Financial services

AGRD has acquired Wigge and Bokwall Rislund.

The team will invest in GP-led secondaries transactions within Hg’s core software and technology-enabled services sectors.

A Q&A with William Blair’s global head of investment banking Matthew Zimmer, who shares that there’s 30,000 or more PE-backed portfolio companies in need of an exit; an update on Blackstone taking final round bids for utility pole manufacturer Sabre Industries; takeaways from Deloitte’s 2026 divestiture survey.

Zimmer pointed to a glut of 30,000 PE portfolio companies awaiting market checks, up from 22,000 or 24,000 four years ago. PE holdings are now stretching out to seven years.

Barker is currently head of portfolio, having overseen the firm’s portfolio, exit and value creation activity since 2023.

Massimiliano Lecchi, Damien Marty and Milena Torciano have been promoted to partner.

Ryan is also backed by Onex Partners and Ares Management.

PV&V is an insurance brokerage operating in Ontario.

CalcFocus has also named Sandia Ren as CEO.

Driven Island Agencies is an insurance brokerage.