Private Equity 8 Hours

Last updated: May 1, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

Private Equity Deal Flow & Exits

The private equity sector saw varied activity across continents, highlighted by a significant European financial services exit and new investments in the B2B services space. Ana Cap completed the divestiture of its French private bank, the Milleis Group, which includes Milleis Banque and asset management subsidiaries, selling the unit to LCL and Crédit Agricole Assurances. Concurrently, Searchlight is preparing an investment into Closer Still Media, an events firm currently backed by Providence Equity Partners, signaling continued appetite for established business-to-business platforms. In the healthcare sector, Archi Med announced plans to take Esperion Therapeutics private in a $1.1 billion transaction, with the deal anticipated to finalize in the third quarter of 2026.

New Firm Launches & Strategic Stakes

A new investment entity, Mako, officially commenced operations, co-founded by former United Airlines chairman and CEO Oscar Munoz, signaling fresh capital deployment from industry veterans. In moves indicating strategic minority stakes, Inflexion agreed to acquire a non-controlling interest in Marktlink Capital, a firm that provides clients access to private equity and private credit funds across Europe and North America. Meanwhile, Neuberger is entering a co-investment structure with KKR, backing Flow Control Group by acquiring a substantial minority stake while KKR retains majority control.

Sector Focus & Talent Moves

Private equity interest remains concentrated in specialized sectors, with multiple firms reportedly eyeing eye care assets for platform consolidation opportunities. Firms including Goldman Sachs, Gryphon Investors, Mid Europa, and Olympus are among those actively assessing potential deals in the fragmented eye care market, suggesting an imminent wave of M&A activity in the specialty healthcare vertical. Shifting focus to talent acquisition, Riverwood bolstered its senior ranks by appointing Mac Hofeditz, formerly of Vector Capital Management, as a managing director. Separately, in sports finance, Avenue Sports Fund broadened its portfolio by investing in The North Carolina Courage, the professional soccer team chaired by Steve Malik.

Macro Trends in Venture Capital

While traditional PE activity saw deal-making, the venture capital ecosystem continues to show geographical concentration in early-stage funding. An analysis tracking 2025 seed funding revealed that the San Francisco Bay Area expanded its dominance, capturing an increasing share of both deal volume and invested dollars, even as startup operations become more globally distributed. Furthermore, the broader implications of artificial intelligence are driving compliance and expansion strategies, as firms navigate the complexities of AI-driven expansion and compliance across international borders.