Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: June 23, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

Venture Capital & AI Bets

Menlo Ventures has closed its largest capital raise in its 50-year history, securing $3 billion across two new funds to invest in artificial intelligence startups from seed through growth stages raises victorious $3B fund. This significant capital injection follows the firm's bold $750 million bet on AI company Anthropic in 2024, which has since cemented Menlo's reputation as a prominent AI investor. In parallel, drone startup Stark confirmed a €500 million fundraising round backed by notable investors including Sequoia and Founders Fund confirms €500m raise. Meanwhile, Tandem Health CEO, Mark Sterling, stated his company is not dependent on large AI models like those from OpenAI or Anthropic, suggesting a more diversified approach to AI integration within healthcare CEO: ‘We’re not dependent’.

Dealmaking Across Sectors

Private equity firms continue to actively pursue acquisitions across various industries. Bristow Group is acquiring Berry Aviation from Acorn Capital for $105 million sells Berry Aviation for $105m. Teleo Capital has acquired Modersys, a pharmaceutical manufacturing intelligence platform, from Applied Materials scoops up pharma manufacturing intelligence platform. Apheon is set to acquire Belgian managed IT services provider Easi, which serves over 1,500 clients in Belgium and Luxembourg acquires managed IT biz. In the healthcare sector, Brightstar Capital has acquired Erdman, a healthcare architecture firm, which will operate as an add-on to its portfolio company KZF Design snaps up healthcare architecture firm. Additionally, Life Science Connect, backed by private equity, is expanding its biopharmaceutical outsourcing platform with the acquisition of Pharma Source and CDMO Live picks up biopharma brands.

Infrastructure & Platforms

Mangrove Equity has launched a new platform, Peak Pavement Group, by adding two new businesses: HD Sealcoating & Paving Solutions and Maintain It All rolls out new platform. Juniper Capital is backing AV systems design firm Bug ID, with founder and CEO Matt Lavine retaining a significant equity stake and leadership role backs AV systems design firm. HIG-backed Axis CLC has acquired Fieldway Group, a specialist in fire safety and compliance services picks up Fieldway Group.

Live Events & Sports Investments

The live events sector is experiencing a surge in private equity interest, with firms like Apollo, Hellman & Friedman, and Platinum Equity making new investments invest in live events. This trend is driven by the sector's projected growth, with the global market expected to exceed $1.2 trillion by 2032 banking on live events. In sports, KKR-owned Arctos Partners is involved in a $288 million development project for a stadium district in Tennessee, aiming to build mixed-use entertainment areas adjacent to sports venues backs $288m stadium district.

Credit & Secondaries

Allianz Global Investors has held the first close of its third Asia Pacific private credit fund, securing $744 million in commitments for the Allianz Asia Pacific Secured Lending Fund III gathers $744m at first close. In the secondaries market, Pantheon's infrastructure secondaries fund has surpassed its target, with its flagship fund ranking among the largest in the sector ahead of final closes infra secondaries surpasses target. ADIC, Mubadala's indirect investments arm, has hired a senior professional to oversee its secondaries portfolio, having launched its secondaries unit this year makes senior secondaries hire.

Strategic Exits & Divestitures

CVC Capital Partners is reportedly considering a €6 billion exit from Cooper Consumer Health, with Cap Vest-owned Stada emerging as a potential buyer, following CD&R's withdrawal from the auction for Nestlé's water business weighs €6bn exit. Platinum Equity is the sole remaining bidder for Nestlé's water unit after CD&R exited the auction process left as sole bidder. In the Philippines, CVC is exiting its stake in logistics leader Fast Logistics Group, with the founding family taking full control of the company after a five-year holding period exits Philippine logistics leader.

Fundraising & Investor Sentiment

While venture capital firms like Menlo Ventures are raising substantial new funds, some institutional investors are reassessing their allocations. The Virginia pension has reduced its target allocation for private equity, citing volatility concerns, marking the first such reduction in over 15 years cuts private equity target. Separately, a recent report indicates that limited partners (LPs) believe customized Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) are here to stay, but the increasing use of such mechanisms is creating operational challenges for general partners (GPs) CVs are here to stay.

Sector-Specific Investments

Reverence Capital is investing in accounting firm Eide Bailly to provide additional resources for strategy acceleration and client service expansion to invest in CPA firm. Great Hill has invested in the pet grooming franchise Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming, with Garnett Station Partners remaining a significant investor invests in pet grooming franchise. Incline Equity has invested in West Physics, a provider of testing services for medical imaging equipment invests in medical and health physics testing provider. L Catterton has acquired a significant minority stake in clean haircare brand RŌZ, founded by celebrity hairstylist Mara Roszak takes significant minority stake. Berkshire Partners is set to invest in Harbourfront Wealth Group in a deal valued at C$1.775 billion to invest in Harbourfront Wealth Group.

European Tech & IPO Market

Italian software acquirer Bending Spoons, which employs a private equity-style strategy, is seeking to raise as much as $1.62 billion in an initial public offering alongside some of its backers seek up to $1.62bn in IPO. The broader European tech landscape is undergoing a rebuilding of its technology stacks Europe is rebuilding its tech stack.

Other Transactions

Platinum Equity is acquiring manufacturer Tangent Technologies, with the transaction expected to close in the third quarter of 2026 acquire manufacturer. PE-backed Hyve has acquired Virtuosi League, a community platform for C-suite executives acquires C-suite community platform. Mérieux's Jean-François Billet noted that AI is accelerating drug discovery by enabling faster compound screening, and indicated private capital is keen to participate in UK defense initiatives AI impacting all of healthcare. Apollo's flagship retail credit fund is managing redemption requests by satisfying only a fraction of them, as exits in the fund have reached 17% flagship retail credit fund meets 5%.