Woodruff Sawyer's 2026 Private Equity Looking Ahead Guide Highlights a Market Poised for Strategic Growth
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Woodruff Sawyer, a Gallagher company and full-service insurance brokerage and consulting firm, has released its 2026 Private Equity Looking Ahead Guide. With over 30 years of experience, Woodruff Sawyer is a trusted advisor to the private equity, venture capital, and M&A community. The firm has provided insurance and employee benefits due diligence, as well as Representations and Warranties Insurance (RWI) brokerage and transaction advisory services, on more than 5,000 lower, core, and upper middle market transactions.
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After years of navigating macroeconomic headwinds—from global conflicts and inflation to interest rate volatility—the U.S. private equity market is showing renewed signs of strength, bolstered by the Federal Reserve's September decision to lower rates by 25 basis points. Q4 2024 sparked fresh enthusiasm around deal flow following the administration change, but early 2025 saw momentum stall amid persistent challenges, including geopolitical tensions and tariff uncertainty. Despite a slow start, dealmakers are increasingly embracing the uncertainty, finding creative ways to close the value gap and get deals done. Woodruff Sawyer expects the late-2025 momentum to carry into 2026, driving increased deal activity, more strategic exits, and a cautiously optimistic outlook for the year ahead.
As the private equity landscape continues to evolve, dealmakers are sharpening their focus on risk, diligence, and post-close value creation. Woodruff Sawyer's 2026 Private Equity Looking Ahead Guide explores the most pressing trends shaping today's transactions—from competitive RWI pricing and rising claims activity to the strategic use of portfolio-style insurance programs. The Guide also highlights how missteps in insurance or employee benefits due diligence can materially impact EBITDA, and why alternative deal structures demand a more nuanced approach to risk management. These insights, along with expert guidance on adapting to today's environment, will be discussed in an upcoming webinar hosted by Woodruff Sawyer's Private Equity team.
"Private equity firms are under more pressure than ever to deliver value while managing increasingly complex risks," said Luke Parsons, National Private Equity and Venture Capital Practice Group Leader at Woodruff Sawyer. "Our 2026 Guide is designed to help deal teams think more strategically about managing risk both pre- and post-close—whether that's navigating RWI market dynamics, avoiding costly diligence oversights, or structuring programs that protect and improve EBITDA. It's about giving our clients the clarity and confidence to move forward in a rapidly changing environment."
For a comprehensive analysis of the mergers and acquisitions landscape in 2026 and expert insights on what lies ahead, download the full Guide.
About Woodruff Sawyer
Woodruff Sawyer, a Gallagher company, is a full-service insurance brokerage and consulting firm, serving emerging tech companies to global giants for over a century. Headquartered in San Francisco, we offer our clients access to a global platform of exclusive resources, tools, and data. For more information, call 844.972.6326 or visit woodruffsawyer.com.
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