Private Equity 3 Days

Last updated: July 1, 2026, 2:32 AM ET

Fundraising & LP Activity

The private equity fundraising environment shows signs of resilience, with Generation IM corralling $1bn for a long-hold strategy and the British Business Bank planning to back UK scaleups with £400m annually backing UK scaleups. Despite market turbulence, the largest limited partners maintain strong conviction in the asset class, as evidenced by the Global Investor 150 ranking, with the top 10 investors allocating an average of 21% of their portfolios to private equity, totaling $1.1 trillion top 10 allocators. However, some long-time investors are re-evaluating their commitments; Colorado PERA is weighing a pullback from private equity after underperformance, a sentiment echoed by other LPs falling short of benchmarks weighing pullback. The International Limited Partners Association (ILPA) has updated its guidance for evolving market conditions updated CV guidance, while industry discussions also explore the potential for double-down funds double-down funds.

Venture Capital & Seed Rounds

Venture capital is seeing new funds emerge, with Tapestry VC launching an $80m fund focused on repeat founders, and ex-Speedinvest partner Rick Hao closing a solo GP fund of $50m for deeptech startups solo GP fund. European deeptech investment has already set an annual record in the first six months of the year deeptech investment record. In specific deals, Xylo secured £2.8m with backing from Deep Mind and Gensyn angels, and AI startup Omnea is offering employees $250,000 to plan their next venture Omnea Future Found. The venture capital sector is also grappling with data quality issues, with suggestions to build better data infrastructure and connect directly to financial sources venture capital data. Meanwhile, Meta and OpenAI alumni are seeking $400m for a new AI lab new AI lab.

M&A Activity & Exits

The past week saw a flurry of acquisitions across various sectors. In healthcare, THL-backed Headlands Research acquired, and Martis Capital backed healthcare marketing agency Deerfield Group backed Deerfield Group. Cathay Capital launched Ascendia Autism Care with a founding affiliate operating 20 centers launched Ascendia Autism Care. In industrial sectors, Warburg Pincus acquired UK infrastructure services group Network Plus, and Huron Capital-backed Albireo Energy acquired Pasco Building Automation Services acquired Pasco Building Automation. CVC Capital Partners is acquiring Italian food ingredients manufacturer Irca from Advent for an undisclosed sum acquires Irca, and also agreed to acquire Italian industrial automation group Clevertech, with the founding family reinvesting acquires Clevertech. HIG Capital acquired aerospace and defence forging specialist Premier Forge Group acquires Premier Forge.

Several notable exits also occurred. IVEST and Cloverlay sold Care Bears to Authentic Brands Group after approximately three years of ownership, achieving 4x revenue growth Care Bears sale. Xenon Private Equity exited Italian tomato processor Solana to Investindustrial-backed La Doria exits Solana, and Genesis Capital exited corporate catering services provider GTH Catering exits GTH Catering. RF Investment Partners exited Ally Waste Services, marking the culmination of a partnership that began in 2022 exits Ally Waste.

Sector-Specific Investments

The testing, inspection, certification, and compliance (TICC) sector continues to attract private equity interest. Triton is in exclusive talks to acquire Bureau Veritas’ fuel testing and inspection business for €470m Triton talks, operating a global network of 320 testing and inspection sites Bureau Veritas unit. In the aviation sector, Partners Group is investing $250m in Avenue Capital’s commercial aviation leasing portfolio through a continuation vehicle invests in leasing portfolio. Medical education presents an opportunity for PE investors, driven by the global need for more healthcare professionals medical education opportunity. The healthcare sector overall is showing signs of recovery after a challenging period healthcare investments mend.

Technology & AI Focus

Artificial intelligence is a dominant theme, influencing dealmaking and investment strategies. AI dominated dealmaking in the first half of the year AI dominated dealmaking. There is a significant push for AI infrastructure, with Ardian planning to invest over €3bn in Nordic data centers through its portfolio company Verne invests in data centres. The complexity and cost of AI computing are driving new approaches, with former Google Deep Mind researchers launching Equi Libre Technologies, now valued at over $500 million and providing AI solutions for quant hedge funds Equi Libre Technologies. The potential for Hong Kong to serve as a gateway to Asia's AI boom is also being explored Hong Kong AI boom.

Other Notable Transactions & Developments

In other transactions, Partners Group invested $250m in Avenue Capital's aviation leasing portfolio. Ares Management and Joe Tsai led a $100m Series E financing for the Premier Lacrosse League, the largest capital raise in the sport's history Premier Lacrosse League. Blackstone-backed Enverus acquired four PDS Energy Information exchange platforms operating in the US upstream industry Enverus acquires platforms. ICG Infra is backing Paulo Duarte Group, a logistics operator in Portugal and Spain backs Paulo Duarte Group. Bridgepoint is acquiring Kayne Anderson Real Estate for approximately $1.39bn, marking its entry into the US real estate market acquires Kayne Anderson. The Premier Lacrosse League secured a $100m Series E round led by Ares and Joe Tsai PLL raises $100m. Firebird has unveiled a music catalog acquisition platform with over $750 million in purchasing power, backed by Ares and Raine Group music catalog platform. San Mateo Midstream is acquiring EnCap-backed Cardinal Midstream for $752m acquires Cardinal Midstream.

The UK government is supporting scaleups with initiatives like the £400m annual fund UK scaleup fund, and has also introduced a defense investment plan that startups are praising UK defence plan. However, political considerations are impacting defense sector strategies, with France seeking to block the UK's role in a €5bn EU scaleup fund France seeks block UK. University spinouts are also actively seeking funding, with the University of Edinburgh having several spinouts looking to raise capital Edinburgh spinouts.