
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. Other notable transactions include Arrow Global’s purchase of the Browns Sports Resort in Portugal, Remake Asset Management’s €16.3 million acquisition of NH Parma in Italy delivering a 7 % yield, Sofidy’s €13.6 million buy of Hotel Salou Sunset in Spain, and several French and German assets changing hands with refurbishment or conversion plans. The deals reflect continued investor confidence in branded hospitality and asset‑light models.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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....

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...

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 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....
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...

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 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...

Apollo Global Management’s Japan institutional client head, Takeshi Tsubota, has exited the firm. Tsubota, who joined in 2023, was responsible for driving the firm’s fundraising efforts among Japanese institutional investors. His departure comes as Apollo seeks to expand its $908 billion...
Prime exits® and American HealthCare Capital are offering a fully licensed behavioral health platform in Northern Colorado, comprising two ready‑to‑operate outpatient facilities. The business currently generates no revenue but retains all licenses, accreditation, EMR, billing systems and payer contracts, dramatically...
Ascend Capital Partners closed its second fund, Ascend Capital Partners Fund II LP, with $791 million in commitments, surpassing its $700 million target. The fund, focused on growth-oriented healthcare services, was oversubscribed and attracted both existing and new limited partners. Ascend has...

Private equity firms are increasingly targeting the fragmented accounting and consulting sector, where tens of thousands of CPA practices present a ripe consolidation landscape. Investors aim to roll up these firms into national platforms that can leverage scale, technology, and...

Pat McGrath Labs has entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is being marketed to potential buyers by investment bank Gordian Group. The sale follows private‑equity firm GDA Luma’s recent acquisition of a controlling stake in the brand. Any transaction must settle over $60 million in debtor‑in‑possession...

Retail investors are pouring unprecedented amounts of private wealth into traditional private‑equity funds, accelerating a shift that once belonged to institutional limited partners. This surge, driven by fintech platforms and low‑minimum‑investment products, has prompted seasoned LPs to flag potential red‑flags....

Butterfly Equity, a private‑equity manager with roughly $7 billion in assets under management, has undergone a control shift following an internal partner dispute. Co‑founder Adam Waglay has emerged as the sole decision‑maker, consolidating ownership previously shared among partners. The restructuring resolves...

Augmentum Fintech has agreed to a £185.7 million cash takeover by Norwegian buyout firm Verdane, representing a 27 % premium at 111 pence per share. The board unanimously recommended the offer, targeting completion in the second quarter. Augmentum’s portfolio includes 27 fintechs such...

The GP‑led credit secondary market is experiencing sustained growth as investors pursue more flexible deal structures and higher return potential. Industry leaders, such as Olga Kosters of Antares, emphasize that the ability to cherry‑pick assets and maintain strong GP‑investor alignment...

Fitch reported that private credit defaults surged in January, with 11 events—double the average monthly defaults recorded last year. Over the trailing twelve‑month period the sector logged 89 defaults, highlighting an accelerating distress trend. The uptick reflects tightening credit conditions...

Encore announced the promotion of Paul Rivenburgh to Managing Director, elevating him from his associate role that began in 2016. The move underscores the firm’s focus on advancing internal talent as it expands its investment platform. Rivenburgh’s new title places...
Green Value GmbH assisted Balance Erneuerbare Energien GmbH in acquiring a 46 MW portfolio of biogas plants located in Saxony, Saxony‑Anhalt and Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern. The transaction includes technical due diligence and risk assessment performed by Green Value, with plans to modernize and...

José Feliciano, co‑founder and managing partner of Clearlake Capital, told PE Hub that AI‑driven disruption in public tech and software markets is opening compelling opportunities in the private‑equity space. He explained that as public valuations compress, investors can target companies...

Private equity activity this week highlighted a renewed focus on consumer‑oriented businesses, with multiple platform investments ranging from women’s footwear to home‑health and fitness equipment. Notable deals include Gordon Brothers’ purchase of Chinese Laundry, Kinderhook’s $1.1 billion take‑private of Enhabit, and...

EnCap Flatrock Midstream is exploring a sale of its gas‑pipeline subsidiary Momentum Midstream for a price exceeding $5 billion. The private‑equity firm has engaged advisers and is gauging interest from rivals and other buy‑out funds. Momentum operates roughly 4,000 miles of...

The loan‑note briefing highlights a surge in so‑called “zombie” funds that continue to chase low‑yield opportunities despite deteriorating market conditions. At the same time, emerging‑market private credit achieved a record deployment year, reflecting strong investor demand for higher returns. Arctos’s...

