Private Equity 3 Days

Last updated: June 25, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

Fundraising & Capital Deployment

Private equity firms are demonstrating robust fundraising activity, with Dutch manager Main Capital Partners closing a record €5.25bn software fund in under six months, the largest buyout fundraise ever in the Netherlands software fundraiserecord. Abu Dhabi's MGX is close to amassing $50bn for one of the largest AI funds globally, signaling a significant push into artificial intelligence infrastructure and technology AI fund. On the venture capital front, Menlo Ventures raised $3 billion across two funds, its largest capital raise in 50 years, to back AI startups from seed to growth stages venture raise. In Asia, Allianz Global Investors secured $744 million at the first close of its third Asia Pacific private credit fund Asia credit.

Deal Activity & Sector Focus

The live events sector is attracting considerable private equity interest, with firms like Apollo, Hellman & Friedman, and Platinum Equity investing in the space as the global market is projected to exceed $1.2 trillion by 2032 live events. In technology, Permira and Warburg Pincus led a consortium to take Clearwater Analytics private for $8.4 billion Clearwater deal. CVC Capital Partners is set to invest in the online chess platform Chess.com, with existing backer General Atlantic retaining a shareholder stake Chess.com investment. Advent International is making its debut in Japan with the acquisition of home care operator JWB from MBK Partners Advent JapanJapan debut. Meanwhile, Bain Capital is acquiring a majority 51% stake in Volkswagen's carve-out Everllence, a provider of propulsion and decarbonization products, in a deal valued at €7.4 billion Everllence stakemajority control.

Strategic Initiatives & Thematic Investments

Carlyle Group has launched a dedicated defense and reindustrialization fund, Carlyle Defense and Reindustrialization Partners, reflecting a strategic shift into specialized sectors defense fund. Artificial intelligence continues to be a major driver for investment, with firms like MGX raising substantial capital and VCs discussing valuations and ARR inflation in the AI space AI valuations. The role of operators in realizing the AI advantage for private equity is also being emphasized, as new capabilities and vendor evolution require strong execution AI advantage. In the sustainability sector, EQT secured a facility tailored for an era where materiality and impact are paramount in fund finance sustainability finance.

Market Dynamics & Investor Sentiment

The secondaries market faces challenges with a lack of standardization in benchmarking, raising questions about how the strategy should be measured and its suitability against traditional private equity benchmarks secondaries benchmarking. Pension funds are prioritizing liquidity, with Ohio Teachers planning its private equity pacing for FY 2027 to address a $4 billion annual deficit Ohio Teachers. Conversely, the Virginia pension has cut its private equity target for the first time in over 15 years, citing volatility concerns Virginia pension. Fund finance is evolving into a multi-instrument and life-cycle wide toolkit, driven by increased investor appetite and bespoke structures fund finance.

Geographic & Sector Expansions

In Europe, Quadrivio & Pambianco and Capdesia Group are acquiring Alice Pizza, Italy's largest fast-casual pizza chain, with Alice Pizza operating 231 sites globally Alice Pizza acquisitionItalian chain. Ambienta has signed an exit from Cap Vert, a French environmental services provider, to Gimv Ambienta exit. In the U.S., Reverence Capital Partners is backing Midwest CPA firm Eide Bailly to accelerate its strategy and expand innovation Eide Bailly backing. Platinum Equity is in exclusive talks to acquire Nestlé's water business, having emerged as the sole bidder after CD&R exited the auction Nestlé water.

Artificial Intelligence & Technology Investments

The rapid evolution of AI continues to shape investment strategies. MGX is raising nearly $50 billion for a fund dedicated to AI infrastructure and technology AI fundraise. Menlo Ventures, a firm with a strong AI investment track record, raised $3 billion across two new funds to deploy into AI startups Menlo AI. Health tech is also seeing AI integration, with XCures raising $46 million in a Series B round to streamline medical records using AI XCures AI. In Europe, startups are focusing on building for long-term value rather than just the next funding round, particularly in the AI space AI scaling.

