Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: May 28, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

AI & Technology Investments

European AI startup Mistral has struck deals with industrial giants BMW and Airbus as part of its "industrial AI" push, while simultaneously pursuing a billion-dollar strategy to build Europe's AI cloud infrastructure. The company's expansion into industrial applications comes as oncology AI firm Triomics secured $22M in funding led by Battery Ventures to bring specialized AI solutions to cancer centers. Meanwhile, tech executives reportedly exhibit what some describe as "AI psychosis," with Box CEO Aaron Levie noting that CEOs are uniquely prone to "almost religious belief" in AI productivity gains. In the fintech space, Papaya is redesigning infrastructure to address bottlenecks in Banking-as-a-Service (Baa S), reflecting growing investor interest in specialized financial technology solutions.

Private Equity M&A Activity

Alpine Investors is nearing a minority stake sale in home services company Apex Service Partners at a $10 billion valuation including debt, highlighting strong demand in the home services sector. In the insurance space, Inflexion has backed the launch of Mittelstands-Assekuranz-Partner, a new German multi-specialist insurance broker with Cremer Assekuranz as its first strategic partner. The Middle East continues to play an expanding role in private equity as Saudi Arabia's $1.15 trillion sovereign wealth fund is "radically changing" its supply chain strategy across its PE portfolio while centralizing data using AI amid geopolitical instability. Meanwhile, DigitalBridge has agreed to acquire Arc Light for $1.05 billion, consisting of a $650 million base purchase price plus up to $400 million in contingent consideration, reflecting continued consolidation in media and entertainment assets.

European Private Equity Expansion

KKR has opened a new office in Milan as part of its strategy to deepen investment in Italy, while Tikehau Capital has appointed Guillaume Arnaud as head of France, bolstering its local leadership team. In Germany, Main Capital has acquired a majority stake in Belgium's Ferranti, an international software provider for utility companies, expanding its presence in the European software sector. Modella Capital has agreed to acquire Flying Tiger Copenhagen in its most ambitious move yet to build an international high-street retail platform, signaling continued consolidation in the European retail sector.

Healthcare & Specialized Services

Frazier has acquired behavioral health pharmacy firm Altruix from Wind Rose, expanding its portfolio in healthcare services for patients with severe mental illness, substance use disorders, and intellectual disabilities. Shore Capital-backed Ondex Automation has acquired electrical engineering firm The Fitch Company, extending its capabilities in discrete and process automation systems integration. Meanwhile, CVC Credit has reinforced its position in nuclear medicine specialist Curium through a new debt and equity package supporting refinancing, demonstrating continued investor confidence in specialized healthcare services.

Private Equity Talent & Strategy

Transom has appointed Jeff Haight as operating partner to oversee value creation initiatives across select portfolio companies, while EIV Capital has promoted Jason Tracton to partner, having joined in 2022 as managing director of EIV Resources. In impact investing, APG, the €615 billion Dutch pension giant, is working with GPs to hit its €10 billion impact PE target, while impact-focused limited partners are reportedly using company CVs to "lock" impact missions as part of enhanced due diligence processes.

Startup Funding & Venture Trends

Despite an overall increase in startup funding, venture dollars for Black founders remain scarce in the U.S., even as AI funding booms. In Europe, Italian and Spanish startups are showing remarkable growth, with 16 companies achieving 200%+ one-year revenue growth. Database provider Click House has tripled annualized revenue to $250M, charting a path toward an IPO within the next few years, while B2B financing startup Capchase has secured $200M in debt and equity, consisting of $26 million in equity and a $174 million credit facility. The startup ecosystem also saw applications close for Startup Battlefield, offering $100,000 in equity-free funding to selected entrepreneurs.