Private equity exit activity is poised for a significant rebound, with Blackstone's Verdun Perry predicting a 30-40% increase in 2026 after years of muted distributions. Speaking at PEI Group's NEXUS 2026 summit, Perry noted that private markets have seen distributions down roughly 40-50% since 2022, followed by another 40% decrease in 2023. The IPO market remains open for high-quality businesses, with Perry expecting further growth in both GP-led and LP-led transactions.

In a related development, Verdane has agreed to acquire Augmentum, a UK-listed fintech-focused venture capital firm, for approximately £186 million ($251 million). The deal represents a 27% premium to Augmentum's recent share price and addresses the liquidity challenges faced by listed companies in the UK market. Augmentum's portfolio includes notable fintech investments like Tide, Zopa, and Iwoca.

Meanwhile, legal tech firm White & Case suggests AI disruption will impact private equity valuations more gradually than public markets. Ken Barry, head of Europe private equity at the firm, notes that managers will likely mark down assets where genuine disruption is expected, particularly as funds face pressure to raise capital and make distributions to investors.