Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: May 13, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

Dealmaking & Exits

Private equity firms continued to pursue strategic exits and deploy capital across various sectors, evidenced by American Securities divesting its processing equipment provider CPM to Rosebank for a reported $2.1bn, concluding a holding period that began in 2018. Elsewhere, KKR-backed Global Medical Response successfully listed on the NYSE after pricing its initial public offering at the low end of expectations, raising $479M on a total valuation of $3.3bn following an earlier reduction in the initial price range. In bolt-on activity, Axcel-backed AGRD Partners expanded its Nordic legal footprint by acquiring Iceland’s BBA Fjeldco, while Stone-Goff invested in real estate tech firm 5Q Partners, concurrent with 5Q acquiring professional services firm One11 Advisors.

Sector-Specific Investments

Activity spanned from healthcare and software to travel and manufacturing, with several firms making targeted platform investments. Eir Partners committed capital to life science technology firm Quartz Bio to support its biomarker intelligence offerings for biopharma clients, and in the insurtech space, Main Capital backed Agenium, a provider of cloud-based platforms for carriers. In the industrial sector, Gallant Capital backed food labeling manufacturer NCCO, which services operators across North America and Europe, and Quad-C Management invested in furniture and wallcovering designer Thibaut. Meanwhile, Argosy exited its investment in InTech Aerospace following its acquisition by CCE Group, marking a successful realization for the firm.

Mega-Fund Strategy & Credit Secondaries

Large general partners are preparing for the next fundraising cycle, with Blackstone beginning groundwork for the third vintage of its long-dated private equity buyout strategy, signaling continued commitment to hold periods beyond the typical cycle. Competing for capital, Verdane is targeting €1.6bn for its Europe-focused Edda IV fund, more than double the size of its predecessor. On the credit side, investment consultant Cambridge Associates is focusing on credit secondaries and specialty lending, anticipating fast growth among its wealthy Asian client base and increased allocations to private credit. Furthermore, Ardian provided a unitranche financing package to support IK Partners’ leveraged buyout of French wealth manager Rhétorès Group.

Technology & AI Appetite

Despite a general slowdown in venture funding for areas like Agtech, where deal counts are falling, mega-deals continue to materialize in AI infrastructure. Anthropic is reportedly engaged in early discussions to raise at least $30bn at a valuation potentially exceeding $900bn. While the broader startup market faces pressure, evidenced by Saile raising just $2.2M in pre-seed for an AI-powered physician staffing platform Saile secured funding, leading VCs continue to back emerging technology. Accel and Founders Fund co-led a $220M raise for Fractile, while Kevin Hartz’s Aclosed its third generalist fund at $450M, with an average check size set between $3M and $5M across AI applications, fintech, and healthcare.

Sponsorship, Advisory, & Market Events

The advisory space saw major consolidation as Lazard’s planned acquisition of Campbell Lutyens moves forward, with future co-CEOs discussing leveraging the tie-up for long-term growth. In sports finance, William Blair is expanding its advisory capabilities by acquiring Inner Circle Sports to capture expertise in franchise valuations, amid a broader M&A boom and interest from major players like TPG, Advent, Bain Capital, and Brookfield in sports-related GP/LP stakes. Separately, the travel sector remains active, as World Travel Holdings secured an undisclosed investment from Citation, though co-CEOs Jeff and Brad Tolkin retain significant ownership and operational control. Meanwhile, the industry prepares for major European gatherings, with conferences scheduled in Munich in September, Amsterdam in September, and Zurich this June.