Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: August 4, 2026, 11:31 PM ET

Private Equity Dealmaking and Acquisitions

Thoma Bravo is set to sell Command Alkon, a software and platform technology provider for the heavy building materials industry, to Francisco Partners. Axum Capital agreed to acquire Barcode, a Los Angeles-based plant-based and hydration drink brand. Ridgemont has acquired Entact, a national provider of environmental remediation and geotechnical construction services, from JFLCO. Wynnchurch-backed Trimlite purchased doormaker Barnett Millworks, expanding its geographic reach into the Southeast market and enhancing its North American customer service capabilities. Wind Point Partners is acquiring ECI, a managed services provider for alternative asset managers and regulated financial firms, from H.I.G. Capital. Advent HarbourVest have agreed to acquire FNZ Bank in Germany, which connects over 50,000 financial advisers, 200 asset managers, and more than 400 distribution partners. EIP and Ocean Sound-backed Convey has acquired Selectron, a company specializing in government and utility software, bringing together providers of omnichannel communications and engagement operating systems. Nordic Capital is acquiring BWXT's medical business for up to $800 million, a move into the radiopharma sector. BV Investments is partnering with CEO Nate Kenney to back workforce compliance service provider Thomas & Company, supporting its growth. Sheridan Capital has acquired Carolina Components Group, a provider of custom-engineered bioprocessing assemblies, with expectations of strong future interest upon resale. KKR is taking Integer Holdings private in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $5.7 billion, marking a carve-out of the medical device company. TSG Consumer has acquired a majority stake in Saltair, a body care brand, valuing the company at the top of its category. Waterland has taken a majority stake in Norisol, a Danish provider of technical insulation, scaffolding, and marine solutions, which posted an operating margin exceeding 13% in 2025 and expects revenue to surpass DKr1 billion in 2026. Mutares has completed its largest deal to date, acquiring SABIC's engineering thermoplastics business in the Americas and Europe for $450 million, which will be rebranded as Nex Point Materials. Apollo has agreed to acquire Maverick Water Group, an operator of alternative non-potable water systems, from Crosstimbers Capital Group.

Fundraising and Investment Strategies

LGT Capital has launched its debut credit secondaries strategy, aiming to invest in LP-led, GP-led, and opportunistic deals with a focus on senior lending. Met Life Investment Management has closed its third managed fund, raising approximately $1.2 billion for Met Life Investment Private Equity Partners Fund III, with Lexington Partners serving as the lead investor. Apollo is roughly halfway to its target for its latest flagship fund, Fund XI, which aims to raise between $22 billion and $25 billion and began its capital raise in February. Adams Street doubled the size of its fund with its latest flagship secondaries raise, securing $2.7 billion as part of a $5 billion secondaries program, and will focus on a 50/50 split between LP-led and GP-led deals, primarily in North America and Europe. The European Union's €5 billion tech superfund is now officially open for business.

Venture Capital and Technology Investments

A16z has backed Happy Robot at a valuation of $1.2 billion. Bending Spoons has struck a $2.25 billion deal for Airtable, marking its first acquisition since its IPO. Global venture saw a significant surge in July, totaling $65 billion, a 100% increase year-over-year, with the month recording the highest number of billion-dollar venture rounds ever. Nscale will provide compute resources to AI researchers at Oxford, UCL, and Imperial. Exclaim Robotics a Zurich-based company, has emerged from stealth, raising $4.95 million. Plural has backed a $43 million round for Ore Energy, a startup focused on next-generation batteries. European robotics startups have collectively raised more capital in the first six months of the year than in the preceding two years combined. AshGrove is backing 10x Banking, a provider of cloud-native core banking technology designed to help financial institutions modernize legacy infrastructure.

Market Trends and Investor Sentiment

Private equity is showing increasing interest in naval investments, driven by the U.S. Navy's budget exceeding $300 billion. Investors are seeking to enshrine improved GP reporting standards, while GPs warn that impact investing is being unfairly scrutinized under the ESG umbrella, and Blue Owl is strengthening its talent in Tokyo. The rise of AI content could lead to a re-rating of targets with "rights-clean" data, as their critical and defensible data inputs are becoming increasingly valuable for AI development. The PEI Global Investor 150 ranking reveals shifts in the investment strategies of the world's largest private equity investors.