Today's Private Equity Pulse
Blackstone closes record $13.1B Asia private‑equity fund
Blackstone announced the closing of its third Asia private‑equity vehicle, Blackstone Capital Partners Asia III, at $13.1 billion, surpassing its $10 billion target and more than doubling the capital of its predecessor. The fund is the firm’s largest Asia‑focused raise and Blackstone has deployed over $7 billion across 12 deals in the region in the past two years.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Metatron Private Equity acquires Green Circuits Inc.
Hellman & Friedman on the Art of the Exit
Hellman & Friedman CEO Patrick Healy says that even as distributions to limited partners remain sluggish, the firm can still close sizable sponsor exits. Healy highlights that strategic timing and asset positioning enable multi‑billion‑dollar exits despite a broader market slowdown. The commentary underscores the firm’s confidence in navigating current liquidity constraints. It reflects a broader private‑equity trend of prioritizing exit opportunities over immediate cash returns to LPs.
Ridgewood on the Opportunities Stemming From the Lower Mid-Market
Ridgewood Infrastructure’s Sam Lissner highlights the lower mid‑market as a hotbed for value creation and flexible exit options. Investors are gravitating toward deals that sit below the traditional mid‑market threshold, seeking higher returns with manageable risk. Lissner notes that the...
Download PDI’s 2025 Annual Review
Private Debt Investor (PDI) has published its 2025 Annual Review, featuring the PDI Annual Awards that recognize standout firms across fundraising, investing, advisory, and legal sectors. The edition includes expert analysis from industry leaders, offering deep insight into a turbulent...
Nuveen Private Markets on Structuring ABF Deals to Meet LP Demand
Nuveen Private Markets executives Laura Parrott and Jessica Bailey outlined how the firm is structuring Asset‑Backed Financing (ABF) deals to satisfy growing limited‑partner demand for private‑credit exposure. They highlighted the importance of predictable cash flows, tranche‑level risk allocation, and ESG...
Secondaries Awards 2025: EMEA Winners
Ardian has been named the 2025 Secondaries Buyer of the Year for the EMEA region by Secondaries Investor. The award recognizes Ardian’s aggressive acquisition strategy and strong execution across private‑equity secondary transactions. The accolade was announced alongside the broader Secondaries...
Bain Capital on Asset‑based Finance’s Diverse and Growing Opportunity Set
Asset‑based finance (ABF) ties loans to tangible collateral, delivering higher yields while limiting downside risk, which appeals to a broad investor base. John Wright, partner and global head of credit at Bain Capital, says the firm is expanding its ABF...
LBO Debt Market Faces $20B Nerve‑Testing Stress Test
The LBO debt market is freaking out. Here comes a $20B test of nerves https://t.co/MiXTnEB2pK
Use a 1.5× DSCR to Fund $2‑3M Deals
The one number that unlocks business acquisition finance: DSCR — Debt Service Coverage Ratio Formula: EBITDA ÷ Annual Debt Repayments Lenders want ≥ 1.5x What this means: For every $1 you owe the bank, the business earns $1.50. Find a business with $500K EBITDA? You can service...
![Industry Report: Healthcare Q1 2026 [Peakstone]](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/0991708adbc96e52eae124a6a6122304.webp)
Industry Report: Healthcare Q1 2026 [Peakstone]
Healthcare M&A activity moderated in 2025, dropping to 898 transactions after a pandemic‑driven surge. Despite fewer deals, the median transaction value jumped to $151 million, the highest in 25 years, while EV/EBITDA multiples held steady near 12.5×. Public‑market returns diverged, with...
Retiring Owners Value Trust over Price in Exits
What retiring business owners actually want: • To know their staff will be looked after • To feel proud of who they sell to • A clean exit with no complications • Someone who "gets" their industry • Monthly payments that feel like a pension Notice...
Unlock Hidden Loan Options Through Business Brokers
“Welcome to my special report on how to borrow from #businessbrokers... By the end of this report, you’ll learn how you can negotiate a loan from a lender that many others have never considered.” –Borrow from Biz Brokers (2017) https://t.co/l2EObkfURN...
InsideArbitrage Special Situations Newsletter: March 2026
InsideArbitrage’s March 2026 Special Situations newsletter warns of a continuing "Software Nuclear Winter" in the SaaS sector, describing deep valuation pressure and market disruption. The firm recently acquired SaaS company Navan (NAVN) and highlights another discounted SaaS opportunity, suggesting the...
Bootstrapped SaaS Thrives on Trust, Not Code
Gah such a great take. I don’t invest in large SaaS plays, but on the micro end, especially for bootstrapped founders, it’s still a fantastic place to build.
