Private Equity 3 Days

Last updated: July 27, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

PE Firms Pursue Growth in Diverse Sectors

Private equity firms continued their dealmaking spree across a wide array of industries, signaling ongoing investor confidence in various growth areas. Bluestone Equity Partners led a $55 million growth round for Poolhouse, a cue sports platform founded by the creators of Topgolf, marking the tenth investment from its inaugural $350 million fund. In the healthcare sector, Longshore invested in health tech firm Prochant to support its next phase of growth, while in Apex Infusion, with FFL Partners remaining a minority investor. Providence Equity is backing SCG, a UK-based communications and IT provider serving approximately 35,000 small and medium-sized businesses. The veterinary care sector also saw significant activity, with firms including Warburg Pincus, Great Point Partners, Axcel, and Bansk Group involved in at least seven deals.

Sports and Entertainment Investments Heat Up

The sports and entertainment landscape continues to attract significant private equity capital. Blue Owl is reportedly acquiring a stake in the Cleveland Cavaliers, highlighting sports as a new alternative asset class. In baseball in the MLB’s Oakland Athletics as part of the club's equity financing for a new ballpark in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, agreed acquire UK vitamin company Vitabiotics, founded in 1971, for international expansion. Elsewhere, Nazca Capital an immersive experience operator, and Camden's Triumph purchased a Spanish culinary institute.

Tech and AI Valuations and Funding

Technology and artificial intelligence remain hotbeds for investment and valuation discussions. Elon Musk’s tunneling startup, The Boring Company, is reportedly in talks for a new funding round that would value it at $20 billion. Multiverse Computing is targeting a €500 million funding round at a unicorn valuation Sifted reports. In a varied week for large deals, startup investors poured capital into sectors including physical AI, biotech, cybersecurity, AI infrastructure, and fintech, with the physical AI startup Atoms leading one of the largest rounds. The biggest AI talent challenge, however, is resilience, not speed, with engineering leaders advised to build adaptable, vendor-agnostic infrastructure instead of relying on expensive proprietary hyperscalers according to a guest columnist. Trust is also emerging as a critical factor in the next AI race as discussed by Sifted.

Infrastructure and Real Estate Deals

Infrastructure and real estate funds are actively deploying capital and realizing exits. Blackstone Infrastructure has extended the deadline for the TXNM Energy merger to May 2027, allowing more time for regulatory approvals in New Mexico PE Insights reported. Shore Capital successfully realized its first real estate fund with the $268 million sale of a 102-property veterinary portfolio to Four Corners Property Trust PE Insights shared. In a significant fundraising update, Harbour Vest closed its seventh co-investment program at $4.75 billion, exceeding its target PE Insights highlighted.

M&A and Portfolio Company Activity

Portfolio company activity and mergers and acquisitions. GTCR-backed Dentalcorp, a dental support organization based in Toronto, has acquired Northstar Dental Partners. Nazca Capital also picked up an immersive experience operator, while Camden's Triumph acquired a Spanish culinary institute. Softbank is reportedly eyeing the acquisition of ETH spinout Gravis according to Sifted. In a cost-cutting measure, Nothing is reportedly looking to cut around 100 jobs Sifted stated.

Active Fund Managers and Strategic Approaches

Established fund managers are actively pursuing strategic acquisitions and rejections. EQT's raised A$2.5 billion approach to Perpetual was rejected for a second time due to a persistent price gap between the parties Reuters reported. General Catalyst has overtaken Y Combinator in backing fintech deals of $5 million or more in the second quarter, according to Crunchbase data. One London founder house is reportedly rewriting the rules by betting that work-life balance can beat burnout as detailed by Tech Crunch Venture. Investindustrial has agreed to invest in PA Aromatics, an Italian developer and manufacturer of flavors and fragrances for various industries.