Private Equity 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: October 1, 2026, 10:05 PM ET
Private Equity Acquisitions
Diversis acquired a majority stake in Tideworks from Blackstone-backed Carrix, gaining control of the Seattle-based provider of terminal operating systems for marine and intermodal logistics. One Equity Partners secured a majority stake in systems integrator Myriad360, which delivers AI, cloud, and managed services to enterprise clients. Lovell Minnick’s Warner Pacific struck a deal to acquire California general agency Beere&Purves, a firm founded in 1929 that supports employee benefits administration. KKR completed its majority stake deal for Thomson Reuters’ print business, now operating as Westbridge Print and serving legal and tax professionals. Centre Partners’ Nearly Natural acquired 3D-printed planter maker Modernized Pottery, a Texas-based company that designs and manufactures home décor products. Manna Tree took a majority stake in Los Angeles creative agency Zambezi, which marks its 20th anniversary and provides integrated marketing services. Blue Point Capital’s Weaver Brands acquired equine grooming product maker Shapley’s, a Fort Myers, Florida-based company founded in 1938 that produces shampoos and conditioners for horses.
Defense and Aerospace Investments
Blackstone launched Falcata to scale up America's interceptor supply chain, making a significant investment in a US defense technology venture. Blackstone inked a deal for TSC and ASEI to form the defense platform Falcata, which will develop sensing, guidance, navigation, and control technologies. LFM Capital’s Sis Tech acquired avionics electronics maker Alta Data Technologies, a Rio Rancho, New Mexico-based company founded in 2007 that supplies off-the-shelf aerospace components. Antin acquired a majority stake in aerial firefighting firm HP Helicopters, a Redlands, California-based provider of heavy-lift helicopter services for wildfire suppression. Sterling Group, Point 41 Capital backed garage door demand, while Antin snapped up heavy-lift helicopter business and Blue Point’s Weaver added on Shapley’s, reflecting broader industrial specialization.
Technology and Software Deals
Thoma Bravo and 7Ridge’s Trading Technologies acquired equities trading platform TRAFiX, a Mineola, New York-based firm founded in 2014 that provides order and trade management solutions. Riverside’s DAWGS bolted on Empty Building Security in a second add-on, expanding its property security offerings. VSS Capital Partners hired ex-World Bank adviser Otilia Ciotau for an AI role, leveraging her two decades of financial services experience. Bridgepoint-backed Analysys Mason picked up Swedish AI consultancy Modulai, founded in 2018 and staffed by about 35 engineers building machine learning and analytics tools. Dig Ventures raised $120m to back Europe’s AI infrastructure startups, targeting foundational layers of the AI stack. Ambienta built a sustainable Nordic aquaculture technology platform with four acquisitions, integrating Bio Marine, FLS, Smir, and Gro Aqua to cover fish health and farming tech. Eurazeo opened its first Middle East office in Abu Dhabi’s ADGM, establishing a hub for institutional investor engagement.
Fundraising and Capital Flows
Investcorp beat its target with a $1.22bn second North American private equity fund, exceeding its initial fundraising goal. Ares more than quadrupled its target with a $4.2bn debut GP solutions fund, marking one of the largest first-time funds in the category. Homeward raised $120M to help homeowners buy and sell more quickly as the housing market stalls, addressing liquidity constraints in residential transactions. The IPO Window is opening selectively, with readiness deciding which companies gain access to public markets amid renewed investor interest. Nuclear Startup Funding is up, surpassing $6 billion in 2026 despite a bearish turn in public markets for the sector. Private equity invests in garage door businesses, with five standout deals highlighting sector consolidation driven by home improvement trends.
Leadership and Personnel Moves
Encore Consumer Capital hired ex-Riverside principal Caroline Shettle as director, tasking her with deal origination, execution, and portfolio oversight. Abry Partners hired Advent’s Yusef Kassim to lead investor relations, drawing on his 25+ years of capital formation experience. HIG Capital sold Italian beauty retailer Pinalli to Borletti Group, with Pinalli founded in 1984, operating 108 stores, and generating €197 million in revenue. HIG exited Pinalli while Ambienta acquired four aquaculture businesses, signaling a strategic shift in European mid-market focus. Arcus agreed to buy SK Pharma from Syz Capital and Saturnus Capital, acquiring a Bielefeld-based logistics operator with eight temperature-controlled warehouses across Germany.
Market Commentary and Strategy
Flipping the OP script is necessary as operating partners reconsider the skills needed to succeed in evolving private equity landscapes. The governance blind spot persists in the Total Portfolio Approach, as sovereign and pension funds abandon fixed asset-class targets for a singular focus on returns. Deep Dive reveals how Investindustrial is playing the long game amid succession planning and sustainability challenges. Side Letter explores the next stage for a European PE stalwart following the Bonomi era. Pophouse Entertainment struck a deal for a 50% stake in Sia’s music rights, capitalizing on the artist’s nine Grammy nominations and billions of streams. Wellness marketplace Healf topped Sifted’s ranking of 250 fastest-growing startups in Europe, reflecting strong traction in digital health. Harry Stebbings regrets backing the 996 work culture in many ways, offering a candid reflection on venture capital norms. Nubank halted Monzo acquisition talks after its shares plunged, ending a potential fintech merger amid market volatility. Sifted Summit day one was dispatched, with discussions focused on opening EU scale-up funds to UK firms. Borletti Group put on a new face with the Pinalli buyout from H.I.G., integrating the omnichannel beauty retailer into its portfolio. KKR completed the Thomson Reuters print carve-out as Westbridge Print went independent, finalizing the separation of the legacy business.