Private Equity 8 Hours

Last updated: July 10, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

Fundraising and Capital Deployment

Harbour Vest Partners held the final close of its seventh direct co-investment program, HCF VII, raising approximately $4.75bn in total commitments, exceeding its target. In a significant capital deployment agreed to invest €3bn in Bayer's life sciences business, specifically targeting its contraceptives division through a capital solutions deal Apollo to inject €3bn. Ares Management has backed Firebird Music's launch of a new $750m fund focused on acquiring music rights, teaming up with The Raine Group for catalogue acquisitions in recorded music Ares backs Firebird Music's $750m fund.

Sector-Specific Investments and Exits

Private equity interest in primary care is accelerating, with firms like Apollo, Arsenal, Kain Capital, and OMERS Private Equity making multiple investments to drive digitalization within the sector. Apollo, Kain, and OMERS are specifically targeting primary care, while KKR has launched a new platform to capitalize on innovation in medical devices. In a notable exit, Carlyle Group sold its solar and energy storage developer Copia to EQT for $2.6bn, an acquisition that bolsters EQT's artificial intelligence infrastructure portfolio. Center Gate Capital has invested in Canadian Dental Labs, which manages eleven dental laboratories across Canada.

M&A Activity and IPO Prospects

EQT, Advent, and KKR are reportedly considering a takeover of the European molecular testing company Qiagen. Meanwhile, SoftBank Corp and Pay Pay are in discussions to invest in Seven & i Holdings, the Japanese owner of the 7-Eleven convenience store chain, as buyout talks continue SoftBank and Pay Pay weigh Seven & i investment. Fast-fashion group Shein has secured Chinese regulatory approval for a Hong Kong listing, clearing a significant hurdle for a potential initial public offering that could provide an exit path for its backers Shein clears China hurdle.

Legal and Investor Relations

The Minnesota State Board of Investment is seeking a general investment consultant to advise on its portfolio. In a legal dispute, college application platform Fizz has accused a Maveron VC of sharing confidential startup information with its rival, Sidechat, which was obtained during a fundraising meeting. Separately, five intriguing startup deals have emerged from the past month, including ventures focused on AI for biology and efforts to streamline private market transactions. European tech's performance has seen a shift, with tourist investors showing less enthusiasm for the sector.