Private Equity 3 Days

Last updated: July 29, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

Fundraising and Deal Activity

TJC is targeting a $2 billion hard-cap for its seventh flagship fund, Resolute Fund VII, exceeding its initial target. In the real estate sector, secondaries-focused funds represented just 4% of fundraising in 2025 but continue to attract significant capital. Meanwhile, United Ports was formed through a $2.4 billion investment by Stonepeak for a 25% stake, with CMA CGM retaining operational control. Bain Capital led a $1.5 billion investment in infrastructure platform Eaton Fiber, aiming to accelerate Verizon's US fiber broadband expansion. Separately, Golub Capital backed the fast-food chain Church's Texas Chicken, which was previously acquired by High Bluff Capital Partners and Future Standard in 2021.

Sector-Specific Transactions

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. In a take-private transaction, AIP completed its buyout of medical technology firm Avanos Medical, with stockholders to receive $25 per share in cash. Vista Equity Partners agreed to acquire software firm Quantios from Hg, following Hg's initial investment in 2022 and subsequent merger activity. Apax is acquiring medical packaging firm Centor and another plastic packaging company from Gerresheimer for €1.5 billion, with the combined businesses generating approximately €570 million in revenue in 2025.

Corporate Acquisitions and Divestitures

Carlyle-backed Included Health is acquiring healthcare company Firefly Health. Investcorp scooped up 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 Knorr-Bremse’s rail HVAC unit, Merak, a company with over 60 years of engineering expertise. Water tech firm Xylem is acquiring Eagle Tree-backed Water Fleet for $200 million, a provider of mobile water and wastewater utility services. Carbyne-backed Suan Nutra is set to acquire a portfolio of natural ingredients businesses from IFF.

Infrastructure and Industrial Deals

Macquarie is lining up Win Waste, a waste management company, for a potential sale, anticipating interest from strategics and infrastructure funds. Gemspring-backed Key Line has merged with utility services firm Palouse Power, both providing construction and maintenance for electric distribution and transmission infrastructure. HIG acquired Avove, an infrastructure services and engineering firm focused on regulated water and power markets. Wynnchurch plans to take industrial company Luxfer private at $17.37 per share. ECP and KKR have agreed to acquire DCC Energy, a multi-energy sales and distribution business, in a $7.7 billion deal.

Technology and Software Transactions

Bridgepoint is acquiring Lansweeper, a technology asset intelligence platform that uses AI to map IT networks. Ridgeview made a £545 million take-private offer for automotive software company Pinewood. FEP acquired Bravo Fit, an Australian Planet Fitness franchisee, with Planet Fitness exiting its minority ownership. Carlyle is backing cybersecurity firm Secturion, marking its first investment from its middle-market aerospace, defense & government and industrials platform. Cinven and La Caisse are jointly acquiring MGA Optio, which underwrites specialty risk for over 60 capacity providers.

Healthcare and Life Sciences

Arlington Capital Partners closed the $1.45 billion sale of Riverpoint Medical to Novanta, with managing partner Matt Altman noting a stable transaction environment in healthcare. Providence made an additional investment in talent agency The Team to fund the acquisition of founder Casey Wasserman’s remaining ownership stake. Behrman-backed Micross acquired manufacturer AEMtec, a provider of microelectronic solutions for aerospace, defense, and medical applications. BC Partners has agreed to acquire a co-control stake in Info RLife, a Swiss CDMO specializing in IV infusion bags. Care Career picked up Periscope Equity-backed MAS Medical Staffing, a travel nurse and allied staffing agency.

Investment Trends and AI Impact

The UK is seeing a larger share of private equity activity due to global macroeconomic concerns pushing investors toward Europe. Secondaries investors favored high-conviction deals in the first half of the year, with AI disruption impacting both LP-led and GP-led markets. Bain Capital is leading a $1.5 billion investment in Eaton Fiber, while THL leverages its AI value creation strategy in the AMI sale. Some GPs may be at risk of overpromising and underdelivering on AI's ability to drive growth, facing scrutiny over its value creation credentials. Providence’s Karim Tabet noted that AI fatigue indirectly boosts live events, with new opportunities arising in comms, live events, and education. Startups at the intersection of AI and security have raised $855 million across over 150 seed-stage rounds this year. Schneider Electric’s VC Fund views the AI buildout as creating a new industrial investment cycle, backing foundational AI technologies.

Startup Funding and Growth

Centralize, an enterprise sales platform, emerged from stealth after raising $15 million in a Series A funding round. Freehand has raised $75 million in Series B funding to scale autonomous AI agents for supply chain spend management. Throne Science, which develops an AI-powered toilet camera for gut health tracking, raised $10 million in a Series A round. Dwelly, an AI rollup startup, raised $170 million with backing from EQT and General Catalyst. Pliant hit $100 million in annual recurring revenue following its US expansion. Zuri Q, an ETH Zurich spinout, raised $25.5 million in seed funding. Multiverse Computing is targeting a €500 million round at a unicorn valuation.