Private Equity 3 Hours

Last updated: June 9, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

Deal Flow & Geographic Shifts While overall deal volume has stalled, private equity firms are turning outward as corporate buyers stay domestic, prompting a surge in cross‑border targeting that could reshape capital allocation patterns later this year. At the same time, consolidation among private‑markets players is accelerating, highlighted by Clearlake’s acquisition of Pathway Capital, which adds a specialty‑finance platform to its portfolio and signals a broader trend of scale‑driven buying in the sector.

Mid‑Market Transactions Arlington’s planned sale of Riverpoint Medical for $1.2bn is set to close in Q3 2026, providing the firm with a sizeable liquidity event after a period of restrained M&A activity. In North America, Axiom GRC’s purchase of compliance provider MHM expands its governance, risk and compliance footprint among SME and mid‑market clients, while Platte River Equity’s acquisition of Tallman Equipment marks the private‑equity house’s 100th deal since 2006, underscoring its persistent focus on industrial assets despite a soft market.

Technology & Healthcare Investments Archimed’s buyout of PET‑radiopharmaceuticals specialist IRAB adds a niche drug‑development pipeline to its European health‑tech portfolio, positioning the firm to benefit from growing demand for diagnostic imaging agents. Meanwhile, Abry Partners’ backing of managed‑IT firm KaufmanIT supplies the capital needed to broaden cybersecurity offerings and pursue larger enterprise contracts, reflecting continued appetite for scalable tech services. Likewise, TPG’s investment in accounting firm Smith + Howard equips the practice with resources to accelerate its US expansion and deepen advisory capabilities.

Infrastructure and Niche Sectors A shortlist of global investors, including Brookfield and GIP advancing in the $7.5bn Kuwait pipeline lease, illustrates the appetite for long‑term, high‑yield infrastructure assets as sovereigns seek private‑capital partners. In parallel, CAZ Investments’ hiring of Greg Grissom to lead sports‑investment initiatives and Gemspring’s minority stake in motorcycle‑parts retailer Comoto demonstrate private equity’s move into specialized consumer and entertainment niches, diversifying exposure beyond traditional buyout platforms.