Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: May 15, 2026, 5:31 PM ET

Major Private Equity Transactions

Private equity firms secured significant deals across multiple industries, with Blackstone and CD&R evaluating take-private bids for Magnum Ice Cream Company, which is currently trading below its IPO price. In the healthcare sector, Blackstone and KKR seized control of Affordable Care through a restructuring that will write off approximately 70% of the company's debt, while Kinderhook completed its take-private acquisition of Enabit Home Health & Hospice. On the industrial front, HIG Capital snapped up International Aerospace Coatings, which serves original equipment manufacturers, major airlines, and maintenance providers, and Fusion Capital-backed Relevant acquired systems integration firm Automation Werx to expand its flow control solutions portfolio.

Cross-Border Investment & Co-Investments

Global private equity firms continued cross-border expansion with CPP Investments committing €400 million to acquire a significant minority stake in Proudreed, a French last-mile logistics platform, in a co-investment alongside funds managed by Blackstone. Meanwhile, Mercury Capital won a racial discrimination case when a jury dismissed claims by the firm's co-founder that it had become a "safe haven for white men only" under former CEO Michael Ricciardi. In Europe, Charlesbank-backed Tecomet completed a merger with Nordic-backed Orchid Orthopedic Solutions, with the combined company operating under the Tecomet name.

Venture Capital & Technology Investments

The venture capital landscape saw notable activity as General Catalyst's VC "rage bait" strategy proved particularly effective with Andreessen Horowitz's Andreessen responding repeatedly. In Europe, Dutch dronemaker Destinus is reportedly in €200 million funding talks, while London-based startups are developing technologies to make AI 100 times cheaper annually. Euan Blair's Multiverse boosted its valuation with a $70 million fundraise, and Meridian Ventures launched a $35 million fund specifically targeting MBA-deferred founders building enterprise technology in the United States.

Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences Focus

Private equity firms intensified their focus on the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector, with Blackstone, Audax, Five Arrows, Bridgepoint, and Baird all targeting add-on acquisitions for pharmaceutical and life science consultancy platforms. This trend extends to specialized investments like Eir Partners' commitment to Quartz Bio, a life sciences data analytics company, as drug R&D complexity drives innovation in the sector. The industry consolidation comes as testing and inspection companies attract significant interest from private equity firms including Ardian, Blackstone, Bridgepoint, and EQT, drawn to revenue predictability in these specialized sectors.

Market Trends & Industry Developments

The private equity industry embraces AI adoption as demonstrated by TICC's strategic integration of artificial intelligence, which has helped attract additional private equity investment according to Houlihan Lokey. This focus on technology extends to the broader market where European startups are simultaneously raising capital and pursuing acquisition opportunities. Meanwhile, the industry prepares for major conferences with Italy's largest private equity conference returning to Milan next May, France's largest scheduled for Paris next March, and the Nordics' largest event set for Stockholm this November, highlighting the global nature of private equity activity.