Private Equity 3 Hours

Last updated: August 20, 2026, 1:21 PM ET

UK Tech Funding

Fractile is in talks to raise funding at a $6.5bn valuation, according to reports. The UK-based AI chip startup is nearing a significant funding round that would mark a major milestone in its growth trajectory.

Private Credit Markets

Jefferies Credit Partners is targeting $1.16bn (€1bn) for a new private credit secondaries fund. The vehicle will trade private credit loans in the secondary market, reflecting growing investor appetite for yield in alternative credit strategies.

Infrastructure Investment

Blackstone Strategic Partners anchored EQT's new AI Infrastructure Fund, demonstrating how secondaries markets continue to build blueprints for large-scale infrastructure deployment. The partnership signals sustained momentum in AI-driven infrastructure investing.

Legal Sector Consolidation

Charlesbank Capital Partners is in advanced talks to acquire a stake in Wood Smith Henning & Berman (WSHB) in a transaction worth approximately $700m. The deal tests the last wall keeping private equity out of the legal sector, marking a potential watershed moment for law firm ownership structures.

US Rental Platform Growth

CVC has taken a majority stake in Open Rent, the UK's largest direct-to-landlord rental platform. The investment underscores continued private equity interest in proptech platforms that connect tenants directly with property owners.

Neobank AI Expansion

Starling Bank has unveiled a weekly AI rollout strategy as the fintech race intensifies across Europe. The neobank is accelerating its artificial intelligence capabilities to maintain competitive advantage in an increasingly crowded digital banking landscape.

Transparency Trends

PE International reports that transparency is becoming table stakes for private equity investors. Greater risk and increased regulatory scrutiny are driving demand for more open reporting standards across the industry.

Strategic Acquisitions

Uplift Investors has acquired Engage fi from Falfurrias Management Partners. Engage fi advises banks and credit unions on technology and vendor decisions, drawing on more than 2,700 completed client engagements across core banking, digital banking, and payments systems.

Franchise Expansion

ProHome has acquired a Metro DC franchise, expanding its Mid-Atlantic reach. The franchise business has provided builder warranty management services across Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware for more than two decades.

Engineering Services Consolidation

Certerra has acquired Skyrise Engineering and Testing in Florida. The acquisition adds geotechnical and materials testing capabilities to Certerra's platform, strengthening its presence in South Florida's infrastructure market.