Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: July 2, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

Dealmaking Activity & Fund Closures

Private equity firms were active across a range of sectors, with significant transactions spanning aerospace, automotive, and clean energy. Inflexion exited its investment in aerospace supplier Avantus, selling the company to Arcline Investment. Main Capital-backed Uname IT bolstered its footprint in the automotive software market by acquiring Denmark’s Auto IT. In clean energy, KKR agreed to acquire EDF’s North American renewables arm for $4.2 billion, marking a substantial bet on the sector KKR to acquire. KKR is also taking control of a $1.3 billion SK renewables platform in South Korea to support the country's AI build-out KKR takes control. Elsewhere, Apheon is set to acquire orthopedic biomaterials manufacturer Teknimed Apheon acquire, while Monomoy Capital is purchasing the Jiffy Lube franchise from Shell USA for $1.3 billion Monomoy Capital acquires. Balance Point invested in Aqua Verse, a platform unifying pool service brands Balance Point invests, and Investcorp-backed Sunrise Produce acquired Family Tree Produce Investcorp-backed Sunrise. Harvest Partners scooped up Integra Testing Services Harvest Partners scoops, and Peak Rock sold geospatial services firm SAM to New Mountain Peak Rock sells. Truelink invested in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services firm Horwitz Truelink invests, and WILsquare-backed Automotive Color & Supply acquired Ohio Paint Supply WILsquare-backed Automotive.

In the venture capital space, German drone maker Quantum Systems raised $1.2 billion in a funding round that also eyed future investments in humanoid robots Quantum Systems raises. Bending Spoons, a company known for acquiring and revamping established tech brands, successfully priced its Nasdaq IPO above its target range at $29.00 per share, raising $1.68 billion for the company and allowing backers to cash in Bending Spoons prices. This follows its impressive first-day trading surge of 40% Bending Spoons defies. Meanwhile, Ashton Kutcher is departing Sound Ventures to launch a new firm with Morgan Beller, focusing on infrastructure supporting AI labs Ashton Kutcher leaving. Ardian Semiconductor is investing in French AI chip designer VSORA, taking a minority stake in the fabless company Ardian Semiconductor takes.

Fund managers are also demonstrating strong capital-raising capabilities. Hamilton Lane closed its sixth direct equity fund at $3.8 billion, its largest to date Hamilton Lane closes. Behrman completed a $250 million continuation fund for Shurco Behrman completes, and Ardian is packaging secondaries stakes into a $1 billion debt vehicle Ardian bundles.

Investor Focus & Sector Trends

Investor interest in defense-related private equity strategies is on the rise, with expectations of a significant spending increase over the next decade LPs looking. The ongoing cost of living crisis and global instability are also influencing investment decisions, with companies like Cinven and Bridgepoint-backed Vitamin Well planning to combine with nutritional bar manufacturer EMPWR Cinven, Bridgepoint-backed. The European Union is reportedly offering a quota deal to resolve a standoff with the UK over a €5 billion scaleup fund EU offers quota.

Within the technology sector, while many companies face layoffs, some are defying the trend. Bending Spoons, which has grown by acquiring and revitalizing established tech brands, achieved a significant IPO Bending Spoons defies. In contrast, the Crunchbase Tech Layoffs Tracker indicates over 127,000 workers at U.S. tech companies were laid off in 2025, with cuts continuing into 2026 Crunchbase Tech Layoffs. The release of advanced AI models by companies like Anthropic is putting pressure on other science startups Anthropic release puts.

The automotive sector continues to see significant PE activity beyond software providers. Monomoy Capital's acquisition of Jiffy Lube for $1.3 billion is a notable transaction Monomoy Capital acquires. The broader trend of PE firms acquiring and consolidating businesses is evident in various sectors, from pool service brands with Balance Point's investment in Aqua Verse Balance Point invests to mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services with Truelink's investment in Horwitz Truelink invests. First Reserve-backed Trillium Flow Technologies sold select valve businesses to Flowserve First Reserve-backed Trillium.

New Ventures & Talent

New initiatives are emerging to broaden access to the startup ecosystem. Common Ventures has launched a scheme aimed at bringing working-class graduates into the startup world Common Ventures launches. In talent management, Blue Wolf has appointed Vanessa Generelli as its new CFO, with Eve Mongiardo transitioning to partner and chief compliance officer Blue Wolf taps. The trend of rapid growth through acquisition is exemplified by Bending Spoons' strategy, with co-founders emphasizing minimizing luck in their success Bending Spoons founder.

Broader market dynamics are also at play. Klarna successfully won a $1.97 billion antitrust lawsuit against Google Klarna wins. Meanwhile, self-driving scaleup Wayve is set to test the London Stock Exchange's Pisces platform Wayve set test. The sheer scale of investment in AI infrastructure is further highlighted by Brookfield's fivefold expansion of its financing with Bloom Energy to $25 billion Brookfield lifts. The biggest investors in private equity are detailed in PE International's Global Investor 150 ranking Global Investor 150.

Notable Exits & Fund Performance

Beyond acquisitions, several firms have seen successful exits or are actively managing their portfolios. Inflexion's exit from Avantus Aerospace is a case in point Inflexion sells. KKR is also divesting its Ocean Yield ship leasing platform to AP Moller KKR agrees sell. In separate transactions, IVEST and Cloverlay are selling the Care Bears brand to Authentic after significantly growing the business IVEST and Cloverlay sell, and William Blair has acquired investment bank Inner Circle Sports William Blair acquires. Volpi Capital took a majority stake in archiving software firm kgs Volpi Capital takes.