Private Equity 3 Days

Last updated: August 16, 2026, 8:40 PM ET

Private Equity

La Caisse saw its private equity portfolio decline 4.3% in the first half of 2026, sharply underperforming a benchmark that gained 8.0% as AI-driven public market rallies left private holdings trailing. EQT launched its €5bn Scaleup Europe Fund with a €450m cornerstone investment in satellite operator ICEYE, valuing the company at €10bn as the firm doubles down on high-growth European technology. Pimco and Pollen Street are among the private credit firms circling the riskiest tranches of BFF Bank’s €1.2bn ($1.4bn) non-performing loan portfolio, highlighting continued demand for distressed European debt. Providence Equity agreed to acquire Hometrack, a UK-based provider of property valuation data and analytics used by mortgage lenders across the UK and Netherlands, marking another strategic play in financial data infrastructure. Astorg carved out Thermo Fisher’s microbiology business in a $1bn deal driven by rising demand for antimicrobial testing, while Butterfly Equity, and Wise Equity targeted nutraceutical assets amid shifting consumer health trends. Silver Lake entered talks to take Workday private in a transaction that could rank among the largest software buyouts ever, underscoring the tech-focused buyout market’s resilience despite macroeconomic uncertainty. CVC DIF acquired a significant majority stake in firstcolo, a Frankfurt-based colocation data centre operator, from Cube Infrastructure as AI infrastructure demand continues to fuel engineering and digital asset M&A. Wolf-Gordon, backed by Charger, expanded its interior surfaces footprint by acquiring Andor Willow and Walls & Interiors, two specialty providers serving architecture and design clients from its New York City base. Shurco, supported by Behrman, acquired Heavy Motions Inc., a South Dakota-based manufacturer of cargo covering and containment systems, broadening its industrial portfolio. Battery Ventures backed Vetspire’s AI-powered operating system for veterinary practices, aiming to accelerate product development and support teams of all sizes through intelligent automation. PIF outlined a 2026-2030 strategy that shifts focus from rapid capital deployment to active ownership and deeper private investor participation, signaling a maturation of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth approach. Northern Gritstone plans to open a San Francisco office to strengthen its reach into U.S. deep-tech startups, reinforcing its position as a UK spinout investor. Weymouth Retirement Board issued an RFP for private equity co-investment managers, seeking to expand its direct deal-making capabilities and enhance portfolio diversification.

Venture Capital

Joshua Kushner warned Silicon Valley investors against letting AI excitement erode investment discipline, emphasizing that while the opportunity remains vast, unchecked enthusiasm risks undermining long-term value creation. Databricks returned to the fundraising market just eight months after its previous round, securing another $5bn to fuel enterprise AI platform expansion and data intelligence offerings. Mistral secured commitments from ASML, and other enterprise technology leaders to support its data centre buildout and AI infrastructure scaling. 40 startups joined the Crunchbase Unicorn Board in July, marking the highest monthly count in four years, led by sectors including financial services, robotics, AI orchestration, multimodal AI, energy, and semiconductors. Europe saw its top 30 public investors actively deploying capital in H1 2026, particularly in fintech, climate tech, and enterprise software, though concerns mount over cultural challenges and talent retention across the region’s startup ecosystem. 10 drone startups emerged as key players to watch in 2026, as venture capitalists bet on autonomous flight technology for logistics, agriculture, and infrastructure inspection markets. London experienced a surge in startup funding activity in 2026, driven by increased investor confidence and a growing network of meetups connecting founders with institutional capital. European fintech faces mounting pressure to address internal culture issues amid rapid scaling, with investors calling for stronger governance frameworks and leadership accountability to sustain growth momentum.