Private Equity 8 Hours

Last updated: July 16, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

Dealmaking and Fund Activity

Private equity firms are actively pursuing a diverse range of acquisitions. H.I.G. Capital has launched a €1 billion German residential platform named Highground Living. In the healthcare sector has acquired memory care community Alamar Senior Living, while has purchased the healthcare AI firm Spike Technologies. One Equity is set to acquire pipe fabrication and distribution firm Epic Piping from Bernhard Capital Partners, and Guardian is selling manufacturer Precision Roll Solutions to American Roller Company. In a significant move, KKR and Energy Capital Partners have increased their takeover bid for DCC to £5.81 billion. Verdane has acquired stakes in four technology businesses from Trifork Labs, including event-sourcing specialist Axoniq and digital health business Dawn Health. Bridgepoint has agreed to acquire a majority stake in the German laboratory testing business GBA Group from Ardian Bridgepoint buys majority stake.

Sector Focus and Strategic Investments

Several private equity firms are demonstrating a strategic focus on specific sectors and geographic regions. Advantage Partners is reportedly planning a strategy targeting Japanese companies that are shielded from foreign takeovers, aligning with national economic-security concerns Advantage Partners to target. Meanwhile, German investor KENFO plans to increase its overall private markets allocation to 30% but will reduce its exposure to private equity KENFO to lift allocation. Tailwater has backed Pickton Gas Storage, a company led by former Nor Tex Midstream Partners management. Ground Force Capital is investing in the agricultural testing platform Rock River Laboratory. In a move to bolster its presence in the German residential market, H.I.G. Capital has established Highground Living, a platform valued at €1 billion.

Venture Capital and Technology Investments

The venture capital landscape is seeing significant activity, particularly in AI and technology. AI-powered travel agency Fora has achieved unicorn status, raising $60 million in a Series D round led by Forerunner and Tactile Ventures, valuing the company at $1 billion. EQT's €5 billion Scaleup Fund is reportedly in talks to lead a funding round for Mistral AI. Asia's startup funding reached a multiyear peak in Q2, with investors pouring $42.8 billion into rounds across the region, significantly boosted by China's $7.4 billion DeepSeek raise. Despite headlines, large seed rounds, particularly in AI, may not always yield venture-scale returns due to high entry valuations.

Real Estate and Secondaries Market Dynamics

The real estate secondaries market is experiencing a permanent shift, with an increasing number of investors using it to reconcile competing objectives. Managers are increasingly seeking liquidity without divesting prized assets, making secondaries a permanent channel for capital flow. M&G is building its infrastructure secondaries exposure and targeting continuation vehicles (CVs) for assets requiring additional time and capital for growth. In private credit, continuation vehicles are emerging as a key liquidity tool, though many limited partners are still opting to cash out amidst rising market scrutiny.

Fund Governance and Performance Benchmarking

Investor scrutiny on fund governance has intensified amid market adversity, with limited partners seeking greater control, improved economics, and stronger protections against risks like zombie funds. The methods used by large limited partners for performance benchmarking remain varied, indicating a lack of industry consensus on how performance should be measured. Partners Group has warned that evergreen outflows could reach $20 billion, with private equity accounting for two-thirds of its underperforming assets.