Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: June 3, 2026, 11:33 AM ET

AI & Technology Investments

Venture capital flows surged to $92 billion in May, driven by Anthropic's $50 billion funding round that pushed startup investment to near-record levels, according to Crunchbase data. In artificial intelligence applications, Wordsmith secured $70 million in Series B funding to accelerate legal workflow automation, while Factorial raised $150 million in Series D financing backed by General Catalyst and Atomico. The quantum computing sector saw substantial activity with Oxford Quantum Circuits closing a $350 million Series C and Quobly raising €115 million supported by STMicroelectronics. Plural led a $26 million investment in industrial AI startup Gigaton, and SoftBank entered talks to participate in an $800 million round for Agile Robotics. Meanwhile, Sixth Street is nearing a $1 billion-plus minority stake in commodities analytics platform Kpler at a near-$4 billion valuation, with Five Arrows completing its full exit from the company.

Infrastructure & Industrial Assets

Private equity firms demonstrated strong appetite for infrastructure and industrial services, with Littlejohn & Co acquiring Milrose Consultants amid growing demand to maintain aging building stock, according to managing director Brian Michaud. The firm's investment thesis centers on increased proactive maintenance of older structures. Triton Partners agreed to acquire Flender from Carlyle for an undisclosed amount, adding to its industrial power transmission portfolio as Carlyle exits the gearbox and generator supplier. Peak Rock Capital completed its acquisition of JR Dalziel, a manufacturer and distributor of savory flavors and seasonings to the food industry. In water infrastructure, White Wolf Hybrid Capital invested in AccuCast, a waterworks equipment supplier, alongside Investly Capital.

Healthcare Services Consolidation

Healthcare-focused private equity activity intensified with Sheridan Capital Partners recapitalizing Tres Health, taking a majority stake in the self-insurance health plan provider serving small and medium businesses. Managing partner Chris McCrory indicated that increased employer investment in self-insured plans represents the most effective cost-control strategy. Separately, Kain Capital backed radiology services network RadX, providing capital to expand clinic footprint, recruit physicians and operational talent, and enhance technology and patient experience initiatives. These investments reflect growing private equity interest in healthcare delivery models that offer employers direct cost management capabilities.

Corporate Carve-Outs & Platform Acquisitions

Several major platform acquisitions reshaped market positions across sectors. Hellman & Friedman acquired B2B events business Hyve Group from Providence Equity Partners and Searchlight Capital Partners, consolidating the global events platform under new ownership. Cora Group acquired Finastra's US mid-market operations, expanding the UK-based financial services software provider's North American presence. In distribution, Innesto Partners acquired Edgar Hausmann, a supplier of mission-critical tools and consumables for aerospace and defense customers. 3i invested in French natural food supplements brand Nutergia, which distributes primarily through pharmacy channels, marking continued European consumer health interest.

Strategic Exits & Portfolio Realizations

Multiple portfolio companies pursued strategic exits and capital events. Waldencast agreed to sell its Obagi Medical skincare line to Bridgepoint for $460 million, streamlining the London-based beauty and wellness platform's focus. Greenbriar Equity Group completed a $650 million IPO of Applied Aerospace & Defense while retaining approximately 81% ownership, taking the space and defense platform public. Metric Capital exited BeeDigital through a sale to GPF, divesting the Spanish SME digitalization platform with roughly 65,000 recurring subscription customers across Spain and Latin America. Blackstone explored selling Japanese payments firm SP.LINKS at an asking price of approximately ¥100 billion ($625 , with SoftBank reportedly entering the second round of bidding.

Secondaries Market Dynamics

Institutional investors showed mixed signals on secondaries strategies. The Florida State Board of Administration shifted away from LP-led secondaries after experiencing underwhelming performance from its $219 billion portfolio, according to senior investment officer John Bradley. Conversely, Swedish pension fund Alecta outlined plans to double its infrastructure allocation to $4 billion through external managers while avoiding secondaries investments, with head of alternatives Jonas Nyquist noting secondaries provide "market beta" rather than the targeted exposure desired. Meanwhile, Luxembourg-based APS Holding launched an initiative targeting secondaries real estate non-performing loan trades, seeking to acquire portfolio remnants from original buyers.

Geographic Expansion & Market Access

Private equity firms continued expanding geographic footprints to access new deal opportunities. Aurelius opened a Tokyo office and hired Eiji Shibata to source Japanese corporate carve-outs, marking the operationally-focused firm's tenth global location. This move reflects growing private equity interest in Japan's restructuring opportunities. In Latin America, PSG invested in Dockwa, a marina management software serving nearly 4,000 facilities, signaling continued venture capital interest in regional software platforms.

Cross-Border Acquisitions & Portfolio Actions

European private equity activity spanned multiple sectors and geographies. PAI Partners agreed to take a majority stake in Arlettie, the international B2B inventory management platform serving luxury brands, through its mid-market fund. The company organizes exclusive private sales, staff sales and inventory-clearance events for high-end retailers. On the software side, Main Capital-backed BCS HR Software acquired Timegrip, a Nordic provider of workforce management and HR cost control solutions. Waste management consolidation emerged with Allied Industrial-backed Liberty acquiring M&M Garbage Disposal, expanding integrated waste and recycling solutions in North Carolina.