Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: August 12, 2026, 8:49 AM ET

Fundraising & Fund Launches

Accel has raised $800M for its ninth early-stage Europe fund, while simultaneously closing an oversubscribed $550M India fund within weeks and still holding over 55% of its previous $650M India vehicle. Lovable raised $400M backed by the EU’s Scaleup Fund at a $13.3bn valuation, and the public-private Scaleup Europe fund, targeting $5.7B, made its first investment in satellite company ICEYE. HarbourVest closed its seventh flagship co-investment fund at $4.75bn, targeting AI and healthcare innovation. Meanwhile, a trio of ex-LocalGlobe partners is plotting a new VC firm, and deeptech founders are increasingly dictating term sheets in 2026, a trend that could reshape founder-investor dynamics.

Deals: Live Entertainment & Loyalty Programs

Providence Equity Partners has agreed to sell ATG Entertainment, the operator of 70 venues including seven on Broadway and ten in London’s West End, to Ari Emanuel’s MARI in a reported $6bn deal. The sale also drew interest from other PE firms, as Providence exits its live entertainment investment. Separately, Blackstone and La Caisse are leading a roughly $1.8bn (C$2.5bn) minority investment for a 25% stake in Air Canada’s Aeroplan loyalty program, valuing the business at about $7.2bn (C$10bn). On the sports front, Apollo Sports Capital invested in Yankee Global Enterprises, while Ardian’s co-CEO highlighted mispricing opportunities in the current market.

Deals: Tech & Software

Thoma Bravo completed its $466M take-private of Irish digital validation software provider Kneat, which has been delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange. Drone startup Uforce is targeting a $4bn+ valuation in a new funding round. Godspeed-backed BNP Group acquired cost management firm US Cost Incorporated from Schneider S.E. Vance Street-backed Keltec snapped up AJF Filtration. In building products, Clearlake-backed PrimeSource Brands acquired Starborn Industries.

Deals: Healthcare & Medical

CHG Healthcare, a PE-backed hospital staffing firm, acquired medical staffing company Krewe Anesthesia. Phase 1 Equity, backed by Dune Glass, acquired a North Dakota orthodontic practice. The medical education gap is creating opportunities for PE investors as the healthcare workforce shortage widens globally.

Deals: Industrials, Metals & Infrastructure

Lindsay Goldberg made a majority investment in metals distributor Alro Steel, with the founding Glick family retaining a significant stake. THL Partners invested in pavement maintenance firm Pave Masters, with existing investor Northern Lakes Capital exiting. New Heritage Capital backed Power Rail, a manufacturer and distributor of aftermarket locomotive parts. Solar energy is drawing fresh PE interest as the energy transition accelerates.

Secondaries & Continuation Funds

Hollyport Partners maintained its independence while selling a passive stake to Blue Owl, which will ultimately represent around 25% of economic interests. Monogram Capital completed a continuation fund for beverage company Mountaintop, with Apollo S3 as lead investor. Meanwhile, US investors are raising questions over credit secondaries valuations, particularly among New York pension funds and Dallas-based multifamily offices.

Sector Trends & Vertical Insights

Fitness startup funding is rebounding, with over $3.6B invested in the first half of the year — but investors are prioritizing AI and data over hardware. A roundup of 16 energy startups to watch in Europe highlights the breadth of innovation. Lessons from Ukraine on maintaining morale offer insights for founders navigating war-induced stress. In services M&A, Clearview-backed Capitol Services acquired corporate services provider Wolz. Baymark acquired healthy meal prep company Meal Prep Sunday, its 66th acquisition to date.