Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: June 19, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

Infrastructure & Utility M&A

Roughly 10 bidders including KKR, Brookfield, and CDPQ have emerged as suitors for Germany’s state-owned utility Uniper, signaling significant appetite for European energy assets. This competitive interest follows a broader trend of private capital seeking stable, long-term returns in the utility space. Simultaneously, Mutares has moved to streamline its portfolio by agreeing to carve out Synthomer, a specialist manufacturer of acrylic acids and esters, as the firm looks to optimize its industrial holdings.

Sovereign Wealth & Take-Privates

EQT is advancing its £10.9bn take-private of the FTSE 100 testing group Intertek with the support of major sovereign wealth capital. The deal, which reached an agreed valuation of £11bn, includes backing from the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Mubadala, reflecting a growing reliance on Middle Eastern liquidity for massive European public-to-private transactions. These sovereign entities continue to prioritize established, cash-generative businesses in the testing and certification sectors to anchor their portfolios against market volatility.

Tech, Space & Private Debt

Apollo is currently in advanced negotiations to provide a $574m private debt package to refinance Eolo, an Italian operator controlled by Partners Group that specializes in fixed wireless and fibre infrastructure. This move underscores the aggressive expansion of private credit into European telecommunications. In a separate push into high-growth sectors, EQT has finalized its first space sector bet through the acquisition of Exolaunch, a German firm focused on satellite deployment technology and mission management, as the private equity giant seeks to diversify its technological footprint.

Sports, Capital & Benchmarking

MSP Sports Capital has secured a majority stake in the New Zealand Sail GP Team, representing the firm's formal entry into the high-performance sailing league. This investment highlights the ongoing institutionalization of niche sports assets as viable private equity targets. As firms rotate capital into these specialized areas, institutional investors remain focused on evaluating portfolio performance, with increasing scrutiny directed at the methodologies used to benchmark private equity returns against public market equivalents.

Market Sentiment & Governance

While the AI build-out continues to attract capital, analysts suggest that current asset inflation is driven by scarcity rather than a speculative bubble, providing a long-term roadmap for those deploying funds into infrastructure. However, the operational reality for firms and their portfolio companies remains complex. Some entities are currently navigating internal workplace allegations involving toxic culture, while others face regulatory warnings regarding unauthorized share trading. These operational risks, paired with the demands of a fast-paced environment for growth-stage companies, emphasize the non-financial variables that sponsors must manage to preserve value after the deal closes.