Private Equity 3 Days

Last updated: July 4, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

Private Equity Dealmaking and Fund Activity

Blackstone's private wealth fund posted its strongest-ever monthly return, primarily driven by its investment in AI developer Anthropic. This surge in performance for the wealthy individual investor vehicle underscores the significant impact of AI bets within private equity portfolios. In a separate development, IK Partners is opening a Madrid office and appointing Gonzalo Fernandez-Albiñana as a partner, signaling expansion into new European markets to capitalize on deal opportunities. Meanwhile, Hamilton Lane closed its sixth direct equity fund at $3.8 billion, its largest to date, indicating continued robust fundraising for direct equity strategies. The private equity buyout mandate with plans to commit up to $20 billion, highlighting substantial institutional investor interest in the asset class.

Sector-Specific Investments and Exits

Platinum Equity is investing, which operates 31 retail locations and five distribution centers across several Midwestern states, pointing to continued private equity interest in the consumer retail sector. In the industrial services space, JFLCO-backed Wrist Group acquired, a Danish marine supply and logistics company, expanding its footprint in the maritime industry. Monomoy Capital acquired Jiffy for $1.3 billion from a subsidiary of Shell USA, Inc., demonstrating significant activity in the automotive services franchise sector. The healthcare technology sector also saw action, with GTCR-backed Experity acquiring Exdion, an Illinois-based on-demand healthcare technology platform. Furthermore, Peak Rock acquired health, which also operates a specialty pharmacy conference.

Technology and AI Investments

The artificial intelligence sector remains a focal point for venture capital and private equity. Ashton Kutcher is leaving to launch a new firm with Morgan Beller, focusing on the infrastructure layer beneath leading AI labs, a testament to the evolving investment strategies within AI. ElevenLabs is targeting a $22 billion valuation through a new share sale, underscoring the high valuations being sought by prominent AI companies. Brookfield is lifting its AI power framework with Bloom Energy to $25 billion, a fivefold increase, highlighting substantial capital deployment towards AI infrastructure. The broader trend of AI investment is reflected in global startup investment hitting a record $510 billion in H1 2026, with AI significantly accelerating funding and exits. Separately, Ardian Semiconductor is investing in VSORA, a French fabless chip design company, indicating continued investment in the foundational elements of AI technology.

European Private Equity Activity

Eurazeo has exited its Spanish hotel portfolio, FST Hotels, to Extendam, a European specialist in hospitality private equity, marking a successful divestment in the European leisure sector. In the digital infrastructure space, Sandbrook announced a €200 million investment in Krios, a European platform developing data center projects. Main Capital and Volpi Capital are active in software deals, with Main Capital-backed Uname IT acquiring Denmark's Auto IT acquiring Auto IT, a software provider for automotive retail. Volpi Capital also took a majority stake in archiving software firm kgs taking a stake in kgs. IK Partners is opening a Madrid office, signaling its commitment to expanding its European presence. Additionally, Nordic Capital-backed Regnology is set to buy Fed Reporter as part of its US expansion, demonstrating cross-border M&A activity.

Venture Capital and Startup Funding

Melinda French Gates' venture firm is backing Magnify Ventures' $46.6 million Fund II, indicating continued LP support for early-stage investment firms. Jack Selby's VC firm, Copper Sky Capital, is raising a $300 million second fund, signaling further capital formation in the venture space. U.S. startups are announcing sizable funding rounds, with energy and AI leading the pack, as seen in Joulent securing a significant funding round. Europe is also seeing a strong pace of startup creation, with one unicorn a week. Efforts are also underway to broaden access to the sector, with Common Ventures launching.

Secondaries Market and Fund Strategies

Evercore is adding secondaries, strengthening its capabilities in the rapidly growing Asian secondaries market. Ardian is bundling secondaries stakes into a $1 billion debt vehicle, capitalizing on the booming CFO market. Behrman completed a $250 million continuation fund for Shurco, with Coller Capital leading the investment, demonstrating ongoing activity in the continuation fund space. BCI is seeking good, aiming to capitalize on LP demand for liquidity. The market is also grappling with the nuances of governance for continuation vehicles, with calls to establish market practices to avoid regulatory intervention regarding continuation vehicle guidance.

Infrastructure and Renewable Energy Investments

CVC DIF is exiting its Polish wind portfolio to Actis, divesting six operational onshore wind farms. RGreen Invest is backing Geogreen with a €52.4 million investment, supporting the holding company of Arverne's founder. The European digital infrastructure sector is showing significant momentum, with Sandbrook's €200 million investment in Krios for data center development. This aligns with a broader trend of private capital seeking opportunities in infrastructure, as evidenced by discussions on what LPs, anticipating significant spending in that sector.

Strategic Acquisitions and Consolidations

In the industrial and manufacturing sectors, First Reserve-backed Trillium Flow, a strategic divestment of non-core assets. Meritus Gas Partners' subsidiary, expanding its offerings in the industrial gas market. The aerospace sector saw Inflexion exit aerospace supplier Avantus in a sale to Arcline Investment. In the food and beverage sector, Cinven and Bridgepoint-backed Vitamin Well are merging with Waterland's EMPWR, creating a larger entity in the nutritional products space. Also in the food distribution sector, Investcorp-backed Sunrise Produce acquired.

Other Notable Deals and Trends

Bain Capital and SoftBank's LY are sweetening their bid for Kakaku.com to $4.1 billion, indicating a competitive takeover scenario. In the services sector, Garnett Station is collecting, with potential buyers offering 13x-15x EBITDA. Harvest Partners acquired Integra, a commercial HVAC service provider. In a move to bolster its healthcare offerings, backing patient support solutions. The broader tech industry continues to experience layoffs, with over 127,000 workers at U.S. tech companies laid off in 2025 and 2026, a trend that may impact future investment and hiring strategies. Investors are also looking for ways to diversify with the Global Investor 150.