Private Equity 8 Hours

Last updated: August 27, 2026, 8:49 AM ET

Deals & Transactions

KKR and Korean investors led by IMM are committing $2.23bn to SK Horizon, an AI data centre platform spun out of SK Telecom. Separately, CVC DIF's Aurora Towers is acquiring 255 sites from American Tower's Canadian unit, scaling its wireless infrastructure footprint. The transactions underscore growing private market appetite for digital infrastructure assets.

Regulatory & Compliance

KKR will pay a record $250m to settle a US Justice Department lawsuit over repeated merger-filing violations — the largest civil penalty ever imposed for such breaches. The settlement highlights heightened antitrust scrutiny facing major buyout firms.

Sector Trends

Healthcare buyout value fell to $51bn in H1 2026, down from roughly $60bn a year earlier, as AI disruption and geopolitical pressures weigh on the sector, per Bain. Meanwhile, firms like Altor and TDR Capital are targeting tourism as AI adaptation and increased consumer spending fuel travel growth. The travel push reflects broader portfolio diversification strategies among private equity groups.

Fundraising & Strategy

Foundations are increasing private equity allocations, signalling sustained appetite for illiquid assets despite market volatility. This trend aligns with record infrastructure dealmaking across telecom and data centre platforms.

Operational Concerns

At Starling Bank, staff are worried about AI reliance following compliance failures, highlighting risks in the fintech's automation push. The concerns echo wider AI disruption pressures affecting regulated industries.