Private Equity 3 Days

Last updated: July 31, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

Private Equity Dealmaking Heats Up Across Sectors

Private equity firms were active across various sectors, with significant deal announcements. Platinum Equity is buying half of Nestlé's waters and premium beverages business for $3.4bn, forming a new company called Peranel with an enterprise value of €4.9bn ($5.6bn). KKR and Energy Capital Partners are set to acquire DCC for £5.75bn ($7.78bn), a deal recommended by DCC's board despite shareholder objections. Bain Capital has agreed to acquire UK vitamins leader Vitabiotics for approximately £900m ($1.2bn) as part of an international growth strategy. In the infrastructure space a $1.5bn investment in the infrastructure platform Eaton Fiber to accelerate Verizon's US fiber broadband expansion. HIG Capital Avove, an infrastructure services and engineering firm focused on regulated water and power markets. Providence Equity Partners will assume full ownership of the agency formerly known as Wasserman, buying out founder Casey Wasserman. TSG Consumer body care brand Saltair, which was previously backed by Prelude Growth Partners. Apheon-backed Haudecoeur its European presence by acquiring food businesses Natur Food and Heliadis.

Fundraising and Strategic Investments

Several firms announced significant fundraising milestones and strategic investments. Blue Owl $10.6bn for its latest GP stakes fund, which is expected to close this year after extensions. Brookfield has raised around $2bn at the first close of its Middle East buyout fund, anchored by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. In the secondaries market a Q3 close for its sixth secondaries fund and is also planning to launch its first infrastructure secondaries vehicle, having raised $9.3bn to date for Fund VI. Savano has closed an oversubscribed direct secondaries fund which has already made 12 investments. Evercore is bolstering its APAC private capital advisory unit, more than doubling its headcount to capitalize on growth in the region's secondaries market. BlackRock's Global Infrastructure Partners is backing Eamonn Rothwell, CEO of Irish Continental Group, in a €1.2bn ($1.38bn) management buyout of the ferries group.

AI and Technology Investments Drive Growth

The burgeoning field of Artificial Intelligence is a significant driver of investment, with numerous startups and established companies seeking to capitalize on its potential. Battery Storage a $550M Series C round, one of the year's largest cleantech rounds, to fund the deployment of large-scale projects amid soaring energy demand from AI data centers. Inforcer has raised $50 million in a Series C round led by Insight Partners to help smaller businesses prepare for AI and security risks. Dwelly, AI $170m backed by EQT and General Catalyst. Startups at the intersection of AI and cybersecurity have collectively raised $855 million across over 150 seed-stage rounds this year, according to Crunchbase data. Blossom Capital into the defense sector, signaling a strategic shift in venture capital investment. In the broader tech landscape, Centralize, an enterprise sales platform, has raised $15 million in a Series A round. Freehand has secured $75 million in Series B funding to scale autonomous AI agents that manage supply chain spend and back-office operations.

Sector-Specific Deals and Divestitures

Private equity activity is also visible in specialized sectors, including healthcare, industrial services, and consumer goods. AIP has completed the take-private buyout of medical tech firm Avanos Medical, with stockholders set to receive $25 per share. Carlyle-backed Included Firefly Health, a healthcare company. In industrial services industrial services firm JT Thorpe to Truelink Capital. Blackstone's energy Dark Vision, a pipeline inspection business, while Macquarie is reportedly exploring a sale of waste-to-energy company Win Waste. Apax set Centor and another plastic packaging company from Gerresheimer for €1.5bn, with the two businesses generating combined revenues of about €570 million in 2025. Investcorp has acquired wealth management firm Berger Financial Group, which manages over $3 billion in assets.

Secondary Market Dynamics and LP Strategies

The secondary market continues to evolve, with both buyers and sellers navigating new opportunities and strategies. shorter hold for a continuation vehicle is an imperfect metric for assessing its value. Family office its private equity exposure and favoring separately managed accounts, citing cost-efficiency benefits amid lower private equity returns. Chief Investment Officer Vishnu Amble is keen on selling private equity fund stakes bilaterally as the family office pares its exposure to illiquid assets. Hamilton Lane a single-asset continuation vehicle for wealth management asset firm Savant Capital Holdings.

Venture Capital Focus on AI and European Expansion

Venture capital firms are increasingly focusing on AI-driven companies and supporting European startups in their international growth. Europe's top €4.9bn raised across 222 spinouts in H1 2026, highlighting a strong ecosystem for early-stage funding. European startups are actively expanding internationally, with some initiating global strategies as early as the seed stage. startups racing to power the AI boom are attracting significant investor attention. At the seed stage, venture capital firms are showing strong interest in cybersecurity startups that integrate AI capabilities. Vanessa Larco startups based on founder potential and their ability to leverage AI. Many European VCs are quietly optimistic about the chip rout, suggesting potential opportunities.