Last updated: July 29, 2026, 5:30 PM ET
Fundraising and Investment Activity
TJC is targeting a $2 billion hard-cap for its seventh flagship fund, Resolute Fund VII, exceeding its initial goal. In real estate, secondaries-focused funds, though representing just 4% of private real estate fundraising in 2025, continue to attract significant capital commitments. Meanwhile, family office Green Bear is reducing its private equity exposure, favoring the cost-efficiency benefits of separately managed accounts over illiquid assets favoring SMAs.
Sector-Specific Deals
BlackRock-backed Influence Media Partners is set to acquire Anthem Entertainment’s music assets for over $600 million, encompassing catalogs with more than 24,000 songs, including hits by major artists. In a notable take-private transaction, AIP has completed its buyout of medical technology firm Avanos Medical, with Avanos stockholders receiving $25 per share in cash. Vista Equity Partners is acquiring software firm Quantios from Hg, a business formed through the merger of Trust Quay and View Point.
Macquarie is reportedly preparing to sell waste management company Win Waste, which is expected to attract interest from both strategic buyers and infrastructure funds. Apax is acquiring medical packaging firm Centor and another plastic packaging company from Gerresheimer for €1.5 billion; the combined entities generated approximately €570 million in revenue in 2025 with around 2,400 employees.
Technology and AI Investments
Bain Capital is leading a $1.5 billion investment in infrastructure platform Eaton Fiber, aiming to accelerate Verizon's US fiber broadband expansion leading investment. Separately, Bain Capital is also involved in a $1.5 billion investment in Eaton Fiber, with THL leveraging an AI value creation strategy in the AMI sale leading investment. Golub Capital is backing the fast-food chain Church's Texas Chicken, which was acquired by High Bluff Capital Partners and Future Standard in 2021.
Centralize, an enterprise sales platform co-founded by former Meta and Slack engineers, has raised $15 million in a Series A funding round to build a "deal GPS" for enterprise sales raising $15M. Freehand has secured $75 million in Series B funding to scale autonomous AI agents for managing supply chain spend and back-office operations raising $75M. Dwelly, an AI rollup startup, has raised $170 million with backing from EQT and General Catalyst raising $170m. Throne Science, a startup developing an AI-powered toilet camera for gut health tracking, has raised $10 million in a Series A round led by Will Ventures raising $10M.
M&A and Divestitures
Carlyle-backed Included Health is acquiring healthcare company Firefly Health. Investcorp has acquired wealth management firm Berger Financial Group, which manages over $3 billion in assets for more than 3,800 clients. Open Gate Capital has agreed to acquire Merak, Knorr-Bremse’s rail HVAC unit, a company with over 60 years of engineering expertise agreeing to acquire.
Water tech firm Xylem is set to acquire Eagle Tree-backed Water Fleet for $200 million; Water Fleet provides mobile water and wastewater utility services acquiring WaterFleet. Carbyne-backed Suan Nutra is acquiring a portfolio of natural ingredients businesses from IFF. Providence has made an additional investment in talent agency The Team, which will be used to acquire founder Casey Wasserman’s remaining ownership stake.
Mutares has agreed to acquire the Free2move car-sharing business from Stellantis, which operates across 14 cities in Europe and the US agreeing to acquire. Cinven and La Caisse have agreed to jointly acquire MGA Optio, a specialty risk underwriter with operations in 15 countries. ECP and KKR have agreed to acquire DCC Energy, a multi-energy sales and distribution business, in a $7.7 billion deal that will take the company private agreeing to acquire.
Strategic Transactions and Exits
Juniper Capital has exited Andes Coil Processors, marking its 11th exit from 12 investments made since 2017 across four platform companies. Gemspring-backed Key Line has merged with utility services firm Palouse Power, combining construction and maintenance services for electric distribution, transmission, and communications infrastructure. Riverside-backed Decera Clinical is investing in healthcare knowledge platform Onviv, which provides continuing education for medical professionals investing in platform.
Stonepeak and CMA CGM have completed the formation of United Ports, with Stonepeak investing $2.4 billion for a 25% stake in the joint venture completing formation. AIP has completed the buyout of material handling firm Intelligrated from seller Honeywell Technologies completing buyout. Behrman-backed Micross has acquired manufacturer AEMtec, a provider of high-reliability microelectronic products for aerospace, defense, and medical applications acquiring manufacturer.
