Private Equity 8 Hours

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

Dealmaking & Buyouts

The buyout calendar saw significant activity across Europe, with CVC Capital Partners submitting a non-binding proposal valuing the Italian pharmaceutical firm Recordati at $12.6 billion for a full privatization. In France, Astorg agreed to acquire the B2B technical services provider Barkene from seller Montefiore Investment, while in the healthcare technology sector, Bridgepoint-backed Prescient acquired the London-based pricing and market access consultancy Dolon. These transactions reflect continued appetite for specialized vertical software and healthcare services, even as larger mega-deals face regulatory scrutiny.

Sector Focus & Investments

Private equity managers continued to deploy capital into specialized niches, particularly within healthcare and compliance services. MTIP announced an investment into Verifarma, a pharmaceutical regulatory compliance provider that currently serves 2,000 companies spanning 26 countries. Elsewhere, distribution consolidation persists as Grove Mountain-backed Hills Distribution purchased, broadening Hills’ offerings in plumbing, HVAC, and hydronic equipment parts. Furthermore, Permira is actively targeting discounted software loans, positioning itself to capitalize on credit market pricing shifts driven by concerns around artificial intelligence adoption.

Fund Management & Governance

Shifts in fund management stability and regulatory oversight drew attention today. The UK's flagship female founder fund experienced the departure of two founding partners, signaling potential organizational turbulence for the initiative aimed at backing women-led businesses. In the US, regulators reinforced the fiduciary framework governing private equity and other alternative assets within 401(k) retirement plans, setting stricter parameters for these investments to enter employee savings vehicles. Meanwhile, institutional investors are updating their mandates, exemplified by the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust issuing an RFP for a new investment manager focused on global private equity funds.

Advisory & New Ventures

The ecosystem supporting private capital transactions is also evolving, with banking divisions repositioning to capture exit flow. Bank of America launched a dedicated Private Capital M&A Group to better service the growing demand for private equity exit strategies. Further illustrating the diversification of private capital, an investor consortium backed the launch of a new professional flag football league, formed through a partnership between the NFL & TMRW Sports, showcasing PE interest in sports media and intellectual property assets. Separately, the advisory firm Alantra confirmed plans to sell a minority stake in the fund-of-fund manager ACP for €115.1 million, with the transaction anticipated to close in the latter half of the year.