Private Equity 3 Hours

Last updated: May 12, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

Private Equity Dealmaking & Exits

Private equity deal volume contracted in the first quarter, though the overall value of completed transactions increased, suggesting a market shift toward fewer but larger acquisitions. This trend aligns with recent large exits, such as Gen Nx360 selling its Precision Aviation Group—a firm with 29 locations globally—to VSE for more than $2bn. Separately, Goldman Sachs Alternatives acquired commercial finance firm FGI, installing FGI co-founder Sami Altaher as CEO alongside the transaction.

Sector-Specific Investments

Investment activity continues across specialized sectors, with platform companies receiving capital intended for rapid scaling. Lorient invested capital into health platform Peter MD specifically to accelerate its national expansion efforts. In a transaction involving scientific instrumentation, the Branford Castle-backed entity acquired Sutter Instrument, a manufacturer serving the life sciences and polygraph evaluation markets.

Market Sentiment & Regional Trends

Market sentiment in the secondary market is showing signs of caution, with secondaries volumes stuttering due to ongoing uncertainty, leading industry participants to advise restraint regarding evergreen fund marketing. Despite transactional hesitation, demand for technology infrastructure remains strong, as evidenced by a growing percentage of European venture funding being directed toward AI-driven companies in 2026, including investments in frontier model developers.