Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: June 29, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

Private Equity Dealmaking & Strategy

Private equity firms are actively deploying capital across diverse sectors, with a notable focus on infrastructure and specialized manufacturing. Ardian plans to invest over €3bn in Nordic data centers through its portfolio company Verne, signaling a significant push into digital infrastructure. In the industrial sector, H.I.G. Capital acquired Premier Forge Group, a U.S. manufacturer of mission-critical forged components for aerospace, defense, and industrial markets, with Wynnchurch Capital as the seller transaction details. CVC Capital Partners is also expanding its industrial automation footprint, agreeing to acquire Italy's Clevertech, with the founding Reggiani family reinvesting as a minority stakeholder acquisition details. In another food ingredients deal, CVC is set to buy Irca, an Italian B2B food-ingredients manufacturer, from Advent, after the company saw its revenue quadruple deal specifics.

Beyond industrial and digital infrastructure, private equity is also targeting real estate and financial services. Bridgepoint is entering the U.S. real estate market with an approximately $1.39bn acquisition of Kayne Anderson Real Estate, which manages around $22 billion in assets deal value. In financial services, a JC Flowers-led investor group is set to acquire Republic Finance, with Nowlake Technology also participating in the transaction. Meanwhile, San Mateo Midstream is acquiring EnCap-backed Cardinal Midstream for $752m, focusing on midstream energy infrastructure deal size.

The lower mid-market is also proving to be a resilient area for private equity, with operational improvement identified as a key driver of value creation. Fengate's Jennifer Pereira noted that in the current environment of geopolitical tensions and fluctuating interest rates, the lower mid-market offers appealing opportunities for investors who prioritize cash discipline, pricing power, and operational rigor market insights. This focus on operational enhancement is particularly relevant as startup exits valued at $1 billion or more reached their highest point since the 2021 market peak in the second quarter, suggesting a recovery in capital markets for venture-backed companies exit trends.

Fundraising & Investor Activity

Fundraising dynamics are showing signs of a comeback, according to analysis of the top 300 private equity firms by fundraising volume. Separately, the British Business Bank is set to support UK scaleups with £400m annually, indicating government initiatives to bolster domestic growth companies UK scaleup funding. In Europe, France is seeking to block a UK role in a €5bn EU Scaleup Fund, reflecting ongoing geopolitical considerations in cross-border investment initiatives EU fund dispute.

Limited Partners (LPs) are actively consuming content to inform their investment strategies, with LPs such as CalPERS, IMAS Foundation, and Aware Super sharing book and podcast recommendations for the summer LP content consumption. Strategic Value Partners has bolstered its European investment team with the appointment of Jean Baptiste de Boissieu as managing director, who joins from Davidson Kempner team expansion.

Sector-Specific Investments & Trends

Private equity continues to explore niche and emerging opportunities. Index will lead investment into Berlin's Nomos Energy, signaling interest in the energy transition sector. In sports, Juggernaut Capital is lining up a football takeover, with plans to expand into golf and women's sports sports investment plans.

The defense sector is facing political headwinds, with geopolitical vagaries impacting private equity defense strategies and creating opportunities for co-investment with General Atlantic defense sector politics. In other specialized areas, Smart Gulf Coast, backed by Carr's Hill, has acquired safety firms AMC Safety and Safe Construction Consulting, highlighting activity in the workplace safety market safety firm acquisitions.

European deeptech investment has reached an annual record within just six months, underscoring the region's growing strength in innovative technology sectors, alongside Spain's emergence as a dynamic tech ecosystem deeptech growth. Amidst these trends, lenders to Godiva Japan have agreed to extend the maturity of approximately ¥75bn ($463m) of loans by nine months, indicating a period of restructuring for some portfolio companies loan extension.