Last updated: September 28, 2026, 10:06 PM ET
Private Equity Deals & Acquisitions
Renovus Capital’s TJP acquired life sciences market researcher Evolution Consulting & Research, expanding its portfolio in healthcare intelligence services. Avesi Partners backed spinal surgery supply hub New Age Medical, supporting its platform connecting medical device manufacturers and sales reps. Linden Capital and Audax completed the sale of Stat Lab Medical Products to Danaher’s Leica Biosystems, a provider of pre-analytical consumables and equipment for pathology labs. Coalesce Capital made a growth investment in pest control firm Clear Defense, which operates 27 locations across 16 U.S. states. Veritas Capital’s Finalsite bolted on school payments provider Rev Trak, which processes digital payments for over 13,000 U.S. schools. GTCR sealed the purchase of Tactacam, a Billings, Montana-based maker of cellular-connected trail and security cameras.
Leadership & Personnel Moves
Blackstone’s private equity head Joseph Baratta to retire at the end of the year after joining the firm in 1998. Ferghana Investment Partners hired TZP Group’s Will Callahan and PNC’s Katie Marshall to strengthen its middle-market capital positioning. Growth Capital Partners named Richard Shaw managing partner in a leadership reshuffle, as the UK firm focuses on technology and specialist services businesses from its £4bn fund. Permira’s Stefan Dziarski discussed growing fraud intelligence biz Bio Catch in the age of AI, noting Veritas as the sole pursuer of Bodycote after CVC’s exit.
Fund Launches & Strategic Shifts
Blackstone launched Blackstone Private Markets Fund (BXPM), a perpetual vehicle rolling its private markets platform into a single fund with a target size of $150bn. Tailwater Capital shifted focus to gas infrastructure, stating it will be “much more weighted toward gas than oil ” amid energy transition tailwinds. Franklin Templeton expanded its evergreen private markets strategy in EMEA, leveraging its $1.8tn asset base to diversify client exposure amid rising demand for long-duration capital. Temasek acquired a 9% strategic minority stake in FSI, the management company of Italian mid-market firms, to deepen its presence in Italy’s industrial sector. Warburg Pincus raised its bid for Ingenia Communities to A$5.25 as the board weighs a third takeover approach, reflecting competitive pressure in the Australian aged-care sector.
VC Activity & Market Trends
MAVI launched an AI-powered global accounting talent marketplace with $4 million in seed funding, targeting inefficiencies in offshore staffing models. The next five VCs judging Startup Battlefield 200 contenders at Tech Crunch Disrupt 2026 were revealed, underscoring continued investor interest in early-stage innovation. UK VCs seek US-style rules to cut the cost of launching funds, citing regulatory burdens as a barrier to competitiveness. Cohere’s chief AI officer warned that the U.S. and China will hold AI firms “by the throat” without local capabilities, highlighting geopolitical risks in AI development. An early Groq investor expects half her AI bets to fail, underscoring volatility in the sector despite strong long-term conviction.
Deal Updates & Exit Dynamics
CVC walked away from the Bodycote auction, clearing the path for Veritas Capital to complete its £1.85bn take-private of the UK heat treatment group after eliminating the final bidding obstacle. Side letter developments show regulators targeting private fund weaknesses under “responsible retailisation” initiatives, aiming to improve retail investor access and transparency. Ocean and Tartan Capital backed live event producer Complete Production Resources, reinforcing their earlier support for durable live events via the CPR deal. Lisbon-based Humans raised €32m for AI agent insurance, addressing emerging risks in autonomous software systems. Exhibitors have until October 2 to secure tables at Tech Crunch Disrupt 2026, the final deadline for participation in the flagship startup event. Monzo sale talks revive fears over Britain’s tech exit problem, as concerns grow that domestic buyers may not materialize for high-valued UK startups. AI-driven cyberthreats are driving increased deal activity in cybersecurity, as Apax and Permira executives note accelerating attack speeds demanding faster defensive innovation. Tailwater makes a strategic shift to gas infrastructure, with Fifth Ocean and Tartan Investment backing the durable live events sector through its CPR platform. Sifted Summit offers five additional reasons to attend, including networking with LP leaders and insights on secondaries market evolution. PE insights highlight Investindustrial’s expansion of its food ingredients buy-and-build strategy into Dubai with La Crema, signaling geographic diversification in consumer staples.