Private Equity 3 Days

Last updated: July 2, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

Private Equity Dealmaking and Funding Rounds

Private equity firms have been actively deploying capital across diverse sectors, with a notable surge in AI-related investments and a continued focus on energy and healthcare. Tru Link Capital made its first platform investment for Fund II, backing Horwitz, a provider of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services Truelink Capital makes. In the healthcare technology space, GTCR-backed Experity acquired Exdion Healthcare GTCR-backed Experity acquires, while Peak Rock scooped up health tech firm Asembia Peak Rock scoops up. Parthenon is backing Momentum Life Sciences, a patient support solutions provider Parthenon backs patient, and THL-backed Headlands Research acquired Clinical Trials Research THL-backed Headlands Research. The medical device sector also saw activity, with FPE backing BMA, a decision platform for utility companies FPE backs utility.

The energy sector remains a hotbed for investment. KKR is set to acquire the North American operations of EDF power solutions for $4.2 billion KKR to acquire, in what is described as a record clean-energy bet KKR to buy. This follows KKR's recent move to take control of a $1.3 billion SK renewables platform in South Korea to support the country's AI build-out KKR takes control. CVC DIF has exited its Polish wind portfolio with a sale to Actis CVC DIF exits.

Venture Capital and Startup Funding

Venture capital firms continue to inject significant funds into early-stage companies, with artificial intelligence emerging as a dominant theme. Magnify Ventures closed its $46.6 million Fund II with backing from LPs including Melinda French Gates’ Pivotal Ventures Melinda Gates’ venture. Early-stage firm Tapestry VC launched an $80 million third fund targeting repeat European founders Tapestry VC launches, anticipating a wave of AI-driven exits Tapestry VC closes. Ex-Speedinvest partner Rick Hao closed a $50 million solo GP fund for deeptech startups Ex-Speedinvest partner Rick. In the AI space, Meta and OpenAI alumni are seeking $400 million for a new AI lab Meta OpenAI, while an AI software company, Omnea, is offering employees $250,000 to plan their next startup Exclusive: More.

Startup funding remains robust, with Crunchbase data indicating record global startup investment in H1 2026, exceeding $200 billion in the last quarter alone Global Startup Investment. However, there are concerns about the effective use of AI in venture capital, with arguments that firms are misapplying the technology and need to focus on better data infrastructure We Need Save.

Sector-Specific Deals and Exits

Acquisitions and divestitures are shaping various industries. Platinum Equity is investing in retailer Grand Appliance, which operates 31 locations across four states Platinum Equity. Monomoy Capital acquired the Jiffy Lube franchise for $1.3 billion from a subsidiary of Shell USA Monomoy Capital acquires. In the automotive sector, WILsquare-backed Automotive Color & Supply acquired Ohio Paint Supply WILsquare-backed Automotive, and Garnett Station is reportedly collecting bids for its auto services provider Goodturn Garnett Station collects.

In the consumer sector, Cinven is backing the merger of Vitamin Well and EMPWR Cinven backs merger, combining a portfolio company with a nutrition bar manufacturer Cinven’s Vitamin Well. Riverside Company sold its organic candy brand Yum Earth to ACON Investments Riverside Company sells. IVEST and Cloverlay are selling the Care Bears franchise to Authentic Brands Group after quadrupling its business IVEST Cloverlay.

Infrastructure and Technology Investments

Investment in infrastructure and technology continues to be a significant area for private equity. Brookfield has expanded its financing with Bloom Energy to $25 billion, a fivefold increase, to build and finance power for AI infrastructure Brookfield lifts Bloom. Ardian Semiconductor has taken a minority stake in VSORA, a French AI chip designer focused on data centers Ardian Semiconductor takes. In the UK, Warburg Pincus is acquiring utility and infrastructure service provider Network Plus from OMERS Private Equity Warburg Pincus buys.

Main Capital-backed Uname IT is acquiring Auto IT, a software provider for Danish car dealerships Main Capital-backed UnameIT, while Main-backed Zig is set to acquire Provadie, a Dutch Saa S provider for real estate valuation Main-backed Zig. Volpi Capital has taken a majority stake in archiving software firm kgs Volpi Capital takes.

