Private Equity 3 Days

Last updated: July 15, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

Private Equity Sector Sees Active Dealmaking Across Industries

Consolidation and strategic acquisitions marked a busy period for private equity. Stone Point Capital and Further Global, in conjunction with Permira-backed Kroll, a firm specializing in competition and regulatory advice. Separately, AnaCap-backed Ryze valuation firm Krata, which focuses on property valuations and advisory services in Spain. CAI Capital-backed GreenArrow to expand its infrastructure and electrical services across the US. Innovatus-backed Meet The People scooped up ad agency The Loomis Agency and its digital marketing arm. Gryphon-backed SMG also acquired health, safety, and environmental services firm Cross Safety, including its operations in the US and Mexico. In the veterinary sector, Great Point-backed Vetn Care picked up Holistic Veterinary Care, a community of veterinary hospitals, while Warburg-backed Bond Vet merged with Small Door Veterinary, creating an entity managing over 55 clinics. Atlas Holdings-backed Stryten Energy scooped up C&D Trojan Battery, expanding its battery manufacturing and component facilities across the US. AE Industrial acquires powder spray producer Powder Alloy, establishing a specialty materials platform. Broadwing-backed Lehr scooped up emergency vehicle upfitting assets of Pro Logic ITS, marking its tenth add-on acquisition. Mill Point Capital closed a deal for Littlejohn-backed Total Safety Supplies & Solutions. IMB Partners invests in heavy civil contractor Strategic Land Services, which performs work for electric grid expansion. ACP-backed Marco snaps up industrial products supplier Rocket Seals, a provider of specialty rubber, plastic, and metal components.

Healthcare and Technology Attract Significant Private Equity Investment

The healthcare and technology sectors continued to draw substantial private equity interest. Ardian acquires majority in Pflegia, a German digital healthcare recruitment platform. Archi Med takes biopharma Esperion Therapeutics private for $1.1 billion. Kaltroco invests in school dental program Smile America Partners to support growth. Inflexion has agreed to acquire Primed Group, a German provider of single-use medical consumables, from Paragon Partners as part of a broader regional strategy. Battery Ventures-backed ORTEC completes an add-on of TOBA HR Solutions, expanding its regional healthcare client base. Warburg Pincus-led investor group in pharmacy Pantherx Rare. Lightyear Capital backs tax and accounting firm Prosperity Partners. In the technology space, KKR in Thomson Reuters' global print business for $500 million, with Thomson Reuters retaining a 49% equity stake in the joint venture as part of industry consolidation. Odyssey Investment invests in packaging and logistics firm Trans Pak to support its next phase of growth. In cybersecurity, the first quarter of 2026 for privacy and cybersecurity startups, with $4.4 billion raised in Q2.

Music, Media, and Niche Sectors See Targeted PE Activity

Private equity activity extended into more specialized sectors, including music, media, and niche services. Pophouse acquires a stake in Iron Maiden's music and NIL rights, following a trend of investments in music royalties. Kroll, acquired by Stone Point and Further Global, also acquired ABC Economics. In the media and information services sector, KKR is acquiring a significant stake in Thomson Reuters' global print business. Meanwhile, Wynnchurch exits flow control specialist Flo Works to Ferguson for $1.6 billion, representing an acquisition multiple of 10x LTM adjusted EBITDA. Gen Nx360 taps Adam Feuer as operating partner, and Vance Street appoints Jason Burmer as managing director and business development head.

Secondaries Market and Emerging Tech Draw Investor Focus

The secondaries market is emerging as a sophisticated capital formation tool, with investors using it to unlock liquidity and reposition assets. Ardea Partners taps an MD from PJT for secondaries advisory, and Moelis its LP-led secondaries business with a team from Evercore. Secondaries Investor notes a boom in LP-led secondaries, driven by market conditions that encourage sellers. In the realm of emerging technology and AI, OpenAI researcher Miles Wang is in talks to launch an AI drug discovery startup, signaling investor interest in life sciences breakthroughs. Anthropic has recruited Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield for its AI compute team. The AI sector continues to attract significant funding, with Sapphire Ventures' Anders Ranum highlighting what separates winning AI startups. Helsing raises $1.8 backed by Goldman and Lightspeed. David Beckham’s health drink startup IM8 from General Catalyst's Customer Value Fund, which employs an unusual non-equity investment strategy.

European Venture and Growth Capital Showcases Innovation

European venture and growth capital are supporting a new generation of tech companies. Scotland's tech incubator is aiming to pull bigger players into the market, while Neko in Series C funding, reporting profitability at the clinic level. European biotech is mapping an impressive landscape with 89 startups reshaping medicine. A duo formerly of Palantir and Dropbox is helping companies like ElevenLabs and Notion. Defense tech Project Q in Series A funding, and Peec rival Promptwatch in seed funding. Meanwhile, Vertex, linked to Temasek, is scaling back ambitions with a new growth fund seeking $250 million, making it at least 40% smaller than its predecessor as part of a strategic recalibration.

Private Markets Navigate Challenges and Opportunities

Private markets are navigating various challenges and opportunities, including a focus on AI's impact on underwriting and the need for growth capital. Goldman Sachs notes AI is making underwriting a tougher prospect. The UK pension schemes' shift towards private markets is supported by policy, but the pace depends on fee mechanics and closing the growth capital gap. Nscale’s £2 billion UK data centre is experiencing grid delays, highlighting infrastructure challenges. CalPERS reports a 17% private equity return, and Asante is building its APAC secondaries business with an ex-Evercore hire. Sixth Street is eyeing Asian sports deals amid regional expansion, having explored opportunities in Japan and India according to its Asia-Pacific head.

Sector Focus on Water Treatment, Defense, and Battery Tech

Nordic Capital's Andreas Näsvik highlights the attractiveness of the water treatment sector, citing significant investment needs and skilled labor constraints. Bridgepoint is backing Danish defense business UMag, and Ardian is set to acquire a stake in German battery-tech firm Munich Electrification as part of a focus on key industrial sectors. Ardian will take a majority stake in Munich Electrification, with founders and management retaining minority stakes and investing alongside the firm, with fresh capital earmarked for expansion into adjacent areas. Nordic Capital's interest in water treatment is driven by the substantial investment required for infrastructure and specialist equipment as PE targets the sector.