Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: May 26, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

Deals & Exits

Private equity exits picked up pace as Permira agreed to an A$3.4bn sale of I-MED Radiology, part of a wave of disposals across the sector. The same day, Bowmark and Bridgepoint announced they would sell Helio Intelligence to ECI, a firm ECI's investment director Toby Fitzherbert called "the go-to provider of political intelligence and monitoring services across Europe." Meanwhile, Oakley acquired a stake in XTEL from Bain and SilverTree, underscoring continued portfolio reshuffling. On the investment side, General Catalyst led a $20m Series A in YC alum Lucis, backing what appears to be an early-stage AI play in a crowded funding environment. Across the Atlantic, an eSports startup called Lucra Sports raised $20m by reframing its pitch away from the AI narrative that VCs were fixated on, a move founder Dylan Robbins said no one had attempted before.

AI & Value Creation

The AI wave is reshaping how private equity firms operate, not just which companies they back. AI is redefining management work beyond admin tasks as firms deploy tools across portfolio companies, while dealmakers reckon the AI market feels incredibly acquisitive and are questioning whether that should alter selection criteria. In a separate conversation on strategy, Cinven's Sam Williams and KPMG's Paul Pan outlined evolving approaches to value creation focused on building resilience and driving long-term growth, reflecting a broader shift toward operational discipline as multiples compress.

Market & Regulation

Banks are pulling back from private credit exposure. JPMorgan is in talks to offload more than $4bn of NAV loans to PE funds, signaling that lenders are seeking to reduce risk on their private equity book as economic uncertainty lingers. On the European side, calls for the Digital Omnibus to match Europe's regulatory ambitions are intensifying, with investors pushing for a more coherent framework. Across the Nordics, a crop of soonicorns is drawing attention as venture capital flows to the region's growing tech ecosystem.