Fairfax Financial is timing the market cycle by investing in Kennedy Wilson’s credit platform as the real‑estate firm prepares for privatization. Kennedy Wilson has steadily expanded its real‑estate debt capabilities while maintaining a global equity presence. The move reflects Fairfax’s...

Arcmont’s latest capital‑solutions fund marks a significant scaling moment for the European private‑debt manager. The €1.5 billion close, announced by its Nuveen affiliate, almost doubles the €800 million raised for the inaugural vehicle, reflecting robust capital inflows into non‑bank lending. Across the...
Oaktree Capital is weighing a sale or a London IPO for its UK wealth‑management platform Utmost, signaling renewed interest in public market exits for private‑equity‑owned financial services. Meanwhile, Carlyle’s US buyout platform is on track to realise nearly $12 billion in...
US institutional leveraged loan issuance slowed sharply in February 2026, with only $22.85 billion priced to date and $9.54 billion expected by month‑end, far below January’s $164.1 billion. The month‑over‑month drop reflects heightened market uncertainty and tighter credit conditions. Analysts attribute the slowdown...

Anthropic announced the acquisition of Vercept, a Seattle‑based AI startup known for its computer‑use agent Vy, and will retire the product by March 25. Vercept, which raised $50 million from investors including Eric Schmidt and Jeff Dean, joins Anthropic’s Claude Code team following a...

Carlyle’s U.S. buyout platform is on track to realize close to $12 billion of cash proceeds within the next 13 months. The firm attributes this pipeline to a portfolio that aligns with current market demand, saying its assets are “what buyers...

Alphabet-owned Intrinsic, a robotics‑software specialist, is joining Google while remaining a distinct entity. The integration will link Intrinsic’s Flowstate platform and Vision AI model with Google DeepMind, Gemini AI models, and Google Cloud services. Earlier, Intrinsic expanded through acquisitions of...

Los Angeles Water and Power’s pension fund announced it will accelerate private‑equity pacing even as cash‑flow deficits persist. The plan calls for expanding exposure to European buyout opportunities and secondary market deals beginning in 2026. By targeting these asset classes,...

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) is evaluating secondary market sales to trim its older private‑equity exposures. The fund intends to allocate roughly C$20 billion to new private‑equity commitments this year, according to global head of PE Caitlin Gubbels. By...
The secondary market is increasingly dominated by LP‑led transactions that target younger, high‑quality private‑equity portfolios. Ardian’s Wilfred Small described the environment as one of “asset selection and cherry picking” rather than bulk sales. Limited partners are allocating capital to these...

Deputy CIO of Oaktree Capital, Hobbs, told the NEXUS 2026 conference that private‑credit spreads have stopped falling and now sit on a floor, turning a challenging market into a source of value. He explained that tighter bank lending and higher...
Sealed Air shareholders voted to approve a $6.2 billion takeover by private‑equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R). The European Commission recently cleared the deal, finding no competition concerns, allowing the transaction to move toward closing pending final regulatory sign‑offs. The...
A recent chart from McKinsey’s Global Private Markets Report shows that private‑equity fund performance is now driven primarily by portfolio‑company revenue growth rather than financial engineering. The data indicate that growth‑focused strategies generate the bulk of returns across vintages, eclipsing...
Private equity’s image as a ruthless raider is outdated; today firms focus on partnership and growth. They acquire companies through negotiated deals, often allowing sellers to retain equity, aligning incentives. While cost efficiencies remain a tool, sustainable value stems from...

At NEXUS 2026 CalPERS chief investment officer Marcie Frost assured members that the pension fund will not sell assets to meet payroll obligations, emphasizing a long‑term investment focus. In the same forum, 26North founder Josh Harris described a strategy of...

Citrin Cooperman, after private‑equity backing from New Mountain in 2021 and a Blackstone stake in 2025, rolled out a firm‑wide "P unit" program that gives every employee a share of the firm’s equity growth. The participation units vest based on...

Canadian pension fund CPPIB and Warburg Pincus both signal optimism for private equity returns despite recent market turbulence. CPPIB projects improving internal rates of return as deal flow stabilizes, while Warburg Pincus highlights emerging fee‑restructuring trends that could ease limited...

Zombie‑style private‑equity funds are projected to manage roughly $1 trillion in net asset value by 2030, reflecting a surge in aging, ill‑liquid portfolios. The article outlines how managers must adjust to a “new era” where exits are scarce and capital recycling...

At NEXUS 2026, CalPERS CEO Marcie Frost announced that the pension fund’s revitalized private‑equity program will operate with a degree of independence from its newly adopted total‑portfolio approach (TPA). The move signals a renewed commitment to private‑equity as a core return...