Private Equity 3 Days

Last updated: August 14, 2026, 5:33 AM ET

Data Centers & AI Infrastructure

AI infrastructure demand continues to fuel deal momentum in the engineering sector, with Cube Infrastructure looking to sell its colocation data center operator, Firstcolo, to CVC DIF. In a separate development, Silver Lake and Digital Bridge are exploring a potential $100 billion IPO or sale of hyperscale operator Vantage Data Centers.

Insurance & Financial Services Deals

Thoma Bravo is set to take the risk exchange business Accelerant private in a deal valued at over $4 billion. Altamont Capital Partners and Accelerant's founders are expected to retain equity stakes. In a move to bolster its financial planning arm, WestBridge has agreed to acquire a majority stake in the English financial planning firm Beckett Investment Management from Foresight Group. Beckett has seen its assets under management grow from £800 million to £2.1 billion since 2021.

Technology & Software Acquisitions

Thoma Bravo has also completed the $466 million take-private of Kneat, a digital validation software provider based in Limerick, Ireland, which has now been delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange. Resurgens Technology Partners has invested in Qarma, a quality compliance platform, aiming to accelerate its AI roadmap and international expansion.

Energy & Utilities Sector Investments

Bernhard-backed Optimum Energy has acquired Hussung Mechanical Contractors and its service arm, HMC Service Company. Hussung provides services to healthcare systems, universities, manufacturers, and mission-critical facilities. Separately, One Rock is planning to sell its environmental services firm, Enviro Serve, to Clean Harbors for $470 million, with the transaction anticipated to close in the latter half of 2026.

Healthcare & Life Sciences Transactions

Marlin’s Radar Healthcare has completed an add-on acquisition of Cemplicity, a patient experience and outcomes platform operating in Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, and the UK. In the life sciences sector, EQT Life Sciences is investing $17.5 million in Vaderis Therapeutics as part of a $152 million Series B round to fund rare-disease trials. Gridiron Capital is set to invest in van den Boom & Associates, a provider of life sciences back-office solutions including finance, accounting, and HR.

Manufacturing & Industrial Deals

Astara Capital has acquired Dynatec, an industrial wastewater treatment firm serving sectors such as food and beverage, automotive, data centers, and general manufacturing. Lindsay Goldberg has made a majority investment in metals distributor Alro Steel, with the founding Glick family retaining a significant ownership stake. HIG Capital has completed the acquisition of UK engineering firm Phoenix ME, which provides mechanical and electrical engineering services.

Private Credit & CLO Market Activity

CVC Credit has priced Apidos LVIII, a new $550 million collateralised loan obligation, continuing a busy issuance period for the credit arm of CVC. TDR Capital is reportedly exploring the sale of Arrow Global, a British private credit manager it took private five years ago.

Venture Capital & Startup Funding

Thrive Holdings, backed by OpenAI, has raised $2 billion in new funding at a $12 billion valuation, with investors including SoftBank. Accel has closed an oversubscribed $550 million India fund within weeks of its last fundraise. Scaleup Europe, a public-private fund, has made its initial investment in Finnish satellite company ICEYE. In London, a venture lab focused on deeptech for environmental solutions is gaining traction, with Sifted highlighting its work.

Public Funds & Investor Activity

Europe's top 30 most active public funds in the first half of 2026 have been identified, signaling continued investor engagement. Korea's National Pension Service (NPS) has added another $1 billion in secondaries exposure, bringing its total secondary funds and co-investments to approximately $3.7 billion. The NPS also reported a 12% rise in its private equity assets under management, though overall growth has slowed.

Market Trends & Investor Strategies

Private equity firms are increasingly focusing on local economy themes, with investors looking for opportunities beyond traditional sectors. The SEC is intensifying its scrutiny of private funds' valuations, with examiners requesting specific fund information. Meanwhile, there is a notable trend of deeptech founders dictating term sheets in 2026, reflecting their strong market position.

Logistics & Transportation Sector Deals

Apax is set to sell its food supply chain logistics provider, Tosca, to Goldman Sachs Alternatives. In the air cargo space, ClearJet has raised $25 million in a Series B round to build what it calls the "Uber of Cargo," connecting shippers with unused capacity on commercial flights.