
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 opening the lounge earlier to creating a shortcut to the cabanas. New initiatives target first‑time participants, including a private LinkedIn community, a pre‑conference webinar, and a dedicated welcome reception. Overall, the focus remains on maximizing organic networking rather than flashy extras.

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...
GF Data’s senior leaders Ruben Burke and Ryan McCann joined the Inside DealMAX podcast to discuss how the Las Vegas conference is reshaping engagement between data providers and middle‑market dealmakers. They previewed GF Data’s Q4 2025 findings, highlighting a 30%...

The latest Middle Market Growth roundup highlights a wave of fundraising activity aimed at follow‑on and continuation investments. JLL Partners closed its ninth fund with $1.4 billion, while HarbourVest launched a $1.1 billion Private Equity Continuation Solutions fund. Union Capital secured $450 million...

The Association for Corporate Growth’s Q1 2026 Market Pulse Survey shows middle‑market dealmakers remain cautiously optimistic, with 64% anticipating a slight increase in M&A activity over the next six months—mirroring the prior quarter and up from 54% earlier in the...

WhiteHorse Capital’s Pankak Gupta and Stuart Aronson forecast a cautious‑optimistic 2026 for middle‑market lending, citing modest Federal Reserve rate cuts and lingering inflation. They expect a rebound in M&A activity with narrowing valuation gaps, while new capital inflows are driving...

Business services private equity firms continued a busy week of M&A, completing multiple platform acquisitions—including Kingswood Capital’s purchase of Safran Passenger Innovations (renamed RAVE Aerospace), H.I.G. Capital’s buy of CargoTuff, Trinity Hunt Partners’ launch of Allvia, KPS Capital’s pending acquisition...