Private Equity 8 Hours

Last updated: March 27, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

Private Equity Strategy & Deal Flow

The private equity sector is entering a more selective investment phase, moving away from the easy credit environment of the past decade where "12 is the new 5" characterized easy deal structures. This shift toward substance is occurring as major firms continue to deploy capital into targeted growth areas; for instance, Advent announced plans to invest in the engineering and consulting firm Atwell, with the transaction anticipated to finalize in the second quarter of 2026. Concurrently, macroeconomic trends are directing significant capital toward specific healthcare niches, with Kearney noting a "$1 trillion gap" attracting interest in women’s health, while firms like Astorg and Cinven are reportedly targeting pathology assets. Separately, SAP confirmed its intent to acquire New View Capital-backed Reltio, expecting that deal to close in the second or third quarter of 2026.

Market Activity & Firm Adjustments

While large-scale venture and growth financing picked up pace this week, anchored by OpenAI's disclosure of raising an additional $10 billion, the broader startup ecosystem saw some retrenchment. In Europe, venture firm Speedinvest proceeded to cut 10% of its staff following a period marked by internal churn. Amid these strategic shifts, established investment banks are bolstering their advisory capabilities, particularly in the less liquid credit markets; Evercore is expanding its Europe-based credit secondaries team by hiring four professionals, including two defectors from PJT.