Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: May 28, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

Commercial Services & Continuation Deals A continuation fund for commercial building‑services firm Valcourt Group closed with Littlejohn as the principal sponsor, bringing an additional $300 million in capital and positioning the operator for a 2026 exit strategy Littlejohn completes continuation fund for commercial building services firm Valcourt Group. The deal follows a series of similar moves in the sector, where stable cash flows and long‑term service contracts attract private‑equity follow‑on financing. By securing this extension, Valcourt can accelerate its investment in smart‑building technologies and expand its footprint across the Midwest, aligning with industry trends toward integrated facility management.

AI in Europe and the U.S. Startup Landscape Paris is emerging as a hub for artificial‑intelligence development, with founders increasingly choosing to scale domestically rather than relocate to Silicon Valley, a shift driven by deeper talent pipelines and supportive regulatory frameworks in the region Why Paris may be the most important AI city outside Silicon Valley. Meanwhile, the U.S. startup scene continues to churn out rapid‑growth companies, as demonstrated by Corgi’s recent $106 million raise that doubled its valuation to $2.6 billion in just three weeks Corgi announces $106M raise at $2.6B valuation — double what it was worth 3 weeks ago. The contrast highlights divergent funding dynamics: European firms lean on incremental, ecosystem‑backed scaling, whereas U.S. startups often pursue aggressive valuation escalations to capture market attention.

European Secondary Market Dynamics Secondary transactions remain a key driver of liquidity for limited partners, with GP‑led legal fees topping $25,000 per fund interest and peaking near $79,000 in some cases Buyers and sellers pay over $25,000 for legal counsel per LP‑led fund interest. Amid scrutiny over mark‑up practices, senior executives argue that the premium reflects the bespoke nature of each deal and the need for specialized due‑diligence teams In defence of valuations. Concurrently, regulatory questions around secondaries in the UK have prompted firms to adapt operationally rather than structurally, as legal counsel weighs compliance costs against transaction volume Is UK regulatory scrutiny a competitive disadvantage for secondaries deals?.

Infrastructure and Energy Fundraising Actis, the sustainable‑infrastructure arm of General Atlantic, closed its first tranche of a $6 billion flagship energy fund at $2.5 billion, underscoring investor appetite for clean‑energy infrastructure amid decarbonisation targets Actis hits $2.5bn at first close of $6bn flagship energy fund. This capital inflow will support projects ranging from renewable generation to grid upgrades, dovetailing with broader ESG mandates. In parallel, Digital Bridge announced a $1.05 billion acquisition of energy‑focused firm Arc Light Capital, adding a portfolio of data‑center and renewable assets to its growing infrastructure stack DigitalBridge to acquire energy PE firm ArcLight for $1.05bn; KKR sells Circor’s aircraft parts group to strategic for $2.55bn.

Geopolitical and Market‑Structure Shifts Saudi’s sovereign wealth fund, PIF, is redefining its supply‑chain strategy by centralising data across its private‑equity portfolio, a move aimed at mitigating geopolitical risks and improving operational efficiency Saudi’s PIF rethinks supply chain strategy; Inflexion backs German insurance broker; KKR plans Milan office. Meanwhile, KKR’s expansion into Milan signals a broader European localisation push, positioning the firm to capture emerging market opportunities in Italy’s industrial sector KKR opens Milan office in push to deepen Italian investment. These developments illustrate how major private‑equity players are recalibrating their geographic footprints in response to shifting risk landscapes and growth prospects.