KKR Founders' First Capital and Early Investor Snapshot
A great one-page overview detailing the KKR founders’ initial capital contributions and the investors they raised from to finance their first leveraged buyouts. https://t.co/JQxW7mzQhZ
Continuation Funds: What They Are and Why They Matter
Continuation funds are new private‑equity vehicles that let general partners transfer one or more portfolio companies into a separate fund, extending the holding period beyond the typical ten‑year life. They give limited partners a choice to cash out or roll...
Capital Comes Last: Build Board, Seller, Structure First
"You need money to buy a business." False. What you actually need: • A credible board (free to recruit) • A seller motivated to exit • A structure they say yes to • 1,000 cold calls worth of persistence Capital is the last variable. Not the first.
10 Cash‑
. @Travis_Jamison is sharing his story of doing 10 acquisitions in cash-flow-positive, profitable lower middle market businesses, with some deals projected to have an IRR of 25% or more. The best part: he is only getting started. These last 10 deals...
Paramount Skydance to Acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in a $110 Billion Deal
Paramount Skydance Corp. announced a $110 billion agreement to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, offering $31 per share—a 10.05% premium. The transaction is financed by $47 billion in equity backed by the Ellison family and RedBird Capital, plus $54 billion of new debt from...
Castlelake Completes First Aircraft ABS Repayment Since Pandemic
Castlelake’s aviation leasing arm has fully repaid a $595 million aircraft‑backed security, marking the first complete repayment of an operating‑lease aircraft ABS since the COVID‑19 pandemic. The Castlelake Aircraft Securitization Trust 2021‑1, comprising 26 passenger jets, one freighter and 11 lessees across...
Private Markets in 401(k)s Face Major Liquidity Challenges: Morningstar
Morningstar’s new research shows that liquidity, not performance, is the primary obstacle for private‑equity and credit products in 401(k) plans. Simulations using real participant data reveal that even modest redemption flows can exhaust liquidity buffers, forcing managers to allocate up...
Sverica Promotes Michael Dougherty to Partner and Doug Patrican to Principal
Sverica announced that Michael Dougherty has been elevated to partner, while Doug Patrican has been promoted to principal. The firm also welcomed Matt Johnson as a new principal. These moves expand the firm’s senior leadership team across its core practice...
Opaque Private Debt Markets Reveal Growing Financial Fragility
Private debt markets have been struggling for some time. These are nonbank lenders, largely in the private equity space, although they do rely upon bank credit. This is one of many fragilities in the financial market and the economy more...
JPMorgan, Not Stripe, Seen as Viable PayPal Buyer
.@ShenLucinda argues that Stripe isn't a logical buyer for PayPal. But JPMorgan may be. https://t.co/5mg3m05s44
HVS Europe Hotel Transactions Bulletin Week Ending 20 February 2026
The HVS Europe Hotel Transactions Bulletin for the week ending 20 February 2026 lists a series of high‑profile hotel deals across the continent. Indian conglomerate SanRaj, via Clearsense Ventures, bought three Accor‑branded hotels in the UK (478 rooms) from Ares and EQ....
Company Secures Record Private Funding Amid Cofounder Lawsuit
Remarkable that a company raises largest private round ever, while in the midst of being sued by a cofounder who also happens to be the world' richest man.
Revenue Growth Trumps Profit as Companies Form Interlinked Borg
I take @sama point on circular dealmaking concerns -- that the revenue growth is key metric. And will leave profit concerns for another day. But also true that these companies are becoming something of a borg. If one goes down, it's...
Wealth Manager Hollow Brook: There’s an Important Place for PE in Family Office Portfolios
Hollow Brook president Philip Richter tells Private Equity International that private equity has become far more accessible due to democratization and a booming secondary market. This broader access enables family offices to consider PE as a core component of their...
Banks Fund Equipment, Not Your Business Goodwill
"Most commercial banks will lend against machines & equipment... Do you know what the bank won’t finance? Goodwill… the intangible value of the fact that you’ve built up a great clientele" –12 Things to Do Before You Consider Selling Your...
‘Goldman Handful’ and the Zombie Apocalypse: Takeaways From NEXUS
The NEXUS conference highlighted a tightening deal pipeline at Goldman Sachs, dubbed the “Goldman handful,” as the firm scales back mid‑market transactions. Speakers warned that a wave of “zombie” companies—firms surviving on low‑interest debt—could strain private‑equity exits. Market participants noted...
Falfurrias-Backed Woven Solutions Acquires Government Consultancy Valence
Woven Solutions, a Reston‑based software provider for the national security community, announced the acquisition of Valence, a government consultancy. The deal is backed by private‑equity firm Falfurrias Capital Partners, which has been fueling Woven's expansion. Valence brings deep advisory expertise...
