Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: July 28, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

Private Equity Dealmaking Across Sectors

Golub Capital provided backing to fast-food chain Church’s Texas Chicken, which was previously acquired by High Bluff Capital Partners and Future Standard in 2021. In the healthcare sector, Riverside-backed Decera Clinical invested in Onviv, a provider of continuing education for medical professionals. Stonepeak and CMA CGM completed the formation of United Ports, with Stonepeak investing $2.4 billion for a 25 percent stake. AIP completed its buyout of material handling firm Intelligrated from Honeywell Technologies. HIG acquired infrastructure services and engineering firm Avove, which focuses on regulated water and power markets. Behrman-backed Micross acquired manufacturer AEMtec, a provider of microelectronic solutions for aerospace, defense, and medical applications. FEP acquires Australian Planet Fitness franchisee Bravo Fit, marking Planet Fitness's exit from its minority ownership. BC Partners has agreed to acquire a co-control stake in Info RLife, a Swiss CDMO specializing in IV infusion bags. Mutares agrees acquire the Free2move car-sharing business from Stellantis, which operates across 14 cities in Europe and the US. Care Career has picked up Periscope Equity-backed MAS Medical Staffing, a travel nurse and allied staffing agency. SVP is set to in the power plant South Field Energy.

Fund Activity and Strategic Shifts

Family office Green Bear is tapping into the secondaries market as part of a portfolio revamp, seeking to pare its exposure to illiquid assets. The firm is also, favoring separately managed accounts for their cost-efficiency benefits amid potentially lower private equity returns. Visionaries is to two lead partners for its next fund. In a notable venture capital development, Dwelly, an AI rollup startup backed by EQT and General Catalyst. Similarly, Throne Science, a startup developing an AI-powered toilet camera for gut health tracking in a Series A round led by Will Ventures. Zurich Q, an ETH Zurich spinout in a seed round. Startups at the intersection of AI and cybersecurity have collectively across over 150 reported seed-stage rounds this year. 9fin completed first following a $170 million raise.

Investment Firm Appointments and European Market Dynamics

AE Industrial Partners has appointed Leonard Dollaga as operating partner to identify and assess new investment opportunities in national security sectors, with a maritime focus. In Europe, Tower Brook's Joseph Knoll noted that while Europe offers lower multiples, it presents a more challenging regulatory environment, with ECP and KKR making offers for DCC Energy. Knoll also highlighted that the strongest opportunities lie in business, financial, and healthcare services where AI can meaningfully improve productivity, alongside the consumer vertical. Step Stone led on Cabot's £140 million secondary for Premier Modular, a modular buildings provider part-owned by MML. Asia’s Affinity has seen another senior executive depart, marking at least nine senior departures since the start of 2023. In a separate development, wealth management continues to attract private equity investment, with Carlyle making its debut investment from a new aerospace platform.