Private Equity 24 Hours

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

Fundraising and Deal Activity

Private equity firm TJC is targeting a $2 billion increase on its hard-cap for Resolute Fund VII, aiming for a $12 billion final close in November. In the real estate sector, secondaries-focused funds continue to attract capital commitments, representing a significant portion of fundraising despite making up only 4% of total private real estate fundraising in 2025. Elsewhere, Bain Capital led a $1.5 billion investment in infrastructure platform Eaton Fiber, intended to accelerate Verizon's US fiber broadband expansion. Separately, Bain Capital also participated in the sale of AMI, leveraging an AI value creation strategy. Golub Capital provided an investment for the restaurant chain Church's Texas Chicken.

Sector-Specific Transactions

BlackRock-backed Influence Media Partners is set to acquire Anthem Entertainment’s music assets for over $600 million, including catalogs featuring over 24,000 songs by artists like Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake. AIP completed a take-private buyout of medical technology firm Avanos Medical, with stockholders receiving $25 per share in cash. Vista Equity Partners agreed to acquire software firm Quantios from Hg, a business formed through mergers involving Hg and EQT. Macquarie is reportedly preparing Win Waste, a waste management company, for sale, anticipating interest from strategic buyers and infrastructure funds. Carlyle-backed Included Health plans to acquire healthcare company Firefly Health. Investcorp acquired wealth management firm Berger Financial Group, which manages over $3 billion in assets for more than 3,800 clients. Open Gate Capital is acquiring Merak, Knorr-Bremse’s rail HVAC unit, a business with over 60 years of engineering experience. Apax will acquire Centor and another plastic packaging company from Gerresheimer for €1.5 billion, with the combined entities generating approximately €570 million in revenue in 2025. Gemspring-backed Key Line has merged with utility services firm Palouse Power. Water tech firm Xylem is acquiring Eagle Tree-backed Water Fleet for $200 million, a provider of mobile water and wastewater utility services. Carbyne-backed Suan Nutra will acquire a portfolio of natural ingredients businesses from IFF. Providence made an additional investment in talent agency The Team to fund the acquisition of founder Casey Wasserman’s remaining ownership stake.

Technology and AI Investments

AI startup Corgi plans to open a 24/7 cafe in London, signaling a new direction for AI integration into physical services. Centralize, an enterprise sales platform founded by former Meta and Slack engineers, has raised $15 million in Series A funding to build a "Deal GPS" for enterprise sales. Freehand secured $75 million in Series B funding to scale autonomous AI agents designed to manage supply chain spend and back-office operations for enterprises. European venture capital firms a downturn in the semiconductor market, suggesting a potential shift in investment focus. However, scrutiny over AI's value creation credentials is mounting, with concerns that general partners may overpromise and underdeliver on AI's ability to drive topline growth. Despite this, Brad Bernstein, managing director at Pine Bridge Investments, argues that the biggest long-term gains from AI will benefit middle-market technology companies, rather than incumbents or AI-native startups.

European Startup Expansion and Market Trends

European startups are increasingly expanding internationally as early as the seed stage, a strategy to achieve scale. The UK continues to be a favored destination for private equity activity, with global macroeconomic concerns directing more investors toward Europe and consequently increasing the UK's share of deal-making. Payment infrastructure company Adyen is venturing into agentic payments, posing a challenge for startups in the space. Separately, Providence's Karim Tabet noted that AI fatigue provides an indirect boost for live events, emphasizing the increasing value of physical scarcity in a digitalized world. Details of Fox Path’s debut credit secondaries fund have been disclosed, following a partnership last year with Reinsurance Group of America.