Private Equity 8 Hours

Last updated: March 26, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

Private Equity Dealmaking & Exits

Private equity activity saw several major transactions close, including Audax and Greenbriar divesting airport services firm AGI to Lone Star after a joint investment initiated in June 2021. In the technology sector, Advent exited beauty brand OLAPLEX in a $1.4 billion sale to Henkel, signaling an acceleration in premium beauty M&A despite broader geopolitical pressures, according to a BCLP report. Concurrently, Advent committed capital to defense technology firm Shield AI, with proceeds earmarked in part to finance Shield AI's planned takeover of Aechelon Technology Inc, previously held by Sagewind Capital.

Sector-Specific Investments & Platform Builds

Dealmakers continued to focus on building out specialized platforms across various verticals. FPE Capital-backed Point74 acquired compliance software provider Quor, aiming to establish the UK’s first fully unified food software ecosystem. In the logistics space, Sun European secured B&H Worldwide, an aviation component management specialist based near Heathrow, following its earlier investment in a separate Heathrow-based logistics business Sun European bought. Meanwhile, Terminus Capital took a majority stake in insurtech firm Andesa, planning to boost application development and enhance administrative tool scalability under its ownership.

Infrastructure & Power Sector Transactions

Large-scale infrastructure plays underscore sustained investor interest in essential services, exemplified by Clearlake Capital acquiring power service provider Qualus from New Mountain Capital amidst rising regional power demands. This transaction also provided a "handsome payout" for employees of Cool IT Technologies, an exit facilitated by KKR’s earlier divestiture. In related infrastructure finance, Bain Capital secured a substantial A$430 million loan, equivalent to approximately $300 million, to fund its acquisition of an Australian wealth management firm.

Geographic Expansion & Financing Friction

Global capital deployment continues, with Middle Eastern investment serving as a key driver in certain European technology deals. Alterra backed General Atlantic in its investment in UK-based Wireless Logic, reflecting ongoing Middle East capital flows into European connectivity assets. Separately, Blackstone committed $250 million into a UAE payments platform as part of a wider $1 billion regional technology bet, even as geopolitical tensions persist. However, the financing side faces headwinds, as GPs report friction in the fund finance process, contrasted by anecdotes suggesting AI is already playing a greater role in investor relations functions.

Add-on Acquisitions & Workforce Services

Platform consolidation remains a core PE strategy, evidenced by several add-on acquisitions across the service industry. Sovereign-backed Affinia completed a bolt-on purchase, following Sovereign’s initial investment in Affinia’s founding entity, LB Group, in May 2023. Similarly, Trinity Hunt-backed Allvia snapped up HR Pals to expand its US workforce services offering. Separately, Synergy Sports Capital acquired League One Volleyball Salt Lake, targeting growth in the US professional youth sports sector. While seed funding overall shows deceleration, Crunchbase data indicates that only larger seed rounds—those exceeding $10 million—have demonstrated growth in deal volume recently as larger rounds skew competitive. Banks are responding to the need for liquidity, with Bank of America launching a dedicated Private Capital M&A Group specifically aimed at unlocking latent private equity exits.