Private Equity 8 Hours

Last updated: July 21, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

Private Equity Dealmaking and Fundraising Surge

Private equity firms are actively pursuing acquisitions across various sectors, with notable deals including Clayton, Dubilier & Rice-backed OCS agreeing to take facilities management company Mitie private in a £3.1 billion transaction. This move offers Mitie shareholders a premium of 46.8% to its previous closing share price. In a separate transaction, Apax Partners is set to acquire two event and data intelligence platforms, techoraco and Institutional Investor, from Delinian to acquire platforms. Additionally, Cap Vest has finalized its acquisition of France’s TSG, a provider of technical services for critical energy infrastructure.

Platform acquisitions are also a key trend, with RFE-backed Launch Pad acquiring home inspection firm Top to Bottom Services, and O2-backed 4M purchasing commercial janitorial service providers Bluegrass Commercial Cleaning and Rainbow Maintenance Services acquires companies. Elsewhere, Carbyne-backed Suan Nutra is set to acquire specialty ingredients businesses from IFF, aiming to create an enlarged natural ingredients platform to acquire businesses.

Secondaries Market Hits Record Highs Amid Strong Fundraising

The private equity secondaries market is experiencing a record-breaking run, with fundraising surpassing $50 billion in the first half of the year. This marks the second-strongest first six months in a six-year period, with the first quarter accounting for the majority of activity. Deal volume has also extended its record-breaking streak, demonstrating remarkable resilience despite recent market volatility. Clipway has emerged as a significant player, exceeding its target to raise $6.4 billion for its debut fund.

AI Dominates Funding Discussions and Strategic Investments

Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming a prerequisite for venture capital funding, with one observer stating, "If you're not AI-native, you're not getting funded". This sentiment is reflected in the European fintech landscape, where AI capabilities are a key differentiator. While Black-founded startups have seen an uptick in funding, with approximately $643 million raised by late May, the improvement is attributed to a select few deals.

In strategic investments, Enlightenment Capital is backing govtech firm Quorum, with the aim of accelerating its product roadmap and expanding its AI capabilities invests in firm. Dell Technologies Capital, meanwhile, is exploring how to build deep-tech startups for markets that may not yet be ready, while also asserting that AI will not lead to the demise of SaaS business models. The UK has appointed Kanishka Narayan as its first cabinet-level AI minister, signaling a growing governmental focus on the technology.

Operational Enhancements and Institutional Investor Activity

In operational news, Angeles Equity Partners has appointed Kyle Huffman as finance VP for its operations group, tasking him with building scalable finance organizations and improving cash generation within portfolio companies. On the institutional investor front, Worcester Retirement System is seeking a general investment consultant. In a substantial energy sector transaction, Blackstone, Apollo, and KKR are committing $5.34 billion to Williams' power projects, taking a 49% non-controlling interest in five power generation assets commit $5.34bn.