Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: May 14, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

Private Equity Dealmaking & Exits

The steady pace of dealmaking continued across sectors, with Brookfield Asset Management poised to acquire World Freight Company from EQT and PAI for an enterprise value near $1.2bn. In the advisory space, RFE-backed ZRG scooped up Sterling Martin Associates, a global talent advisor headquartered in Rochelle Park, New Jersey, signaling further consolidation in executive search. Meanwhile, the insurance brokerage sector saw activity as Aquiline-backed Relation snapped up Crop Rx Insurance Services, expanding the Chicago-based brokerage's footprint beyond its existing 90 locations nationwide.

In the technology and industrial verticals, M&A activity involved specialized assets, as Ansor-backed Complii acquired The Escalator Company, which specializes in escalator and travelator servicing and refurbishment. On the European front, Ambienta completed the purchase of Italy’s Disano, a manufacturer focused on professional lighting fixtures. Separately, American Securities sold CPM to Rosebank for a substantial $2.1bn, marking the exit from the processing equipment provider it invested in back in 2018.

Public market exits saw mixed results for PE-backed firms. KKR-backed Global Medical Response listed in New York after scaling back its offering, ultimately raising $479M by pricing its IPO below the initial range. In contrast, PE-backed GMR went public in Lewisville, Texas, provider of emergency medical services. In the fintech space, Verdane finalized its buyout of Augmentum Fintech, completing the rare take-private of the London Stock Exchange-listed investment trust following shareholder approval.

Venture Capital & Mega-Rounds

Venture funding remained highly concentrated, with established names like Andreessen Horowitz and Khosla Ventures topping the April rankings alongside tech giants such as Google and Amazon. A massive defense technology round saw Anduril Industries raise $5bn at a ballooned $61 billion valuation, effectively doubling its previous appraisal amid high demand for defense tech startups. AI chip developer Cerebras Systems is finally making its Nasdaq debut after years of private funding and previously scrapped IPO plans.

Mega-rounds continued in the AI and defense spheres, with Blackstone and Airbus lining up to anchor a €600m funding round for German drone maker Quantum Systems, potentially valuing the firm at approximately €7bn. In the broader AI ecosystem, Accel and Founders Fund backed Fractile in a $220m raise. On the smaller side, physician-focused startup Saile secured $2.2M in pre-seed funding to build an AI-powered staffing platform for doctors seeking supplemental work.

Secondaries, Talent Moves, and Strategy

The talent market saw movement in specialized secondary advisory teams. Evercore recruited senior talent from Campbell Lutyens, adding Clay McCoy as a senior managing director, while also building out its credit secondaries team in Europe. This follows the major industry news regarding Lazard's agreed acquisition of Campbell Lutyens, where the future co-CEOs anticipate operational continuity and synergy. Separately, Cambridge Associates is observing fast growth in Asia among its wealthy client base, driving increased allocations toward private credit and credit secondaries.

Firms are also adjusting internal strategy and governance. Blackstone is preparing its third vintage of its long-dated private equity strategy, signaling a commitment to long-hold buyouts. Meanwhile, Mosaic Capital hired Bridget Meller as VP of Business Development to manage relationships with intermediaries and capital providers across the US. Investment consultants like CPP are arguing for greater flexibility in LP allocations, while William Blair is targeting GP and LP stakes in sports, mirroring broader PE interest in alternative assets.

Sector Focus & Regulatory Environment

The investment focus in financial services leans toward disruption, exemplified by Apis’ investment in Paymentology, tapping into that trend. In the UK, regulatory concerns persist, particularly in the defense sector, where spokespeople argue the nation needs smarter capital policy rather than increased red tape to maintain its global investment hub status. Separately, the ongoing use of generative AI faces scrutiny, with the voice-cloning company ElevenLabs facing a fresh lawsuit relating to the use of voices from Pulitzer and Emmy-winning journalists.