FEP has acquired Bravo Fit, an Australian Planet Fitness franchisee, with Planet Fitness exiting its minority ownership position as part of the transaction acquiring franchisee. BC Partners has agreed to acquire a co-control stake in Info RLife, a Swiss CDMO specializing in ready-to-use IV infusion bags for hospitals. Care Career has acquired Periscope Equity-backed MAS Medical Staffing, a travel nurse and allied staffing agency.
SVP is acquiring a minority stake in power plant South Field Energy, which began commercial operations in 2021. THL Partners has sold firmware provider AMI to Lattice Semiconductor, retaining an equity ownership interest in Lattice Semiconductor as part of the transaction selling provider. Carlyle is backing cybersecurity firm Secturion, marking the first investment from Carlyle’s middle-market aerospace, defense & government and industrials platform backing firm.
Arlington Capital has closed the $1.45 billion sale of its portfolio company Riverpoint Medical to Novanta, noting a stable transaction environment in the healthcare landscape closing sale. Capitol Meridian is set to invest in aviation services firm RH Aero Systems, with existing shareholders continuing to be significant investors investing in firm. Trans Digm is acquiring IGP-backed Prince & Izant for over $1 billion; Prince & Izant is a manufacturer of brazing alloys and specialty metal components acquiring firm.
Wynnchurch is taking industrial company Luxfer private for $17.37 per share taking private. Bridgepoint is acquiring a majority stake in Lansweeper, a technology asset intelligence platform acquiring stake. Mid Europa is acquiring a construction software platform in Czechia, formed by uniting ÚRS, First information systems, and Callida acquiring platform.
Market Trends and Outlook
The UK remains a significant market for private equity, with global macroeconomic concerns driving more investor activity towards Europe and consequently increasing the UK's share of overall activity. AI's value creation credentials are facing increasing scrutiny, with some fears that general partners (GPs) may overpromise and underdeliver on AI's ability to drive top-line growth facing scrutiny. The AI label alone is not sufficient to sway limited partners (LPs), and a "gating-gate" is impacting appetites for evergreen funds, while Spanish private equity is experiencing an exit boost.
Providence's Karim Tabet suggests that "AI fatigue" indirectly benefits live events, as the paradox of digitalization makes physical scarcity more important and valuable. He also notes that more sellers are becoming "realistic" on must-move assets, with new investment opportunities emerging in communications, live events, and education against the backdrop of AI. The strongest opportunities are identified in business, financial, and healthcare services, where AI meaningfully improves productivity and customer outcomes, alongside the consumer vertical where AI is integrated.
AI disruption has reverberated across both LP-led and GP-led secondary markets in the first half of the year, with high-conviction deals gaining favor from secondaries investors. The US asset manager Morgan Stanley IM has hired a new Asia insurance solutions lead amid a push by GPs to raise more capital from the insurance segment appoints lead. Tower Brook's Joseph Knoll notes that Europe offers lower multiples but a more challenging regulatory environment, while ECP and KKR have made offers for DCC Energy.
Firm and Personnel Moves
AE Industrial Partners has appointed Leonard Dollaga as operating partner, tasked with identifying and assessing new investment opportunities in national security sectors, particularly maritime. Asia's Affinity has seen at least nine senior departures since early 2023, including four partners in the last 12 months. Visionaries is cutting its investment team to two lead partners for its next fund.
Other Deals and Developments
The firm formerly known as The Jordan Company's Resolute Fund VII is targeting a $2 billion hard-cap, exceeding its initial goal. Elsewhere, TJC is targeting a $2 billion hard-cap for its seventh flagship fund, Resolute Fund VII, exceeding its initial goal.
AIP has completed the take-private buyout of medical technology firm Avanos Medical, offering Avanos stockholders $25 per share in cash. Vista Equity Partners is acquiring software firm Quantios from Hg. Macquarie is lining up Win Waste for sale, with interest expected from strategics and infrastructure funds.
Carlyle-backed Included Health is acquiring healthcare company Firefly Health. Investcorp has scooped up wealth management firm Berger Financial Group, which manages over $3 billion in assets. Open Gate Capital has agreed to acquire Knorr-Bremse’s rail HVAC unit, Merak.
Apax is set to acquire medical packaging firm Centor and another plastic packaging company from Gerresheimer for €1.5 billion, with the combined businesses generating about €570 million in revenue in 2025. Bain Capital is leading a $1.5 billion investment in infrastructure platform Eaton Fiber to accelerate Verizon's US fiber broadband expansion leading investment. Bain Capital leads a $1.5bn investment in Eaton Fiber; THL leverages AI value creation strategy in AMI sale leading investment.
