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Insights

Statistical analysis and insight into activity and trends in M&A and capital markets.

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Recent Investment Banking Insights

  • What LPs Think About Continuation Vehicles

    A new William Blair survey finds LPs support the liquidity optionality provided by continuation vehicles (“CVs”) by a margin of roughly two to one. While opinion is still divided, the debate has largely moved from whether CVs should be used, to how general partners should approach using them.

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  • The Leveraged Finance Market Navigates the Changing Seasons

    2026 has been a year of multifaceted uncertainty for borrowers and lenders across the leveraged finance market—but conditions have improved from early-year lows, settling into a trend of solid issuance volume and borrower-friendly pricing.

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  • Behind the Business of Women’s Sports

    Growing investment has helped reshape the business of women’s sports. Now, investors are looking more closely at what separates one opportunity from another.

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  • Another Quarter, More Growth for Secondaries

    Despite persistent macro headwinds, momentum continues in the secondary market and industry insiders have adjusted their expectations upward yet again.

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  • The Quarterly Rx: Q3 2026 U.S. BiopharmaRecap

    U.S. biopharma entered the third quarter with meaningful momentum, though the market became more selective as the quarter progressed.

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  • Aviation Services Industry Update

    Business aviation activity reached its highest level in four years in the first half of 2026, supported by improved OEM deliveries and continued investment in aircraft servicing capacity.

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  • Glass Half Full—Leveraged Finance Markets Stabilize in Second Quarter Capping a Resilient First Half

    Despite macro and geopolitical headwinds, leveraged finance markets stabilized in Q2, setting the stage for stronger M&A activity.

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  • How Venture Exits to Private Equity Continue to Grow—With Fuel From AI

    Midmarket technology private equity firms and their portfolio companies have become an important exit pathway for VC-backed companies, especially in the AI era.

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  • The Quarterly Rx: Q2 2026 U.S. Biopharma Recap

    In our Q2 2026 U.S. Biopharma Recap, the William Blair biopharma team reviews the quarter’s financing, strategic activity, and investor sentiment trends shaping the sector for the remainder of the year.

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  • Continued Bullishness Across Secondaries Despite More Macroeconomic Changes

    Another spring of uncertainty is necessitating creativity in global deal making. But expectations remain for strong growth in secondaries, especially as the market applies lessons learned from 2025.

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  • Aviation Services Industry Update

    Ongoing workforce constraints, uneven OEM deliveries, and broadening M&A activity have been the top storylines for aviation services through 2026’s early months.

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