Private Equity 24 Hours

Last updated: July 6, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

Private Equity Dealmaking & Fundraisings

Private equity firms have been active across multiple sectors, with significant transactions announced in energy transition, industrials, and infrastructure. Blackstone is set to acquire Dresser Utility Solutions, a provider of natural gas and water measurement equipment, marking the first deal for its latest Energy Transition Partners fund. Simultaneously, Permira is making a strategic investment in Iberian engineering group Quadrante, also within its energy transition strategy. In infrastructure, Avance is backing engineering firm Lexxel, with the founders reinvesting alongside the firm.

Further industrial transactions include Lone Star Funds agreeing to acquire Conti Tech, Continental's rubber and thermoplastics unit, for €4 billion. CVC is selling its stake in D-Marin, which operates 28 marinas across nine countries, to InfraVia. Meanwhile, Capmont plans to carve out Dyneon, a fluoropolymer manufacturer serving sectors from semiconductors to aerospace, 3M Deutschland.

In technology and software, Bridgepoint is making a €200 million minority investment in Skello, an AI-powered HR management software provider for frontline workforces with 25,000 business clients. EQT is expanding its Asia Pacific mid-market presence by acquiring parking technology group Orikan. A notable exit sees Warburg Pincus agreeing to sell its stake in Singular Bank, a private banking specialist, to a consortium led by ING.

Within the secondaries market, Eurazeo has successfully closed its fifth generation private equity secondaries program at €2.3 billion, exceeding its €2 billion target and more than doubling the size of its predecessor fund. CVC Capital Partners also held the final close of its European mid-market fund, Catalyst III, raising approximately €3 billion, nearly double its target.

Sector Focus: Energy Transition & Cleantech

The energy transition continues to be a significant area of focus for private equity. Beyond the deals involving Blackstone and Permira, Foresight identified strong opportunities in decentralized energy systems, noting that while macroeconomic uncertainty influences pricing, underlying structural drivers remain robust. Cleantech startups saw $15 billion invested across seed through growth rounds in the first half of the year, indicating a stabilization in funding as energy demand grows.

Venture Capital & LP Strategies

In venture capital, some limited partners are concentrating investments in megafunds amid economic uncertainty, a strategy that may overlook potentially higher returns from smaller funds. Separately, a substantial pension fund, managing $67 billion, is actively seeking software bargains. The Japanese Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), the world's largest pension fund, reported its private equity portfolio grew by approximately $1.4 billion year-on-year, reaching a total value of $1.8 trillion, despite a challenging market environment. Chinese private equity is also navigating a reset, potentially creating a more disciplined opportunity set for investors with conviction in the market.

Large-Scale Transactions & Exits

Among larger potential transactions, Castlelake has secured qualified board support for a take-private offer of UK budget carrier easy Jet, valuing the airline at approximately $7.3 billion. In a separate development, Bruin Capital is selling its golf simulation company Full Swing to Versant Media, owner of networks including CNBC and the Golf Channel, for $530 million.