Direct Lending and Capital Solutions

Capital markets are seeing substantial fundraising and new strategies. Hayfin Capital Management has raised over €15 billion ($17.1 for its latest flagship direct lending fund, signaling a concentration of capital with larger players Hayfin raises $17.1bn. Ardian is packaging secondhand fund stakes into approximately $1 billion of debt through a collateralized fund obligation Ardian bundles secondaries. Hamilton Lane closed its sixth direct equity fund at $3.8 billion, its largest to date Hamilton Lane closes. BCI is seeking returns from a newly launched capital solutions strategy, with the public pension fund planning to commit up to $20 billion for this mandate BCI seeks ‘good.

Regulatory and Market Practice Discussions

Discussions around market practices and regulatory oversight continue. There are calls for market practice to be settled regarding continuation vehicles, to avoid regulatory intervention art self-governance. The ILPA has updated its guidance for continuation vehicles to reflect an evolving market ‘status quo’. Secondaries investors are becoming more comfortable with fund financing in continuation vehicles, with buyers increasingly asking advisers to source such financing to optimize returns Secondaries investors grow.

Geopolitical and Economic Influences

Geopolitical events and broader economic trends are influencing investment strategies. The UK's defense industry is looking to private capital as an accelerator, bringing commercial discipline and scale Private capital will. However, startups and VCs are divided over the UK's defense investment plan Startups VCs. The European Union is considering quota deals to resolve a standoff with the UK over a €5 billion superfund EU offers quota, a move that has sparked backlash French bid to.

AI and its Impact on Private Equity

Artificial intelligence is profoundly reshaping the private equity landscape, particularly in the software sector, leading to a reassessment of investment strategies Deep Dive: How. The rapid advancements in AI are also influencing dealmaking, with AI dominating transactions in the first half of the year AI dominated dealmaking. Companies are exploring new paradigms, such as the concept of "physical AI" The two bets, while AI agents are being named after individuals, prompting philosophical reflections An AI agent. The development of advanced AI models, like those from Deep Mind and OpenAI, is attracting significant investment, with former employees forming new labs Exclusive: Meta.

Other Notable Transactions

In other transactions, JFLCO-backed Wrist Group acquired maritime logistics provider MSA JFLCO-backed Wrist. IK Partners is opening a Madrid office and appointing a new partner IK Partners to. Corten and Ampersand acquired Beacon Intelligence, a provider of structured data on early-stage drug development Corten, Ampersand. ICG Infra is backing Paulo Duarte Group, a freight fleet operator in Portugal and Spain ICG Infra backs. First Reserve-backed Trillium Flow Technologies sold select valve businesses to Flowserve First Reserve-backed Trillium. Genesis Capital exited GTH Catering Genesis Capital exits. Xenon Private Equity sold tomato processor Solana to Investindustrial-backed La Doria Xenon exits tomato. Cathay Capital rolled out Ascendia Autism Care Cathay Capital rolls. Ares and Joe Tsai led a $100 million Series E financing for the Premier Lacrosse League Ares and Joe. In the pest control sector, TSCP-backed Pest Co acquired Arrow Pest Control TSCP-backed PestCo. Meritus Gas Partners' subsidiary Buckeye Welding Supply acquired helium solutions firm HICO Meritus Gas Partners’. Blue Wolf tapped Vanessa Generelli as CFO Blue Wolf taps. Gen Nx360 tapped Welela Dawit as operating partner Gen Nx360 taps. O2-backed Azureon acquired residential pool services firm Pooltek Services O2-backed Azureon. High Street-backed Pinnacle Contracting Services acquired CJones Plumbing High Street-backed Pinnacle. Parabellum Investments acquired data management platform Crux Informatics Parabellum Investments snaps. RF Investment Partners exited Ally Waste Services RF Investment Partners. FTV is making a growth investment in Carbon Underwriting FTV to make. CVC Credit backed the merger of infrastructure services groups KSG and Sasti CVC Credit backs. Triton is in exclusive talks for Bureau Veritas’ fuels testing unit Triton enters exclusive. Skoyen is set to acquire Bartec Municipal Technologies Skoyen acquire. CVC has agreed to acquire Italy’s Clevertech CVC agrees to. Martis Capital backed healthcare marketing agency Deerfield Group Martis Capital backs. Frazier Healthcare Partners named Stephen Krupa as executive in residence for its buyout team Frazier Healthcare Partners. Huron Capital-backed Albireo Energy acquired Pasco Building Automation Services Huron Capital-backed Albireo. Altamont Capital sold comfort food chain Cotton Patch Cafe to Local Favorite Restaurants Altamont Capital sells.