Private Equity 8 Hours

Last updated: March 24, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

Mega-Deals and Asian Investment Activity

Apollo Global Management is setting a new benchmark for Japanese private equity activity, committing an aggressive $3.7bn to acquire Nippon Sheet Glass, making it one of the firm's largest single investments in the country. Elsewhere in Asia, Blackstone is evaluating a potential $200 million to $300 million investment into the Indian Premier League, signaling a calculated entry into high-value sports assets. This deal-making wave contrasts with the potential IPO market, where CVC Capital Partners and Silver Lake have commenced investor outreach for a prospective $6.7 billion listing of their Rights and Care (RAC) portfolio company.

Strategic Acquisitions Across Sectors

Private equity firms continued a broad acquisition spree across various niche markets globally. Advent International is moving to purchase the body care brand Salt & Stone, leading to an exit for Humble Growth which held a minority stake since 2024. In the food sector, Main Post is injecting capital into pretzel manufacturer Stellar Snacks, which boasts extensive distribution across major U.S. retailers like Costco and Target. The industrial and environmental services space is also active, as Goldner Hawn acquired Lone Star Environmental Companies, which serves the Houston and San Antonio regions. Meanwhile, Hull Street is purchasing two power generation facilities—the Lee County Generating Station in Illinois and Tait Electric in Ohio—from Rockland.

Software, Services, and Infrastructure Targets

Deal flow in the technology and business services sectors shows a strong appetite for specialized software and essential infrastructure providers. Main Capital is backing Gingco Systems, a developer of modular enterprise resource management software for intelligent workplaces. In government technology, TSCP invested in Karpel, which services prosecutor and public defender offices nationwide. Further consolidation occurred in sports media, where the GTCR-backed Ascent Sports Group acquired the sports technology firm Live Barn. Separately, Princeton Equity Group is backing children’s education provider Kid Strong, which currently supports over 85,000 members across 184 centers in the U.S. and Canada since launching franchising in 2019.

Divestitures, Exits, and Mid-Market Sales

Firms are actively managing portfolios through both strategic exits and planned disposals. Advent completed a partial exit from its stake in Trustpilot, a sale valued at £46 million that nevertheless triggered a sharp decline in the company’s share price following the discounted transaction. On the asset realization front, Blackstone is marketing a portfolio of Parisian apartments valued around €100 million as part of value creation efforts following its larger €700 million acquisition in the city. In the mid-market, Turnspire Capital Partners is preparing to gather first-round bids in mid-April for its municipal water utility service provider, USG Water Solutions. In the renewables space, Generate Capital sold greenhouse operator Equinox Growers to Taylor Farms, supporting regional food supply chains.

Competitive Dynamics and Talent Management

The competitive environment is intensifying, evidenced by the bidding war for Continental’s industrial unit where Apollo and Bain Capital are leading a €4 billion race for the Conti Tech division. Separately, GI Partners is advancing sale discussions for American Residential Services in a process that could value the entity at $3.5 billion. On the operational side, European PE professionals are grappling with challenges; AI efforts are falling short for half of general partners surveyed, while a significant talent gap persists across Europe, impacting firms' ability to fill key roles. In company-specific movements, O2 appointed Rob Hays as its new Head of Investor Relations, drawing him from his prior role as a managing director at Clean Bridge Securities.