Lansdowne Partners Pulls in $150m for University Research-Based Startups, Eyes $200m Cap by Year End
Lansdowne Partners, a UK investment manager, has closed a new venture‑capital fund with $150 million of commitments to back startups emerging from university research. The fund targets high‑potential companies in deep‑tech, life‑science and artificial‑intelligence sectors. Lansdowne plans to lift the fund to a $200 million hard‑cap by the end of the year. Capital will be deployed through a dedicated team that co‑invests with university incubators and corporate partners.
Deal Roundup: EQT Makes ‘Final’ £9.4bn Intertek Offer, Audax Completes 1,500th Bolt-On Deal
EQT has lodged a final, non‑debt‑inclusive offer of £9.4 billion (≈$12 billion) for Intertek, the UK‑based testing and inspection firm. Intertek is reviewing the £60‑per‑share proposal, which also includes a £1.10 annual dividend, after rejecting three lower bids. Audax Private Equity celebrated...
Antares Capital Collects $8.5bn for New Senior Loan Fund, More than 40% Larger than Predecessor Vehicle
Antares Capital closed its third senior loan fund at $8.5 billion, surpassing its original target. The fund, which includes related vehicles, is more than 40% larger than the firm’s prior senior loan vehicle. The capital will be deployed into U.S. middle-market...
Coller Capital Leads €635m Continuation Fund Raise for Trio of Verdane Portolio Businesses
Coller Capital has led a €635 million ($686 million) continuation fund for three Verdane portfolio businesses, closing the multi‑asset vehicle on May 11, 2026. The fund, structured as a secondary‑market vehicle, allows existing investors to extend their exposure while providing liquidity to those seeking...
Restive Ventures Eyes AI-Native Financial Services Opportunity with $45m Fund III
Restive Ventures announced the close of its third venture fund, raising $45 million to back AI-native financial‑services startups. The fund, labeled Fund III, will focus on early‑stage companies that embed artificial intelligence into banking, payments, and wealth‑management platforms. Restive’s partners bring deep...
European VC Fundraising Shows Signs of Rebound: Proskauer
European venture capital fundraising appears to be rebounding, according to a new Proskauer survey of more than 200 VC firms across the continent. Total capital raised in 2023 reached roughly $12.5 billion, an 18% year‑over‑year increase and the strongest level since...
Tech-Enabled Wellbeing Investor Wisdom Ventures Seals $77.7m for Sophomore Fund
Wisdom Ventures, a venture firm specializing in tech‑enabled wellbeing, announced the close of its second fund with $77.7 million in commitments. The fund was oversubscribed, reflecting strong investor appetite for early‑stage health‑tech opportunities. Capital will be deployed to back startups that...
AI-Powered VC Investor Global Millennial Capital Raises $100m for New Fund
Global Millennial Capital announced the closing of a $100 million IPO Opportunities Fund, marking a five‑fold increase over its first fund launched two years ago. The new vehicle leverages the firm’s AI‑driven deal‑sourcing platform to identify pre‑IPO companies with outsized growth...
Corbin Capital Collects $342m for Commercial Litigation Finance Fund
Corbin Capital Partners, a hedge fund and opportunistic credit investor, has closed a $342 million fundraising round for a new commercial litigation finance fund. The vehicle will provide non‑recourse capital to plaintiffs in high‑value corporate disputes, aiming to capture the growing...
Deal Roundup: CD&R Agrees Indicor Units Sale for $5bn, CPPIB Exits Loan Portfolio to Arrow Global, Fortress
Carlyle‑affiliated CD&R has agreed to sell its Indicor Instrumentation businesses to Ametek in an all‑cash transaction valued at roughly $5 bn. Indicor, which produces mission‑critical industrial and scientific equipment, generates about $1.1 bn in annual sales and was acquired by CD&R in...
Apis Partners More than Doubles Fund II Total with $1.23bn Close of Third Fund Series
Apis Partners announced the close of its third fund series with $1.23 billion in commitments, more than twice the capital raised for Fund II. The new fund, dubbed Fund III, will focus on financial infrastructure, fintech, and digital banking platforms across...
5th Century Partners Closes Oversubscribed $276m Fund II, Almost Double Debut Fund Total
5th Century Partners announced the final close of its second fund at $276 million, nearly twice the size of its debut vehicle. The fund was oversubscribed, reflecting strong demand from limited partners for exposure to the lower mid‑market segment. The firm...
