Private Equity 3 Days

Last updated: July 12, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

Fundraising and Large Deals

Harbour Vest Partners has closed its seventh direct co-investment program, HCF VII, with total commitments of approximately $4.75 billion, exceeding its fundraising target raised $4.75bn. Ares is backing Firebird Music's new $750 million fund dedicated to acquiring music rights catalogues backed a $750m fund. AI and cybersecurity infrastructure deals dominated venture funding this week, with two companies securing billion-dollar financings. Warburg Pincus is investing in Creditor Watch, an Australian commercial credit reporting and risk analytics platform, to expand its Asian presence backed Creditor Watch.

Sector Focus: Healthcare and Technology

Private equity firms Apollo, Kain, and OMERS are targeting the primary care sector, drawn by its increasing need for digital infrastructure. KKR has launched a new platform focused on component engineering to leverage innovation in medical devices. Center Gate Capital has invested in Canadian Dental Labs, which operates eleven dental laboratories across Canada. In HR technology, Shore Capital, Lightyear, and Bridgepoint have signed deals, while Apollo is reportedly bidding for the budget airline EasyJet.

Deal Activity and Legal Disputes

EQT, Advent, and KKR are reportedly considering bids for the European molecular testing company Qiagen circling Qiagen. SoftBank Corp and Pay Pay are in discussions to invest in Seven & i Holdings, the owner of the 7-Eleven convenience store chain weighing Seven & i investment. A lawsuit filed by college application platform Fizz alleges that a Maveron VC shared confidential startup information with a rival company, Sidechat.

Venture Capital Landscape

Yann LeCun's newly launched venture fund has shut down due to emerging exclusivity relationships. Venture funding continues to be heavily influenced by AI, accounting for five of the ten largest announced rounds this week. Investors have shown less enthusiasm for European tech in recent times, particularly in sectors that were once considered prime targets. Reed Jobs' firm Yosemite, initially launched three years ago, is actively involved in the biotech sector, which experienced a post-pandemic downturn. Several intriguing startup deals have emerged, including companies developing AI models for biology and solutions for private market efficiencies.