Former Meta and Slack engineers have raised $15 million for their new startup Centralize to build a "deal GPS" for enterprise sales raising $15M. Juniper Capital has exited Andes Coil Processors, marking its 11th exit out of 12 total investments. Gemspring-backed Key Line merges with utility services firm Palouse Power.
Xylem is to acquire Eagle Tree-backed Water Fleet for $200 million, a provider of mobile water and wastewater utility services acquires WaterFleet. Carbyne-backed Suan Nutra will acquire a portfolio of natural ingredients businesses from IFF. Providence makes additional investment in talent agency The Team.
Freehand has raised $75 million in Series B funding to scale autonomous AI agents that manage supply chain spend and back-office operations raising $75M. Providence’s Karim Tabet notes that AI "fatigue" provides an indirect boost for live events and that more sellers are becoming "realistic" on must-move assets. Providence’s Karim Tabet also states that the strongest opportunities are in services, where AI meaningfully improves productivity.
Dwelly, an AI rollup startup, raises $170 million backed by EQT and General Catalyst raising $170m. Throne Science, a startup developing an AI-powered toilet camera, raises $10 million in a Series A round led by Will Ventures raising $10M. HIG acquires infrastructure services and engineering firm Avove, focused on regulated water and power markets acquires firm. Behrman-backed Micross acquires manufacturer AEMtec, a provider of high-reliability microelectronic products.
FEP acquires Australian Planet Fitness franchisee Bravo Fit, with Planet Fitness exiting its minority ownership position acquires franchisee. BC Partners agrees to acquire a co-control stake in Info RLife, a Swiss CDMO specializing in ready-to-use IV infusion bags. AI Seed Investors are flocking to cybersecurity startups, which have raised $855 million across over 150 seed-stage rounds this year.
Tower Brook’s Joseph Knoll suggests Europe offers lower multiples but a more challenging regulatory environment, while ECP and KKR have made offers for DCC Energy. Asia’s Affinity has lost another senior executive, with at least nine senior departures since the start of 2023. Step Stone leads on Cabot’s £140 million CV for Premier Modular, a modular buildings provider that raised £360 million from European infrastructure investors leads on CV.
Mutares agrees to acquire the Free2move car-sharing business from Stellantis, which operates across 14 cities in Europe and the US. Multiverse Computing is targeting a €500 million round at unicorn valuation. Bridgepoint to acquire Lansweeper, a technology asset intelligence platform acquires Lansweeper. Ridgeview is making a £545 million take-private offer for automotive software company Pinewood, and Bridgepoint is set to acquire a majority stake in asset intelligence business Lansweeper.
9fin completes its first employee share sale after a $170 million raise. Care Career picks up Periscope Equity-backed MAS Medical Staffing, a travel nurse and allied staffing agency. SVP to acquire a minority stake in power plant South Field Energy, which began commercial operations in 2021. THL Partners sells firmware provider AMI to Lattice Semiconductor, retaining an equity ownership interest in Lattice Semiconductor sells provider.
Carlyle backs cybersecurity firm Secturion, marking the first investment from Carlyle’s middle-market aerospace, defense & government and industrials platform backs firm. Arlington Capital closes its $1.45 billion sale of Riverpoint Medical to Novanta, with managing partner Matt Altman noting a stable transaction environment in the healthcare landscape closes sale. Capitol Meridian to invest in aviation services firm RH Aero Systems, with existing shareholders continuing to be significant investors investing in firm.
Trans Digm to acquire IGP-backed Prince & Izant for over $1 billion, a manufacturer of brazing alloys and specialty metal components acquires firm. Schneider Electric’s VC Fund sees the AI buildout creating a new industrial investment cycle. Cinven and La Caisse agree to jointly acquire MGA Optio, a specialty risk originator and underwriter operating in 15 countries. ECP and KKR agree to acquire DCC Energy in a $7.7 billion deal that will take the multi-energy sales and distribution business private.
Wynnchurch to take industrial company Luxfer private for $17.37 per share taking private. Mid Europa to acquire construction software platform in Czechia, formed by uniting ÚRS, First information systems, and Callida acquires platform. Bessemer and Atomico are in talks to lead The Exploration Company funding at a $2 billion valuation.