Baird Capital Raises $450m Continuation Fund for 2020 Investment Blue Matter Consulting
Baird Capital has closed a $450 million continuation fund to extend its investment in Blue Matter Consulting, a life‑science advisory firm it first backed in 2020. The vehicle will provide additional capital to support Blue Matter’s growth initiatives and allow existing...
Twin Bridge Beats Target for Sixth Flagship Fund, Closes Vehicle on over $855m
Twin Bridge Capital Partners has closed its oversubscribed sixth lower‑middle‑market fund, raising more than $855 million—well above its original target. The capital will be deployed across North American companies positioned for growth and operational improvement. Closing the fund underscores Twin Bridge’s...
MidOcean Seals $300m CV Fund Close for 2022 Investment Cloyes Gear and Products
MidOcean Partners has closed a roughly $300 million single‑asset continuation vehicle for Cloyes Gear and Products, the automotive components maker it invested in in 2022. The continuation fund, often called a CV, will extend the private‑equity holding period and provide liquidity...
Deviation Capital Spins Out From Two Sigma, Launches with About $2bn of AUM
Deviation Capital has launched as an independent early‑stage venture firm after spinning out of Two Sigma Ventures. The new entity starts with roughly $2 billion in assets under management, sourced from former Two Sigma partners and external investors. Its mandate remains...
Bridge Growth Partners Closes $790m CV for 2016 Investment Solace
Bridge Growth Partners has closed a $790 million single‑asset continuation fund for Solace, the real‑time data and agentic AI platform it first backed in 2016. The continuation vehicle lets existing limited partners stay invested while attracting new capital, extending the investment...
Deal Roundup: Long Lake Agrees $6.3bn Amex GBT Take-Private, EQT Boosts Intertek Offer to over £10bn Including Debt
Long Lake Management has agreed to acquire American Express Global Business Travel in a take‑private transaction that values GBT at about $6.3 billion. At the same time, private‑equity firm EQT raised its bid for Intertek to more than £10 billion, roughly $12.8 billion...
THL Partners Picks up $6.35bn at Final Close of Tenth Flagship Fundraise
THL Partners announced the final close of its tenth flagship private‑equity fund, securing $6.35 billion in commitments. The new vehicle is 13% larger than the 2021 predecessor, underscoring the firm’s growing fundraising momentum. THL plans to deploy the capital across its...
Pantheon Leads $1bn Private Debt Continuation Fund for Audax Portfolio
Pantheon has been named lead manager of a new $1 billion private‑credit continuation fund for Audax Private Debt. The fund, closed this week, will acquire a portfolio of existing Audax loan assets, allowing current limited partners to either stay invested or...
New Mexico SIC Backs Newly Launched TAG Capital Fund, Will Make Infra Investments in State
Tierra Adentro Growth Capital (TAG Capital) launched its inaugural fund focused on the New Mexico region, receiving backing from the New Mexico State Investment Council (SIC). The fund’s mandate is to channel capital into infrastructure projects that can boost the...
Reverence Capital Partners’ Osaic Gets $2bn of New Capital Through Ares, Lexington-Led CV, Recapitalisation
Reverence Capital Partners has closed a continuation fund for its wealth‑management solutions platform Osaic, raising more than $2 billion of new capital. The financing, structured through a vehicle and a recapitalisation, was led by Ares Management and a Lexington‑partnered co‑investor group....
Plug and Play Japan Beats Debut Fund Target with JPY6bn Final Close
Plug and Play Japan, the local arm of the Silicon Valley accelerator, closed its debut investment fund at JPY6 billion (approximately $38 million), surpassing its original target. The fund will target early‑stage Japanese technology startups, leveraging Plug and Play’s global corporate network...
Ares Names Firm Veteran Peter Ogilvie as COO, Head of Strategy
Ares Management announced that Peter Ogilvie, a firm veteran of almost two decades, has been appointed chief operating officer and head of strategy. The dual role places Ogilvie at the helm of both day‑to‑day operations and long‑term strategic planning. The...
Ridgeline Raises More than $180m for Sophomore Fund
Ridgeline Capital Management announced the final close of its sophomore fund, securing more than $180 million in commitments. The new vehicle is aimed at early‑stage technology and healthcare companies, extending the firm’s focus on high‑growth sectors. The raise follows a first...
