Private Equity 3 Days

Last updated: July 1, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

Dealmaking & Fundraisings

Private equity firms have been active across sectors, with significant transactions including KKR's $4.2bn acquisition of EDF's North American renewables arm, marking a substantial bet on clean energy. KKR also secured a $1.3bn renewables platform in South Korea to support the nation's AI build-out. In the automotive aftermarket, Monomoy Capital acquired Jiffy for $1.3bn from a Shell subsidiary, while WILsquare-backed Automotive Color & with the purchase of Ohio Paint Supply. Further consolidating the pool services sector, Balance Point invested in AquaVerse, a platform unifying pool brands.

The fund management industry saw Hamilton Lane close its sixth direct equity fund at a record $3.8bn. In the secondaries market, Ardian is packaging stakes into a $1bn debt vehicle, signaling a robust market for such instruments. Meanwhile, Behrman completed a $250m for Shurco, indicating continued LP appetite for secondary liquidity options. Generation IM is raising a $1bn long-hold private equity fund, aiming for extended investment periods to drive deeper transformation.

Technology & AI Investments

A notable trend is the increasing investment in AI and related technologies. KKR is taking control of a $1.3bn South Korean renewables platform in partnership with SK, specifically to power the country's AI infrastructure development. In the AI chip design space, Ardian Semiconductor is taking a minority stake in French firm VSORA, which focuses on AI inference accelerators for data centers. This follows Ardian's broader strategy of investing in Nordic data centers through Verne, with plans to deploy over €3bn.

In the autonomous driving sector, self-driving scaleup Wayve is set to test the London Stock Exchange's Pisces platform. The broader venture capital landscape is also adapting, with Tapestry VC launching an $80m fund to back repeat European founders, anticipating a wave of AI-driven exits. Former Speedinvest partner Rick Hao has closed a $50m solo GP fund for deeptech startups, and Meta and OpenAI alumni.

Sector-Specific Deals

The industrial and manufacturing sectors saw several transactions. CVC Capital Partners is acquiring Italy's Clevertech, an industrial automation group, with the founding family reinvesting. CVC also agreed to acquire Irca, a food ingredients manufacturer, from Advent. HIG Capital acquired Premier Forge Group, a manufacturer of components for aerospace and defense. In infrastructure services, Warburg Pincus has agreed to acquire UK's Network Plus from OMERS.

In consumer-facing businesses, IVEST and Cloverlay are selling the Care Bears franchise to Authentic Brands Group, having quadrupled its business during their ownership. Monomoy Capital acquired Jiffy for $1.3bn, a significant move in the quick lube market. The pet nutrition sector also saw activity, with Five Seasons backing pet.

Healthcare & Business Services

The healthcare sector remains a focus for private equity. FPE is backing utility software firm BMA, which provides decision intelligence for utility companies. In medical devices, Houlihan Lokey noted that independent service organizations focused on hospital equipment are poised for growth. backing healthcare marketing agency, and THL-backed Headlands Research acquired.

Business services also saw notable deals. acquire Bureau Veritas’ fuel for €470m. acquiring data management platform, which counts Morningstar and Moody's Analytics among its data providers.

Fundraising & Investor Trends

Institutional investors are showing continued commitment, with Hamilton Lane closing its sixth direct equity fund at $3.8bn, its largest to date. Generation IM is corralling, reflecting a growing interest in extended investment horizons. The Global Investor 150 ranking highlights the scale of LP allocations, with the top 10 investors managing $1.1 trillion in private equity. Despite market fluctuations, LPs on the 2026 Global Investor 150 ranking show strong conviction.

Pension funds are re-evaluating their exposures; Colorado PERA is weighing a pullback from private equity due to underperformance. In the secondaries market, buyers are growing more comfortable with fund financing in continuation vehicles, seeking to optimize returns. The ILPA has also updated its guidance for continuation vehicles to reflect the evolving market.

Geographic Focus & Specific Deals

Activity in North America includes KKR's $4.2bn acquisition of EDF's North American renewables arm, a record clean energy bet. In the Midwest, Truelink invested in mechanical. On the West Coast, Blackstone-backed Enverus acquired four for the upstream industry.

In Europe, acquiring Kayne Anderson Real for approximately $1.39bn, marking its entry into the US real estate market. CVC Capital Partners is acquiring Italian ingredients group Irca from Advent. Volpi Capital has taken, which serves enterprise SAP environments.

Venture Capital & Startups

The venture capital scene is dynamic, with a focus on AI and deeptech. Tapestry VC launched targeting repeat European founders. Former Speedinvest partner Rick Hao closed a $50m solo GP fund for deeptech startups. Meta and OpenAI alumni, and DeepMind and Gensyn angels.

The European deeptech investment hit. In Spain, the country has Europe’s most dynamic tech. The British Business Bank plans to back UK scaleups.

Other Notable Transactions

In the sports sector, Ares and Joe Tsai led a $100m Series E for the Premier Lacrosse League, the largest capital raise in the league's history. William Blair acquired investment. The music catalog acquisition space saw Firebird unveil a platform, possessing over $750 million in purchasing power.

In the testing, inspection, certification, and compliance sector, Triton entered exclusive talks, which serves over 8,000 clients globally. eCOGRA is to be acquired by Visualize. The medical education gap presents an opportunity private equity, with demand for healthcare professionals globally acting as a tailwind.