Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: July 2, 2026, 11:32 AM ET

Private Equity Dealmaking & Fundraising

Hayfin Capital Management has secured over €15 billion ($17.1 for its latest direct lending fund, signaling a significant concentration of capital with large-scale players in the private debt market Hayfin raises $17.1bn. This substantial fundraising underscores the growing appetite for private credit solutions, even as the broader landscape sees shifts. One of Japan's most prominent institutional investors is reportedly on the move, potentially altering capital flows, while discussions continue regarding what UK regulators can offer private capital. In a notable transaction, Bain Capital and SoftBank's LY Corp have sweetened their bid for Japanese price-comparison operator Kakaku.com to $4.1 billion, widening their lead over rival EQT.

Sector-Specific Investments & Exits

The consumer sector saw significant activity with ACON Investments acquiring YumEarth from The Riverside Company, while Cinven backed the merger of its portfolio company Vitamin Well with EMPWR, a nutrition bar manufacturer Cinven backs merger. Cinven and Bridgepoint are combining Vitamin Well with EMPWR in a consumer play Cinven, Bridgepoint back Vitamin Well. In a separate consumer deal, Monomoy Capital acquired the Jiffy Lube franchise from Shell USA for $1.3 billion Monomoy acquires Jiffy Lube. The automotive sector also featured a sale process where Garnett Station collected first-round bids for its auto services provider Goodturn, with potential buyers offering 13x-15x EBITDA Garnett Station collects bids. Meritus Gas Partners' subsidiary Buckeye Welding Supply acquired helium solutions firm HICO Meritus acquires HICO, and WILsquare-backed Automotive Color & Supply scooped up Ohio Paint Supply WILsquare acquires Ohio Paint.

Technology & Data Focus

In health tech, Peak Rock Capital acquired specialty pharmacy conference organizer Asembia Peak Rock scoops up Asembia, while Corten and Ampersand jointly acquired Beacon Intelligence, a provider of structured data on early-stage drug development Corten, Ampersand acquire Beacon. Elsewhere in technology, Nordic Capital-backed Regnology agreed to acquire US regulatory technology firm Fed Reporter as part of its expansion push Regnology to buy Fed Reporter. Main Capital-backed Uname IT acquired Danish car dealership software provider Auto IT UnameIT picks up Auto IT. The broader tech sector continues to be shaped by AI, with investors pouring over $200 billion into startups globally in the second quarter of 2026, making it the second-largest quarter on record Global startup investment hits. This AI boom is accelerating funding and exits, though it also poses challenges, as demonstrated by the "Saa Spocalypse" exposing vulnerabilities in beloved software sectors AI upending software sweethearts. Drone maker Quantum Systems raised $1.2 billion, with ambitions to expand into humanoid robotics Quantum Systems raises $1.2bn.

Infrastructure & Renewables

KKR is set to acquire EDF's North American renewables arm for approximately $4.2 billion, with potential additional payments up to $390 million, marking a significant investment in clean energy KKR to buy EDF renewables. CVC DIF, the infrastructure arm of CVC, is exiting its Polish wind portfolio, Klara Renewables, to Actis CVC DIF exits wind portfolio. In a separate infrastructure financing move, RGreen Invest provided €52.4 million to Geogreen RGreen Invest backs Geogreen.

Aerospace & Defense

The aerospace and defense industry is attracting private capital as investors eye opportunities from an estimated €9 trillion spending spree over the next decade Private capital for UK defence. Inflexion has exited its portfolio company Avantus Aerospace, a global supplier of C-Class components, to US buyout firm Arcline Investment Inflexion exits Avantus.

Secondaries & Capital Solutions

Ardian is packaging its secondhand fund stakes into approximately $1 billion of debt through a collateralized fund obligation, reflecting a booming market for CFO solutions Ardian bundles secondaries. BCI's global head of PE noted that while more limited partners are participating directly in CVs and secondaries, they remain the exception rather than the norm in the market BCI seeks good returns.

Geographic Expansion & Regulatory Focus

IK Partners is expanding its European footprint by opening an office in Madrid and appointing Gonzalo Fernandez-Albiñana as partner effective September 1 IK Partners to open. Discussions are ongoing regarding a potential €5 billion Scaleup fund between the UK and France, with the EU offering a quota deal to resolve a standoff EU offers quota deal. Meanwhile, concerns have been raised in the UK regarding AI strategy, with a plan by Andy Burnham sparking backlash AI strategy sparks backlash.

Market Trends & Valuations

The broader market is seeing continued tech layoffs, with over 127,000 workers at U.S.-based tech companies cut in 2025, a trend that has persisted into 2026 Crunchbase Tech Layoffs Tracker. Despite these headwinds, Bending Spoons defied the Saa S slump, surging 40% on its first day of trading following an $18 billion IPO Bending Spoons surges 40%. The company's founder attributed its success to minimizing luck, drawing lessons from past startup failures Bending Spoons founder on success. In venture capital, Ashton Kutcher is leaving Sound Ventures to launch a new firm with Morgan Beller, focusing on AI infrastructure rather than core AI labs Ashton Kutcher launching new VC. Separately, Common Ventures has launched a scheme aimed at bringing working-class graduates into the startup ecosystem Common Ventures launches scheme. The deal market also saw William Blair acquire investment bank Inner Circle Sports William Blair acquires Inner, and Balance Point invest in Trivest-backed Aqua Verse Balance Point invests in AquaVerse.