European Tech Investor Earlybird Seals €360m to Close Biggest Fund Yet
Earlybird, a leading European early‑stage venture firm, announced the final close of its Fund VIII at €360 million (approximately $390 million). The round was oversubscribed, making it the largest fund the firm has ever raised. Earlybird intends to deploy the capital across a...
Growth Tech Investor Crescent Cove Collects $446m for Oversubscribed Fund IV
Crescent Cove Advisors announced a $446 million final close for its fourth growth‑tech fund, marking an oversubscribed round of investor commitments. The fund, dubbed Fund IV, will target late‑stage technology companies in North America and Europe. The capital raise exceeds the firm’s...
Deal Roundup: Lazard to Buy Campbell Lutyens for up to $660m, KKR Said to Prep $10bn Flora Food Group Sale
Lazard announced a definitive agreement to acquire placement agent and secondaries advisor Campbell Lutyens for up to $660 million. The deal, pending regulatory clearance, will integrate Campbell Lutyens' fundraising expertise into Lazard's investment banking platform. In parallel, private‑equity giant KKR is...
Blue Earth Capital Backs Continuation Fund for Nazca Capital’s Marine, Fishing Tech Company Zunibal
Nazca Capital, a veteran Spanish private‑equity firm, has closed a continuation fund for Zunibal, its portfolio company that supplies technology to the fishing and marine‑monitoring sectors. The fund, backed by Blue Earth Capital, will extend Zunibal’s capital base and allow...
Clessidra Clears €150m Target at Final Close of Italy-Focused Agrifood Fund
Clessidra’s private‑equity arm closed its Italy‑focused agrifood fund with more than €150 million in commitments, surpassing its original target. The final close brings roughly $165 million of capital to the fund, which will invest across the Italian food production and supply‑chain ecosystem....
Adams Street Partners Leads $240m Continuation Fund for Broadtree Partners Portfolio
Adams Street Partners has led a $240 million continuation fund for Broadtree Partners, a service‑business investor. The multi‑asset vehicle repackages existing portfolio holdings, giving Broadtree fresh capital while offering liquidity to current limited partners. The fund’s size underscores strong investor appetite...
NorthWestern Mutual Expands VC Allocation with Fintech, Insurtech-Focused ‘Fund III’
Northwestern Mutual announced the launch of Fund III, boosting its venture‑capital allocation to $350 million. The new fund will focus on high‑growth fintech and insurtech startups, complementing the insurer’s existing investment platform. By earmarking a dedicated pool, the company signals a...
Silver Rock Capital Partners, Born From Michael Milken’s Family Office, Raises $4bn for Credit Investing
Silver Rock Capital Partners, the credit platform spun out of Michael Milken’s family office, closed a fundraising round exceeding $4 billion for its Tactical Allocation strategy. The capital will be allocated to U.S. and European leveraged loans, high‑yield bonds, and distressed‑credit...
Illuminate Financial to Target Series B and Beyond with $135m Fourth Fund
Illuminate Financial, a venture capital firm focused on financial services, announced the close of its fourth fund, raising $135 million. The new vehicle is the firm’s first early‑growth fund, shifting its investment focus to Series B and later-stage fintech companies. By targeting...
Quantum Tech Investor QDNL Rebrands to Ground State Ventures, Nears Final Close for New Fund
Venture capital firm QDNL Participations has rebranded to Ground State Ventures as it moves toward the final close of its inaugural quantum-focused fund. The firm has secured $88 million in commitments, positioning the fund to invest in early‑stage quantum technologies. The...
Deal Roundup: Astorg Agrees $1bn Buyout of Thermo Fisher Microbiology Unit, O2 Investment Backs Steffl Drilling & Pump
Private equity firm Astorg has agreed to purchase Thermo Fisher Scientific’s microbiology business for roughly $1 billion. The unit, which provides antimicrobial susceptibility testing and culture media for clinical, pharmaceutical and food safety applications, posted $645 million in revenue last year. The...
B2B Tech Investor Mighty Capital Collects More than $90m for Oversubscribed Fund III
Product‑led venture firm Mighty Capital announced the close of its third fund, raising $91 million. The amount is more than three times the capital raised for its previous vehicle, reflecting robust investor demand. The fund was oversubscribed, indicating strong appetite for...
