Private Equity 8 Hours

Last updated: September 28, 2026, 2:02 PM ET

Fund Launches & Capital Formation

Blackstone rolled out Blackstone Private Markets Fund (BXPM), a perpetual vehicle consolidating its private markets platform into a single fund structure. Franklin Templeton is expanding its evergreen private markets franchise in EMEA, with the $1.8trn asset manager betting on client diversification to broaden retail access. Meanwhile, UK venture capitalists are pushing for US-style regulatory rules to cut the cost of launching domestic funds, arguing the current framework puts London at a competitive disadvantage.

Deal Activity & M&A

GTCR has completed its acquisition of Tactacam, the Billings, Montana-based maker of cellular-connected trail and security cameras, from Bertram Capital. Linden Capital and Audax have finalized the sale of Stat Lab Medical Products to Danaher’s Leica Biosystems; the company supplies pre-analytical consumables and equipment for pathology labs. Veritas Capital’s Finalsite is bolting on Rev Trak, a school payments provider processing digital transactions for more than 13,000 US schools. Avesi Partners has backed New Age Medical, a St. Louis-based hub connecting medical device manufacturers and sales representatives in the spinal surgery supply chain. Coalesce Capital is making a growth investment in Clear Defense, a pest control firm founded in 2013 that operates 27 locations across 16 states. Fifth Ocean Capital and Tartan Investment have partnered on a deal for Complete Production Resources, the Orlando-based live events producer providing audio, lighting, video and staging services.

Middle Market & Growth Equity

Growth Capital Partners has named Richard Shaw managing partner in a leadership reshuffle at the UK firm, which invests in technology and specialist services from its £400m+ fund. Ferghana Investment Partners has hired Will Callahan from TZP Group and Katie Marshall from PNC, adding senior talent to its hybrid capital team focused on middle-market businesses.

Sector Shifts & Strategy

Tailwater Capital is shifting its investment strategy decisively toward gas infrastructure. The firm’s leadership says it will be “much more weighted toward gas infrastructure than oil ” a pivot detailed alongside Fifth Ocean and Tartan’s separate backing of CPR in the durable live events sector. Warburg Pincus has raised its takeover proposal for Ingenia Communities to A$5.25 per share, marking the third approach as the board weighs the offer.

AI & Talent

MAVI has emerged from stealth with $4m in funding, betting that the AI boom will create demand for a new kind of accountant — one who can work alongside machine learning systems. The startup operates a global accounting talent marketplace powered by AI matching. Crunchbase News profiles Sandhya Venkatachalam, an early Groq investor who expects half her bets to fail; the Axiom Partners founder discusses her AI-focused strategy and risk tolerance. Cohere’s chief AI officer is warning that the US and China will hold European AI “by the throat” unless local capabilities are developed, urging policymakers to prioritize sovereign infrastructure.

UK Tech Exits & Regulation

Monzo’s sale talks have reignited fears over Britain’s tech exit problem, with critics arguing the “we build them and sell them” cycle deprives the UK of long-term value creation. Regulators are also targeting a private funds weak spot in what the SEC calls “responsible retailisation,” seeking to tighten rules around retail access to private market vehicles.

Events & Competition

Tech Crunch has revealed the next five VCs who will judge Startup Battlefield 200 contenders at Disrupt 2026, following thousands of applications and multiple review rounds. The final deadline for exhibit tables at the event is October 2.