Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: May 11, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

Private Equity Transactions & Secondaries

Blackstone is preparing to acquire a majority stake in Greek online marketplace Skroutz from existing backer CVC Capital Partners, signaling continued appetite for high-growth digital assets across Southern Europe. This major transaction comes as Verdane successfully closed a substantial €635 million multi-asset continuation vehicle (CV), with Coller Capital emerging as the sole lead in structuring the deal. The use of CVs remains a favored tool for managing mature assets, exemplified by this Verdane deal which also saw Step Stone co-underwrite the transaction, moving exposure to the Arrive Group into the structure for a second time. Meanwhile, advisors at CSC noted that ultimate dealmaking deadlines are looming across the industry, influencing the timing of final closings.

Venture Capital & Technology Focus

European venture funding continues to show areas of geographic concentration, with recent data indicating that cities like Munich and Paris are emerging as hubs for robotics deals despite a broader pullback in overall startup spending. Analysis of 2,800 recent funding rounds suggests a pivot in how venture-backed companies are allocating capital, moving away from general operational scaling. In specialized tech sectors, there is a clear shift in focus: the concept of pure Legal AI appears to be receding, giving way to more complex, integrated systems termed 'Agentic Law'''. In related funding news, Finnish quantum software firm Algorithmiq successfully raised €18m and simultaneously announced its relocation to Italy, reflecting strategic shifts in deep-tech R&D centers.