Private Equity 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: July 15, 2026, 11:30 AM ET
AI and Tech Investments Dominate Dealflow
Private equity firms are heavily investing in artificial intelligence and technology ventures. Blackstone, Apollo pehub.com are collectively providing $5.34 billion to energy company Williams for power plants, while also backing the launch of Ode with Anthropic, a new AI services provider mentioned in a PE Hub report pehub.com. Separately, KKR is marketing Europe's first debt deal backed by PayPal's buy now, pay later loans, signaling a move into fintech infrastructure. In the venture capital space news.crunchbase.com climbed nearly 23% year over year in the first half of 2026, with a notable concentration on AI and financial infrastructure. OpenAI researcher Miles Wang is reportedly in talks to launch an AI drug discovery startup valued at $2 billion, highlighting investor interest in applying AI to life sciences breakthroughs as reported by Tech Crunch Venture privateequityinternational.com.
Dealmaking Across Sectors Continues
Beyond AI and fintech, private equity activity spans various sectors. Francisco Partners is nearing a $1.3 billion buyout of construction software maker Command Alkon, while Veritas pehub.com plans to acquire facilities management firm BGIS from sellers CCMP Capital Advisors and Alberta Investment Management Corporation. In the renewable energy space pehub.com is acquiring solar and energy storage firm Summit Ridge Energy. Stone Point pehub.com are acquiring Kroll, a firm advising on competition and regulatory matters, from Permira.
Secondaries Market and Fundraisings Show Strength
The private equity secondaries market is experiencing increased dealflow, driven by institutional investors seeking exposure to desirable asset classes as noted by Secondaries Investor secondariesinvestor.com. HighVista pehub.com has launched a GP-led secondaries strategy, appointing Ramit Malhotra as principal. Meanwhile, Carlyle AlpInvest secondariesinvestor.com closed its second single asset-focused fund on $1.7 billion, surpassing its target and predecessor fund. For institutional investors, CalPERS reported a 14.8% net investment return, with private equity being a significant contributor.
Strategic Acquisitions and Exits
Several firms are making strategic acquisitions. RFE-backed LaunchPad pehub.com has acquired home inspection firm Key Inspection Services. Capital-backed GreenArrow pehub.com has purchased three transportation technology firms. In the healthcare sector, Ardian pehub.com acquired a majority stake in German digital healthcare recruitment platform Pflegia. Audax Linden pehub.com are set to sell Stat Lab Medical Products to Leica Biosystems, a Danaher Corporation operating company. VSS pehub.com has exited its investment in tech services company Centroid Systems.
Entertainment and Niche Markets Attract Investment
Private equity is also making inroads into niche markets, including music rights and specialized services. Pophouse pehub.com has acquired a stake in Iron Maiden's music and NIL rights, following a trend of PE firms investing in music royalties. Godspeed-backed ICE pehub.com has acquired SLC, a firm focused on easement acquisition and project management within the transportation sector. In the property valuation space pehub.com is acquiring Krata, which specializes in property valuations and appraisal services across Spain.
Strategic Offers and Industry Shifts
In a significant development, Stripe and Advent International have reportedly made a joint offer to acquire PayPal for over $53 billion. This follows reports of venture funding into fintech startups surging, indicating investor appetite in the sector. Meanwhile, EQT has sweetened its bid for Australian fund manager Perpetual, raising its indicative offer to A$22.07 a share after an initial rejection. The landscape of corporate venture capital is also shifting, with a concentration of power at the top of the market as discussed on Crunchbase News news.crunchbase.com.