Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: June 25, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

Major Buyouts & Fundraisings

Private equity firms are demonstrating continued appetite for large-scale acquisitions and strategic fund deployments. Permira and Warburg Pincus-led investors took analytics provider Clearwater Analytics private for $8.4 billion, a significant deal underscoring the appeal of data and software companies. In a landmark European fundraising, Main Capital Partners closed a record €5.25 billion software fund in under six months, marking the largest buyout fundraise ever in the Netherlands. Carlyle Group is also expanding its strategic focus with the launch of a dedicated fund for defense and reindustrialization initiatives, registering Carlyle Defense and Reindustrialization Partners in June .

Sector-Specific Investments

Technology and healthcare remain key targets, with significant activity in AI and digital services. CVC Capital Partners is set to invest in the online chess platform Chess.com, with existing backer General Atlantic retaining a stake. In a move reflecting the growing importance of AI, Russ Roenick, co-founder of an unnamed firm, argues that the "private equity AI advantage is built by operators", suggesting that hands-on operational expertise is critical for successful AI integration and scaling in Europe, where founders are prioritizing long-term value over immediate funding rounds. Health unicorn Alan secured a substantial €480 million Series G round led by Prosus. Meanwhile, online banking platform N26 achieved profitability following a leadership shakeup.

European & Asian Deal Activity

Activity in Asia and Europe highlights diverse investment strategies. Advent International is making its debut in the Japanese market by acquiring home care operator Japan Wellbeing (JWB) from MBK Partners. In what could be Japan's largest property deal, Blackstone and Bain Capital have advanced to the second bidding round for Fuji Media Holdings' $6.3 billion property arm. In Italy, Quadrivio & Pambianco and Capdesia Group are acquiring Alice Pizza, the country's largest fast-casual pizza chain, which operates 231 sites internationally. HSG completed its acquisition of luxury footwear brand Golden Goose, with Temasek and True Light Capital joining as minority shareholders.

Automotive & Industrials Focus

The automotive sector is seeing significant carve-outs and strategic divestments. Bain Capital is acquiring a majority 51% stake in Everllence, a provider of propulsion and decarbonization products, from the Volkswagen Group in a deal valued at €7.4 billion, with Tikehau also agreeing to exit its stake in the company. Separately, Tikehau is selling Aubert & Duval, a designer and producer of complex metallic materials, to Airbus and Safran. In other industrial news, Reverence Capital is backing the CPA firm Eide Bailly, while Platinum Equity is acquiring sustainable building products company Tangent from The Sterling Group .

Growth in Niche Markets & Secondaries

Specialized funds and secondary market strategies are gaining traction. Carlyle launched a dedicated defense and reindustrialization fund, Carlyle Defense and Reindustrialization Partners, in June. EQT secured a sustainability-linked fund finance facility, reflecting the growing importance of materiality and impact in niche fund finance markets. The secondaries market, however, faces challenges with a "lack of standardisation when it comes to benchmarking," raising questions about appropriate measurement strategies and the suitability of traditional private equity benchmarks. NAV financing is also maturing, offering a more flexible but complex ecosystem with an expanding range of use cases and lenders. Liquidity & Investor Pacing

Institutional investors are prioritizing liquidity as they adjust their private equity pacing. The Ohio Teachers pension fund, facing a $4 billion annual deficit, is setting its private equity pacing for FY 2027 with a focus on liquidity to address cash flow issues.

Venture Capital & Startup Ecosystem

The UK's venture capital ecosystem is receiving a boost, with the British Business Bank backing 10 VC funds with a £90 million allocation and eyeing a stake in the EU's €5 billion Scaleup Fund. This comes amid ongoing discussions about the UK tech sector's future, with concerns about potential tax policies under a new government. Europe's investors are also showing interest in nuclear startups amidst a "massive scramble" for sovereign energy solutions.

Sports & Entertainment Investments

Private equity is extending its reach into sports and entertainment. Blue Owl Capital is in advanced talks to acquire a minority stake in the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers. Harbour View acquired a publisher's share of certain songs written by the influential Wolf Cousins collective, which includes producers and songwriters like Ilya Salmanzadeh and Oscar Holter.

Exits and Monetization

Firms are reporting accelerated exit activity and capital returns. KKR informed investors that its monetization activity from March 31 to June 24, 2026, exceeded $900 million, indicating a pickup in realizations and capital distributions to clients. Ambienta finalized its exit from Cap Vert, a French environmental services provider, to Gimv. Bessemer-backed Mas Restaurant Group, a Taco Bell franchisee, sold 43 Ohio locations to Southpaw. Omni-backed Infoshare acquired 3C Consultants and Infoboss, providers of data governance and compliance software. The Sterling Group is selling its sustainable building products company Tangent to Platinum Equity.