Ellisons Pull Off Record LBO of Warner, CNN
The Ellisons nab Warner and CNN in the biggest leveraged buy-out in history. Who's going to run it? https://t.co/KOQeZ3NQTy
Primary Wave in Talks to Potentially Acquire Kobalt Music Group
Primary Wave is in advanced talks to acquire Kobalt Music Group, with a potential valuation north of $1.5 billion—roughly double the price paid by private‑equity owner Francisco Partners in 2022. The deal would merge Primary Wave’s $6 billion catalog portfolio with Kobalt’s...
Behind the Curtain: Inside DealMAX with Kate Weaver
Kate Weaver, ACG’s vice president of events, detailed the strategic upgrades for DealMAX 2024, the flagship middle‑market M&A conference in Las Vegas. She highlighted data‑driven planning that begins before the current event ends, and how attendee feedback reshapes logistics, from...
Master the ‘Exit’ Strategy to Sell Your Business
This small ‘E’ word secret will help ensure that you’ll be able to sell your business one day. It’s easy, but most never do it. https://t.co/riUdLIn5K2 #SmallBusiness & Deal Making #SMB https://t.co/qh1kcfQ0Jf
Vision Ridge’s European Head Moubarak Expected to Depart – Exclusive
Vision Ridge’s European head, Ramzi Moubarak, is expected to leave the firm after less than two years in the role. Moubarak was recruited to spearhead the company’s European expansion following the launch of its London office in October 2023. His...
PE Shifts From Legend Deals to Low‑Margin Rollup Frenzy
PE in 2009: We tried to be legends but got jammed (Caesars, NXP, IntraWest) PE in 2026: Wheels are coming off our janitorial, car wash, dental clinic and gritty Glengarry glenross-esque insurance brokerage rollups. One fund spotlights PEs problems https://t.co/O0PB4vXT6T
DPI Names Sofiane Lahmar as New CEO
Digital Performance International (DPI) announced Sofiane Lahmar as its new chief executive officer. Lahmar, who joined DPI in 2010 as a senior partner, has risen through the firm’s ranks over the past decade. The board highlighted his deep client relationships...
Searchlight and Abry to Take IoT Company Kore Private for $726m
Searchlight Capital Partners and Abry Partners announced a joint acquisition of IoT platform provider Kore, taking the company private for approximately $726 million. The deal values Kore at $9.25 per share, covering all outstanding shares not already owned by the investors....
Add Inventory to Valuation only if Working Capital Requires It
When valuing a business using a cashflow multiple (SDE or EBITDA), do you ADD inventory on top of that price? Answer: Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. It depends on how the working capital actually functions.
Exclusive: Astorg’s Mid-Cap Co-Head Edouard Pillot to Leave Firm
Astorg announced that Edouard Pillot, co‑head of its mid‑cap private‑equity team, will depart the firm. Lionel de Posson, Pillot’s fellow co‑head, will assume sole leadership of the mid‑cap unit. The change follows an internal restructuring aimed at streamlining decision‑making. Astorg...
PE Eyes Growth in Hospice Care Platforms: 5 Deals
Private equity firms are intensifying focus on hospice care platforms, with five notable deals reported this quarter. Kinderhook, Renovus and Revelstoke are among the investors leading the charge, targeting fragmented providers to build scalable platforms. The surge reflects broader demographic...
Apollo Marks Down Credit Fund as Loan Stress Emerges
Apollo Global Management has taken a significant write‑down on its flagship credit fund as loan‑level stress surfaces across its portfolio. The move mirrors similar distress signals from KKR’s FSK fund and Blackstone’s private‑credit vehicle, which also marked down troubled loans....
DE Supreme: Accountant May Resolve Earnout Claim Involving No Calculation
The Delaware Supreme Court in Fortis Advisors v. Stillfront held that an earn‑out dispute clause referencing the “calculation of the earn‑out amount” triggers arbitration, not merely expert determination. The court affirmed that the accounting firm acting as arbitrator could resolve...
Adams Street Partners Promotes Cho to Asia IR Head as Hart Heads to Evercore
Adams Street Partners announced the promotion of Chris Cho to head its investor relations for Asia, succeeding the previous lead who is moving to Evercore. Cho brings more than a decade of private‑equity experience across the region. The appointment highlights...
Investor Intentions: SMFL MIRAI Partners to Expand and Diversify Its Portfolio in 2026
SMFL MIRAI Partners announced a 2026 capital deployment plan of roughly $300 million to $500 million across multiple funds. The firm aims to broaden its investment universe and diversify holdings beyond its core positions. This allocation underscores a strategic push into private...
KKR’s FSK Fund Sees Spike in Troubled Loans
KKR’s publicly traded credit vehicle, FS KKR Capital Corp, dropped 15% after reporting a surge in troubled loans and a cut to its dividend. The $13 billion portfolio, dominated by private‑equity‑backed mid‑market loans, is seeing rising defaults and mark‑to‑market losses, especially...