Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: July 3, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

Private Equity Dealmaking & Exits

Advent International is nearing a $3.5 billion exit from its naval technology company, Ultra Maritime, with Lockheed Martin reportedly leading the race to acquire the business. The sale would mark a significant return for Advent, which has invested in the defense sector. Meanwhile, Eurazeo completed the sale of its Spanish hotel portfolio, FST Hotels, to Extendam, a specialist in hospitality-focused private equity, signaling continued activity in the European real estate and leisure sectors. In a potential blockbuster exit, Blackstone has filed to take its portfolio company, fast-growing sandwich franchisor Jersey Mike's Subs, public with a valuation of up to $12 billion. This move, less than 18 months after Blackstone took control, offers a clear path to liquidity for the private equity giant.

General Atlantic is reportedly in discussions to sell a portion of its stake in sportswear brand Gymshark back to its founder, Ben Francis. This potential transaction suggests a desire by the founder to consolidate ownership and control over the rapidly expanding company. Elsewhere, Riverside Company has sold its organic candy brand, Yum Earth, to ACON Investments, indicating ongoing portfolio rotation and divestitures within the consumer goods space. In the maritime sector, JFLCO-backed Wrist Group has acquired MSA, a provider of marine supply and logistics services, broadening its operational footprint within the maritime industry.

Venture Capital & Growth Investments

European venture capital firms are grappling with internal divisions over a proposal to limit investments in non-European companies, a move that could reshape funding strategies for startups on the continent ETCI-backed VC firms. This debate highlights the evolving geopolitical and economic considerations influencing VC allocations. In a significant development for artificial intelligence, ElevenLabs is reportedly seeking a $22 billion valuation through a new share sale, underscoring the immense investor interest in generative AI technology. This follows reports of AI labs increasingly dominating commercial real estate in areas like London's King's Cross AI labs.

Melinda French Gates's Pivotal Ventures is among the limited partners backing Magnify Ventures's $46.6 million Fund II, which focuses on early-stage investments. This participation from a prominent impact investor signals continued appetite for early-stage technology ventures. Jack Selby's venture firm, Copper Sky Capital, is raising a $300 million second fund, with investments in hot startups like Etched through his Arizona network. Meanwhile, Bending Spoons CEO has spoken about an $18 billion IPO, framing the company's ambitions as building a "legendary institution," reflecting the high growth aspirations of European tech unicorns Europe's billion-dollar startups.

Fundraising & Investor Relations

Hayfin Capital Management has raised over €15 billion ($17.1 for its latest flagship direct lending fund, demonstrating a strong capital aggregation trend among scale players in the private credit market. This substantial fundraising indicates robust demand for private credit strategies. The Town of Wellesley is seeking an investment consultant for its retirement board and Other Post-Employment Benefits trust, issuing a request for proposal Wellesley Retirement Board. This move is part of standard institutional investor governance and consultant selection processes.

Evercore has bolstered its Asian secondaries team with a new hire from HarbourVest, signaling growth in the region's private capital markets and a focus on secondary transactions. In a move that could reshape the UK's investment landscape, there is a discussion on whether the EU should block the UK from its €5 billion superfund EU superfund. This raises questions about cross-border capital flows and regulatory cooperation. One of Japan's most influential institutional investors is reportedly on the move, suggesting potential shifts in capital allocation from a major global LP Japan's LP.

Sector-Specific Investments & Transactions

Platinum Equity is set to invest in retailer Grand Appliance, which operates 31 retail locations and five distribution centers across the Midwest. This investment highlights continued private equity interest in the retail sector, particularly in established regional players. In the healthcare technology space, GTCR-backed Experity has acquired Exdion Healthcare, an on-demand healthcare technology platform, continuing the trend of consolidation and technology integration within the health tech industry. Truelink Capital has made its first platform investment from its Fund II with an acquisition of Horwitz, a provider of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) services for commercial and industrial facilities.

Parthenon has backed Momentum Life Sciences, a patient support solutions provider, with the existing leadership team retaining significant shareholder status. This investment points to ongoing activity in healthcare services and support. In the regulatory technology sector, Nordic Capital-backed Regnology has agreed to acquire Fed Reporter, signaling an expansion push into the U.S. market for the regulatory technology platform. Corten and Ampersand have acquired Beacon Intelligence, which provides structured data on early-stage drug development, suggesting continued investment in the life sciences data and analytics sector.

European Market Dynamics & Trends

Sandbrook reports "significant momentum" in European digital infrastructure, citing a €200 million investment in Krios, a platform focused on developing grid-secured land for data centers. This underscores the ongoing build-out of digital infrastructure across Europe. Meanwhile, Main Capital Volpi Capital are active in software deals, reflecting continued private equity interest in the software sector. The European Union's 30-year initiative to convert startup placements into patents is yielding results, demonstrating a long-term strategy for innovation and intellectual property development EU startup initiative.

The debate over whether the EU should block the UK from its €5 billion superfund EU superfund illustrates ongoing discussions about financial integration and regulatory alignment between the UK and the EU post-Brexit. The discussion around "self-governance" in continuation vehicles suggests a push for market-driven guidance rather than regulatory imposition in the secondaries market Continuation vehicle guidance. Additionally, the planned expansion of IK Partners into Madrid, with the appointment of Gonzalo Fernandez-Albiñana as partner, signals growing European private equity activity and strategic office openings.