Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: June 18, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

Private Equity Dealmaking & Fund Flows

General partners are navigating a climate where record highs of dry powder sit alongside a sluggish deal environment, even as firms continue to test the market with assets for sale. Amid this backdrop, Charterhouse Capital Partners XII has successfully surpassed its €1.5bn target, signaling a resilient fundraising environment for established managers as the firm eyes a final close later this year. Meanwhile, infrastructure secondaries are emerging as a critical, albeit undercapitalized, sub-asset class, with Allianz Global Investors actively increasing its focus on the space due to a wealth of attractive opportunities in a market that has grown significantly in recent years.

Industrial & Infrastructure Consolidation

Industrial sector activity remains brisk as firms seek to bolster their operational footprints. Arsenal Capital has appointed Max Schechter to lead its industrial growth business development, tasking him with expanding the firm’s reach across the industrial ecosystem. This tactical focus aligns with recent moves such as JFLCO-backed FSG completing its acquisition of the UK-based manufacturer Custom Alloy Corporation, a specialist in high-specification forgings for the defense and aerospace sectors. Concurrently, Riverside Company is expanding its portfolio with an investment in Asset Intel, an infrastructure tech firm that provides critical asset management software to municipal and federal transit authorities.

Strategic M&A and Portfolio Realignment

Private equity firms are actively pruning their portfolios and consolidating market positions. Platinum Equity has initiated the sale of its HVAC equipment supplier Heat Controller, an asset it originally acquired as part of its broader investment in Motors & Armatures, Inc. In the software space, Omni Partners-backed Infoshare has bolstered its local authority footprint by picking up DEF Software, a provider serving more than 60 councils across the UK. Furthermore, Bertram Capital-backed Ridgeline Roofing is scaling its operations through the acquisition of Freedom Roofing & Construction, while Avista-backed EBI has expanded its medical device capabilities by acquiring Xstim, the bone healing unit previously held by Precision Medical Products.

Venture Capital & Innovation Trends

The early-stage landscape is undergoing a transformation as investors recalibrate their definitions of defensibility in the age of generative AI. Vikram Taneja of AT&T Ventures argues that while the barrier to building software has dropped, the bar for true competitive advantage has shifted, a sentiment mirrored in YC Demo Day startups that have commanded valuations exceeding $175 million. This capital appetite extends to niche players like Flagright, which secured $12.5m to fuel its US expansion. Despite a slower week for large deals, significant capital is still flowing toward high-growth sectors such as quantum computing, cybersecurity, and fintech, even as industry experts caution that boards must actively confront the disruptive potential of these technologies rather than waiting for performance to falter.

European Markets & Sector Diversification

European deal activity is showing signs of targeted expansion across diverse verticals. EQT is moving to acquire Exolaunch, a firm specializing in satellite deployment and mission management technology, while Nordic Capital is set to acquire the finance platform Liberis. In the travel sector, BGF has invested in the adventure travel operator Wild Frontiers, which manages hundreds of global tours annually. These transactions occur alongside a broader push for inclusion by firms like ICG, which view diversity as a mechanism to influence leadership and shape more resilient management teams across the private market landscape.