Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: July 14, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

Defense Tech and AI Draw Significant Investment

European defense technology companies are attracting substantial private equity and venture capital. Nest AI, aiming to reduce Europe's reliance on foreign AI models for defense, is a notable player in this space. Project Q, a defense tech firm, recently secured €15 million in a Series A funding round just 11 months after its last raise. In a significant development, Helsing, an AI company, raised an impressive $1.8 billion with backing from Goldman Sachs and Lightspeed Venture Partners. Promptwatch, a competitor in the PE space, also closed a €6 million seed round. Meanwhile, Anthropic, an AI firm, has recruited Monzo co-founder Tom Blomfield to bolster its AI compute team.

PE Firms Execute Add-on Acquisitions and Exits

Private equity firms continue to actively manage their portfolios through strategic add-on acquisitions and divestitures. CAI Capital successfully exited its HVAC provider Custom Air to Service Logic Holdings Canada, having expanded the company through five add-on deals during its eight-year holding period. Warburg-backed Bond Vet has merged with Small Door Veterinary, creating an entity that will manage over 55 clinics across multiple U.S. markets and plans further expansion. Atlas Holdings-backed Stryten Energy has acquired C&D Trojan Battery from KPS, a move that will see Stryten operate 15 manufacturing and component facilities across the U.S. with 3,700 employees. AE Industrial has acquired powder spray producer Powder Alloy, establishing a new specialty materials platform. Broadwing-backed Lehr has completed its tenth add-on acquisition by acquiring emergency vehicle upfitting assets from Pro Logic ITS, deepening its presence in the Southeast. Wynnchurch has exited its investment in flow control specialist Flo Works to Ferguson for $1.6 billion, representing a multiple of 10x LTM adjusted EBITDA. Mill Point Capital has finalized its acquisition of Total Safety Supplies & Solutions from a Littlejohn & Co. portfolio company, and Comvest Private Equity has rebranded as Vesterra Capital Partners. HIG Capital’s OB Streem has acquired Med Frigo in Greece, strengthening its cold-chain logistics capabilities.

Sector Focus: Water Treatment, Defense, and Batteries

Several specific sectors are drawing significant attention from private equity investors, including water treatment, defense, and battery technology. Nordic Capital highlights the attractiveness of the water treatment sector, citing significant investment needs in infrastructure, skilled labor shortages, and specialized equipment requirements. Bridgepoint has entered into an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Danish defense company UMag, which was spun out of the Technical University of Denmark. Ardian is set to acquire a majority stake in German battery-tech firm Munich Electrification, with the founders retaining a minority stake and the management team investing alongside Ardian to fund expansion.

Venture Capital and Startup Funding Activity

Beyond traditional buyouts and growth equity, early-stage and venture capital funding remains active. A founder who previously sold his startup to Klarna for €110 million has raised €12 million to build a new venture. Hermes agent maker Nous Research is reportedly in talks to raise new funding at a valuation of $1.5 billion, with Robot Ventures, USV, and other investors participating in a round of at least $75 million. The UK's Nscale data center project, valued at £2 billion, is facing delays due to grid infrastructure issues. Sapphire Ventures partner Anders Ranum is observing a "show me" era for AI startups, emphasizing the need for demonstrable value to separate winning companies from the rest, particularly as institutional capital navigates valuation discrepancies between public and private markets.

Secondaries Market Sees Talent Influx

The secondaries advisory market is experiencing significant talent movement as firms build out their capabilities. Ardea Partners has hired a managing director from PJT to bolster its secondaries advisory team, part of a broader trend of personnel shifts across advisory and buyside firms. Moelis is also expanding its LP-led secondaries business, bringing on a team from Evercore, including a vice-president who will join as a managing director to lead the new division. Arctos has made its debut in GP financing with a $6.2 billion fund, a strategy expected to remain relevant across fundraising cycles.

Global Investment Trends and UK Policy

Global investors are exploring new markets and strategies. Sixth Street is actively looking at sports deals in Asia, with explorations in Japan and India according to its Asia-Pacific head. The Korean pension fund KBIZ is seeking domestic blind-pool PE/VC funds for 2026, intending to commit 300 billion won. In the UK, the Mansion House Accord's push for pension schemes to increase allocations to private markets is supported by policy, regulation, and infrastructure, though the pace will depend on fee structures and access to growth capital. Separately, Goldman Sachs notes that AI is making underwriting a more challenging prospect, while Moldova's incoming prime minister is reportedly a private equity enthusiast.