, such as Agtech startups, where venture funding in 2026 is tracking flat or slightly down, with deal counts declining more sharply.