Sector-Specific Deals

In the automotive sector, One Equity-backed PGW acquired automotive glass firm Windshield Surgeons PGW acquisition. The logistics sector saw CVC exit its stake in Philippine logistics leader Fast, with the founding family taking full control CVC exit. In the food and beverage industry, Bessemer-backed Mas Restaurant Group sold 43 Ohio locations to Southpaw Mas Restaurant Group. Quadrivio & Pambianco, alongside Capdesia Group, are acquiring Alice Pizza, a Rome-founded fast-casual pizza chain with 231 sites Quadrivio Alice PizzaCapdesia Alice Pizza.

Fund Finance & Secondaries

The fund finance landscape is becoming more sophisticated, offering a multi-instrument and life-cycle wide toolkit to investors and lenders fund finance evolution. NAV facilities are increasingly seen as a critical lifeline for embattled evergreen funds, providing flexibility in uncertain market conditions NAV facilities. In the secondaries market, Pantheon's infrastructure secondaries fund surpassed its target, with both Pantheon and Ardian launching large flagship funds infra secondaries. ADIC has hired a senior professional to oversee its secondaries portfolio, following the launch of its secondaries unit in 2024 secondaries hire.

Sports & Entertainment Investments

Private equity firms are increasingly targeting sports franchises. Juggernaut Capital Partners is teaming up with Gareth Bale to pursue a controlling stake in a football club, with plans to expand into golf and women's sports football takeover. KKR-owned Arctos Partners is backing a $288 million Tennessee stadium district development, part of a broader push into college sports infrastructure Arctos stadium. Blue Owl Capital is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire a minority stake in the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers Cavaliers stake.

Technology & Software Investments

The software sector continues to be a fertile ground for private equity. Main Capital Partners closed a record €5.25bn software fundraise, emphasizing its focus on 'mission-critical companies' less affected by AI-driven market volatility Main Capital softwaremission-critical. Omni-backed Infoshare has acquired 3C Consultants and Infoboss, enhancing its data governance and compliance software capabilities Infoshare acquisitions. Thoma Bravo is backing occupational health software firm Padoa, which serves health centers and employers across Europe Thoma Bravo Padoa.

Healthcare & Life Sciences

The healthcare sector is a consistent area of PE activity. Chicago Pacific Founders is backing health tech firm Attune to accelerate its platform roadmap and expand omnichannel capabilities Attune health tech. In the biopharma space, PE-backed Life Science Connect is acquiring Pharma Source and CDMO Live to form a biopharmaceutical outsourcing platform Life Science Connect. Mérieux's Jean-François Billet noted that AI is accelerating drug discovery by enabling faster screening of compounds, a development attracting private capital interest in healthcare AI in healthcare.

Real Estate & Infrastructure

Blackstone is preparing to invest $30 billion in Japan's AI data center infrastructure over the next three to five years, signaling a major commitment to the region's digital infrastructure growth Blackstone Japan data centers. Blackstone and Bain Capital are advancing in the bidding for Fuji Media's $6.3 billion property arm, a deal that could become Japan's largest-ever property transaction Fuji Media property.

Fundraising & Investor Relations

The British Business Bank is backing 10 VC funds with a £90 million allocation and is considering a stake in the EU's €5 billion Scaleup Fund, indicating continued government support for venture capital in the UK and Europe British Business Bank VC. State Street reports that limited partners are seeking increased exposure to private markets, suggesting sustained demand for private equity strategies LP private markets. KB Securities is open to LP and GP-led secondaries partnerships, particularly in South Korea and other Asian markets KB Securities secondaries.

Strategic Exits & Divestitures

KKR has informed investors that its monetization activity has exceeded $900 million quarter-to-date, indicating an acceleration in capital realizations and distributions to clients KKR exits. Providence Equity Partners is in exclusive talks to sell its theatre group ATG Entertainment to Ari Emanuel's Mari Group for approximately $6 billion ATG Entertainment exit. Tikehau is set to exit Aubert & Duval, with Airbus and Safran emerging as potential buyers for the complex metallic materials producer Aubert & Duval exit. Ara Partners plans to sell its advanced magnetics company Vacuumschmelze to Energy Fuels for $1.9 billion Vacuumschmelze sale.