Emerald Lake Seals Transition From Deal-by-Deal with Heavily Oversubscribed $800m Debut Fund Close
Emerald Lake Capital Management announced the close of its inaugural fund, raising $800 million after an oversubscribed subscription period. The new blind‑pool vehicle replaces the firm’s previous deal‑by‑deal approach that it used for years. The capital will be deployed across mid‑market...
StepStone Soars to More than Double Its Target for New Credit Fund, Hits $1.58bn
StepStone Group announced a final close of $1.58 bn for its second credit opportunities fund, more than double the original fundraising target. The fund will focus on mid‑market leveraged loans, distressed debt, and other private credit assets. Investor demand surged despite...
Waterland Speeds to €4.6bn Double Hard Cap Close in Less than Four Months
European private equity firm Waterland has completed a double hard‑cap close of €4.6 billion (approximately $5 billion) across its flagship buyout fund and its second‑year Partnership Fund. The fundraising was achieved in less than four months, reflecting robust investor appetite for European...
Private Markets GPs Reveal Fundraising Optimism for 2026, Shifting LP Priorities Are Main Challenge
The S&P Global Private Equity and Venture Capital Outlook finds that about 60 % of private‑market general partners are optimistic about meeting fundraising targets for 2026, with one‑fifth describing themselves as highly optimistic. Yet more than a quarter remain concerned, citing...
Deal Roundup: HIG Capital Agrees Celerion Sale to THL Partners, GTCR Closes Fiduciary Acquisition
HIG Capital has agreed to sell its clinical pharmacology and bioanalytical services firm Celerion to THL Partners. The transaction marks HIG’s exit from a niche health‑tech platform as it refocuses its portfolio. In a separate deal, GTCR completed its acquisition...
Adams Street Soars Past Target to Hit $2.5bn Co-Invest Fund Close, Almost Double Predecessor Fund Total
Adams Street Partners announced a $2.5 billion final close for its newest co‑investment fund, surpassing its original target. The closing brings the total assets under management for the firm’s co‑investment strategy to $7.2 billion, nearly double the size of the previous fund....
Achieve Partners Targets ‘Workforce of Tomorrow’ with $450m Sophomore Fundraise
Achieve Partners, a private‑equity firm dedicated to engineering the future of learning and earning, closed a $450 million sophomore fund. The new capital will be deployed into companies that blend education technology with direct pathways to employment. By targeting ed‑tech, skills‑training...
Pantheon Expands Private Wealth Offering Again with Evergreen Infra Secondaries Fund
Pantheon has secured regulatory approval for its evergreen Global Infrastructure Secondaries Fund, the firm’s newest vehicle aimed at private‑wealth clients. The fund will let high‑net‑worth investors gain exposure to secondary transactions in the infrastructure sector on a continuous basis, rather...
Abenex Hits Halfway Mark for Industries 9.0 Fundraise, Reaches 50% of €150m Goal
French private equity firm Abenex announced the first close of its Industries 9.0 Fund, raising commitments exceeding 50% of its €150 million ($163 million) target. The fund has secured roughly €75 million ($82 million) from a mix of institutional investors. Industries 9.0 will focus on mid‑market...
Baird Capital Holds Fund III at $450m Hard Cap Despite Additional LP Demand
Baird Capital’s third global private‑equity fund reached its $450 million hard‑cap and closed its final fundraising round. Despite receiving additional interest from limited partners, the firm stuck to the pre‑set ceiling. The decision underscores Baird’s commitment to a disciplined fund size....
Deal Roundup: Ardian Exits TRIGO to Montyon Capital, Sovereign Sells Affinia to Redbird
Ardian has sold its stake in TRIGO, a French provider of inspection, quality‑engineering and industrial performance‑management services for the transportation sector, to Montyon Capital. The transaction gives Montyon a foothold in a niche, high‑margin services market. In a parallel move,...
EQT Raises $15.6bn for Asia Pacific’s Biggest Private Equity Fund
EQT closed its Asia‑Pacific private equity fund at a hard‑cap‑beating $15.6 billion, making it the region’s largest ever raise. The capital will be deployed across technology, healthcare and consumer buyouts, targeting companies valued between $500 million and $5 billion. The fund’s size reflects...
Founders First Capital Hits First Close for $50m-Targeting Second Fund
Founders First Capital Partners announced the first close of its sophomore fund, securing initial commitments toward a $50 million target. The alternative credit manager aims to build on the performance of its debut fund by focusing on mid‑market technology and SaaS...