Private Equity 8 Hours

Last updated: May 7, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

Deal Activity & Exits

Private equity activity saw strong M&A momentum continue, with Carlyle Group and Diversified Energy agreeing to acquire Andarko Basin oil assets from Camino Corporation for a definitive price of $1.2bn, securing an additional 100 undeveloped inventory locations in the Oklahoma development area. Elsewhere in dealmaking, PE-backed Pye-Barker expanded its footprint in safety services by scooping up AAA Fire Extinguisher Co, headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, continuing its consolidation strategy in the fire protection sector. In healthcare IT, Silversmith Capital Management facilitated an add-on acquisition as its portfolio company, Med Tech, purchased Valencia, California-based managed IT services provider Avarion.

Investment Strategy & Portfolio Management

Brightstar Capital Partners announced a new investment in Simon Eye Holdings, confirming that CEO Edward DiMartino and management will retain a substantial ownership share alongside the new capital infusion. Meanwhile, Siris Capital is reportedly poised to achieve a threefold return on its investment in Equiniti following the sale of the firm to Bullish Capital; Siris co-founder Frank Baker noted the strategic shift toward tokenized assets, stating the demand for tokenized public equity will follow tokenized dollar demand. Contrasting this transactional focus, Fidelity Investments has reportedly shuttered its dedicated venture capital arm quietly, according to sources familiar with the matter, signaling a potential pullback from direct VC exposure by large asset managers.

Sector Watch

The intense focus on artificial intelligence development continues to draw strategic capital, though the competitive dynamics between US and European AI firms remain pronounced Anthropic vs European AI. This capital deployment contrasts with the exit strategies seen elsewhere, such as the favorable realization for Siris Capital in the financial services technology space, demonstrating varied returns based on sector specialization and timing.