Private Equity 8 Hours

Last updated: August 31, 2026, 2:10 PM ET

Deal Flow

Private equity activity remained brisk across sectors. Sentinel Capital Partners sold Revenew International, a Houston-based cost recovery firm that has generated over $2 billion in client savings, to Bernhard Capital Partners. In the energy space, Old Ironsides and EnCap Flatrock agreed to sell Brazos Midstream to ONEOK for $4.4bn, with the Midland Basin platform expanding processing capacity to 1.2 Bcf/d by 2027. Meanwhile, Accrual Equity Partners and Dansons Capital Group acquired Shasta Pools, the Phoenix builder responsible for more than 150,000 pools in Maricopa County since 1966.

Dealmakers to Watch

Peter Pacelli of Granite Creek Capital is emerging as a key figure in agribusiness, arguing that such companies remain "underserved by institutional capital, especially in the lower middle market." His military background informs a disciplined approach to deal-making. Separately, Authentic Brands Group, backed by CVC Capital Partners and General Atlantic, continues its lifestyle IP acquisition spree with the purchase of OVO.

Funding Trends

Biotech startup investment has remained remarkably steady over the past few years, defying the broader volatility that has accompanied the AI funding surge. Global funding to biotech firms has hovered at consistent levels even as venture dollars flood into artificial intelligence startups, suggesting investors view the sector as a durable allocation despite longer development timelines.

European Ecosystem

A renewed online debate over German bureaucracy has sparked criticism from prominent founders including Stripe's Patrick Collison and Elon Musk, with detractors arguing the administrative burden is stifling the startup scene. "Things need to change," one critic said. In defence, Danish startups are adopting a collaborative model to support Ukraine's war efforts, described as "a win-win" for both innovation and security. Separately, an EU-wide incorporation structure — Europe's answer to Delaware — could accelerate continental rearmament by simplifying cross-border defence contracting.