Private Equity 3 Days

Last updated: July 2, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

Fundraising & Investor Activity

Capital continues to concentrate among larger players, with Hayfin Capital Management raising over €15 billion ($17.1 for its latest direct lending fund. Similarly, Hamilton Lane closed its sixth direct equity fund at $3.8 billion, its largest to date. In the secondaries market, Ardian is packaging stakes into a $1 billion debt vehicle, while BCI is exploring a new capital solutions strategy. Despite market turbulence, LPs like those on the Global Investor 150 ranking show strong conviction in private equity, with the top 10 investors allocating $1.1 trillion to the asset class. Public pension funds such as Colorado PERA are reassessing their private equity commitments due to underperformance, while others like MWRA are issuing RFPs for significant buyout mandates, planning to commit up to $20 billion.

Venture Capital & Startup Funding

The venture capital landscape saw a mix of established firms and new entrants. Thiel Capital's Jack Selby is raising a $300 million second fund through Copper Sky Capital. Early-stage firm Magnify Ventures secured $46.6 million for its second fund, with backing from Melinda French Gates’ Pivotal Ventures. Tapestry VC closed an $80 million third fund targeting repeat European founders, anticipating a wave of AI exits. In a notable move, Ashton Kutcher is departing Sound Ventures to launch a new firm with Morgan Beller, focusing on AI infrastructure. Meanwhile, AI startups continue to attract significant capital globally, with investors pouring over $200 billion into startups in the second quarter of 2026. Bending Spoons, which acquires and revamps tech brands, saw its IPO price above its range at $29.00 per share, valuing the company at $1.68 billion.

M&A and Portfolio Company Activity

Private equity firms were active across various sectors, completing numerous acquisitions and exits. In the industrial and services sectors, Platinum Equity is investing in retailer Grand Appliance, while Monomoy Capital acquired Jiffy Lube for $1.3 billion. Truelink Capital made its first Fund II platform investment in Horwitz, a provider of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services. The healthcare sector saw Peak Rock acquire health tech firm Asembia and Parthenon back patient support solutions provider Momentum Life Sciences. In a significant energy transaction, KKR agreed to acquire EDF's North American renewables arm for $4.2 billion, marking a record clean-energy bet. The firm also took control of a $1.3 billion South Korean renewable energy platform with SK KKR takes control.

Sector-Specific Deals

Technology & AI: The AI boom continues to shape dealmaking, with Brookfield expanding its financing framework with Bloom Energy to $25 billion to build AI infrastructure. In the software space, Nordic Capital-backed Regnology agreed to acquire Fed Reporter, and Main Capital-backed UnameIT picked up Denmark's Auto IT. However, the "Saa Spocalypse" has exposed vulnerabilities in the software sector, prompting investors to identify managers capable of navigating the changing landscape Deep Dive: How AI. Separately, Ardian Semiconductor took a minority stake in French AI chip designer VSORA, aimed at developing AI inference accelerators for data centers.

Healthcare & Life Sciences:

The healthcare sector remains a focus for PE, with Frazier Healthcare Partners naming Stephen Krupa as executive in residence for its buyout team. In medical education, the growing need for healthcare professionals presents an opportunity for PE investors Medical education gap. THL-backed Headlands Research acquired Clinical Trials Research, and Cathay Capital launched Ascendia Autism Care, beginning operations with 20 centers.

Consumer & Retail:

In the consumer space, Cinven is combining its portfolio company Vitamin Well with EMPWR, a nutrition bar manufacturer. Riverside Company sold organic candy brand Yum Earth to ACON Investments, and IVEST Cloverlay are selling the Care Bears franchise to Authentic Brands Group after quadrupling its revenue.

Industrials & Infrastructure:

Warburg Pincus agreed to acquire UK infrastructure services group Network Plus. In maritime logistics, JFLCO-backed Wrist Group acquired MSA. ICG Infra backed Paulo Duarte Group, a specialist freight fleet operator in Portugal and Spain. In clean energy, CVC DIF exited its Polish wind portfolio to Actis.

Regulatory & Market Practice

The burgeoning market for continuation vehicles (CVs) is prompting discussions on market practice and regulatory guidance art self-governance. ILPA has updated its guidance for CVs to reflect an evolving market, while secondaries buyers are increasingly seeking fund financing for CVs to optimize returns Secondaries investors grow more. In the UK, discussions around private capital's role in the defense industry are ongoing, with a panel suggesting private capital can act as a catalyst for commercial discipline and scale, rather than a replacement for government funding Private capital will accelerator. However, startups and VCs remain divided over the UK's defense investment plan Startups VCs divided. Meanwhile, the EU's proposed €5 billion superfund has sparked debate, with France seeking to block the UK's access, leading to a potential quota deal EU offers quota deal.