Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: July 22, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

Private Equity Allocations and Investment Strategies

Investor caution, with 67% of institutions keeping private equity allocations unchanged, according to PEI's H1 2026 Investor Report. This stability comes as SIPA and EDHEC explore the role of market-based, monthly-priced private asset indices in a total portfolio approach, aiming to overcome data gaps in private markets. Meanwhile, Athena Capital as an investment partner, alongside appointing Francesca Cornelli to its Council of operating partners, signaling a focus on expanding its investment expertise. In the secondaries market, the adoption of evergreen vehicles is broadening across buyers, according to an Evercore report, with capital increasingly deployed into diverse opportunities. Townsend, a multi-manager, has already deployed $1bn of its latest real estate secondaries fund, with an early emphasis on data centre investments.

Sector-Specific Investments and Growth Funding

Private equity firms with significant investments. Butterfly and Graham Partners are set to invest in flavor maker Custom Flavors, which serves the protein & nutrition, and functional food & beverage industries. Madison River to support geographic expansion and service capability enhancements. Crest Rock also invested in civil contracting firm Andrew Site Work, focusing on retrofit, installation, and emergency repair activities for local entities. In the technology sector, Knox Lane acquired health tech firm Cross Country Healthcare Inc., appointing Joel Tremblay as CEO. Hg made a growth investment in UK proptech company Street Group at over £200m valuation, aiming to deepen its AI capabilities. Dimension Capital totaling $800M, highlighting a boom at the intersection of science and compute.

Fintech, AI, and Sports Investments

Goldman Sachs Alternatives agreed to acquire fintech firm Aegis Hedging Solutions, with Greenbelt Capital Partners and Baird Capital exiting their stakes. The burgeoning influence of Artificial Intelligence is evident with multiple AI-focused deals. Falfurrias injected capital into work risk AI firm Factor Lab, which aims to transform how high-risk work is planned and delivered. Furthermore, 10 frontier AI labs rushed onto the Crunchbase Unicorn Board in June, collectively valued at $65 billion, underscoring the significant growth in the AI sector. In sports, former NY Giants quarterback Eli Manning in the sector, discussing his gradual transition into a full-time role after initially investing with BBQGuys. He also discussed Brand Velocity Group's recent investment in RCX Sports.

Deal Activity and Strategic Partnerships

Inflexion intends to take a minority stake in Salto Systems, a designer and manufacturer of electronic access control technology. KKR announced that Roy Gori will serve as a senior advisor, focusing on strategic opportunities across global financial services and insurance, particularly in Asia Pacific. Liberty Tire Recycling, backed by I Squared, acquired All American Tire, Tire Recycling, and Genan Inc. Bluestone also backed Delphinus Engineering, with Roby Lentz taking on the CEO role. Summit Partners' $625M deal for Ninja One saw participation from Lead Edge and Hamilton Lane, with LPs given options to roll or cash out. Meanwhile, AI disruption risk is cited as a potential "deal killer" in the current market.