How can precision waterfall modeling unlock private equity value in 2026?

The M&A wave is coming. Is your firm ready?

Private equity professionals know the landscape is shifting. With a historic backlog of aging portfolio companies, limited exit activity over the last few years, and increasingly complex deal structures, everything points to a high-stakes, high-velocity exit environment in 2026.

But outdated spreadsheets and legacy tools won’t cut it anymore.

Carta's Waterfall Modeling and M&A in 2026 whitepaper explores why precision and traceability are at a premium in private equity deals, and what today’s PE investors need to drive smarter exits, faster decision-making, and higher confidence.