Abry Partners CEO CJ Brucato sees the lower mid-market as a dealmaking sweet spot amid heightened competition at the upper end of the market. Speaking at PEI Group's NEXUS 2026 conference, Brucato noted that Abry Partners completed five of seven deals last year without auctions, highlighting the reduced competition and attractive valuations in the core middle market segment.

Meanwhile, William Blair reports robust activity in aerospace and defense, driven by normalizing aircraft build rates and increased demand for aftermarket services. Josh Ollek of William Blair attributes sector strength to the defense and commercial aviation super-cycle, with suppliers benefiting from ramped production rates after pandemic-related disruptions. The firm's latest aviation services industry update shows continued focus on MRO services and supply-constrained airport operations.

In recent transactions, Searchlight Capital and Abry agreed to acquire IoT services provider Kore in a $726 million take-private deal, while Abry sold Portfolio Holding to Protective Life Insurance Company. The aerospace sector continues to attract significant PE interest, with Greenbriar Equity's $1 billion buyout of West Star Aviation and Bain Capital's acquisition of App Jet Center exemplifying ongoing cyclical trends. Industry sources report aerospace manufacturers selling for 12x-15x EBITDA multiples.