Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: August 5, 2026, 11:31 PM ET

Deal Activity and Valuations

Bain Capital is set to acquire Gong cha, a popular tea beverage chain, from TA Associates. KKR-backed FGS has acquired the bipartisan government affairs firm Rich Feuer Anderson, marking its second such acquisition. Veritas Capital is acquiring environmental consultant Trinity Consultants from Oak Hill. PE-backed ContextLogic is purchasing chemicals manufacturer gChem from Eagle Tree for $850M, making gChem Context Logic's second operating business. Bodycote plc has confirmed receiving two competing conditional cash offer proposals from CVC and Veritas Capital Fund IX, valuing the company at £1.56bn. GSAM is reportedly preparing to sell Divcon Controls, a provider of building management and electrical power monitoring systems for data centers and other critical facilities.

Fundraising and Investor Activity

EQT's Scaleup Europe Fund has debuted with a €450M investment in Finnish satellite imaging company ICEYE, which achieved a €10bn valuation. TPG is raising $17bn for its third healthcare fund, TPG X, as part of its broader $94bn Capital platform. Nextalia has secured over €1.1bn for its second flagship fund, Nextalia Private Equity II (NPE , attracting commitments from more than 200 investors. The firm's US buyout strategy has been distributing capital at more than double the industry rate, according to CEO Harvey Schwartz. Carlyle increasingly views Alp Invest as a corporate finance business rather than a standalone secondaries unit. Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC is preparing to sell approximately $1bn worth of private equity fund stakes on the secondary market. Boston Retirement has issued a request for proposal for up to an $85M private equity mandate. Ryan Moore seed investor in Draft Kings, has closed his debut fund, Revenant Ventures, with $78.5M.

Technology and AI Investments

Moove has raised $250M to expand its autonomous vehicle fleet management operations, with plans to eventually own robotaxis. Lightspeed partners Josh Machiz and Claire Zau discussed their social media strategies and podcast on the Equity studio. Yann LeCun joined a new venture capital firm backed by 244 limited partners. Robinhood is launching a fund that will allow retail investors to back Y Combinator startups. Magic School AI an edtech startup founded by an educator, has secured $63M from venture capitalists. WindBorne Systems raised a $37M Series B round to scale its weather balloons and AI-powered forecasts. Firms like Blackstone, TPG, and EQT are actively partnering with artificial intelligence businesses. Njord Partners sees AI as a natural and key part of its operational improvements and business activities. is experiencing exceptionally active deal-making, with AI playing a significant role in improving administration, metadata management, and royalty processing. Integrating AI into a startup's product strategy can sometimes reduce its exit value, according to strategic adviser Itay Sagie. Fintech startup Moss has achieved unicorn status with a €30M Series C funding round. Oxylabs reached a $3.6bn valuation after a decade of declining venture capital funding, citing the right timing and partner. The number of new funds launched this year provides insights into Europe's investment market landscape. CalSTRS is addressing climate-related questions within its investment strategies.

Layoffs and Industry Challenges

Over 127,000 workers at U.S.-based tech companies experienced layoffs in 2025, and these cuts have continued into 2026, according to Crunchbase News. There are concerns that an AI strategy might inadvertently diminish a startup's exit value. Some investors have been holding capital in evergreen funds before redeeming to fund a Hamilton Lane separately managed account. The San Diego Padres are reportedly nearing a franchise sale valued at $3.9bn, which would be the most expensive in Major League Baseball history.