Private Equity 3d Briefing
×Private Equity Market Pulse
Deal Activity & Awards
The S&P 500 secondariesinvestor.com fell 1.2% marking its first two-week loss since June, reflecting broader market volatility that impacted secondary market valuations. Goldman Sachs secondariesinvestor.com Asset Management secured the Secondaries Buyer of the Year award in the Americas at the Secondaries Awards 2025, highlighting its dominant role in the region's secondary market. Ardian secondariesinvestor.com took the title of Secondaries Buyer of the Year in EMEA, demonstrating continued strong demand for secondary investments across Europe and the Middle East.
Firm Moves & Fundraising
Sverica pehub.com promoted Michael Dougherty to partner and Doug Patrican to principal, signaling internal growth. Concurrently, the firm hired Matt Johnson as a principal. Meanwhile, KKR pe-insights.com Capital Corporation, a publicly traded private credit vehicle managed by KKR, reported an increase in troubled loans and lower fourth-quarter results, underscoring sector headwinds. BlackRock’s GIP pe-insights.com and EQT are in advanced discussions to acquire US power producer AES for a potential $12.4 billion deal, representing a major strategic move in the energy sector.
Deal Pipeline & Strategic Shifts
Blackstone pe-insights.com, CVC, and Brookfield are bidding for Volkswagen’s $9.44 billion Everllence carve-out, aiming to acquire the diesel engine unit. Advent International pe-insights.com is among potential bidders for Senior plc, which disclosed it has received five takeover approaches, indicating significant interest in the UK financial services group. Wise Equity pehub.com is investing in vending machine manufacturer FAS International, which closed 2025 with revenues exceeding €58 million and an EBITDA margin above 20 percent.
Leadership Changes & Sector Trends
DPI pehub.com named Sofiane Lahmar as its new CEO, with Lahmar having been a senior partner at the firm since joining in 2010. Astorg pehub.com’s mid-cap co-head Edouard Pillot is leaving the firm, with Lionel de Posson taking sole control of the team. The private equity sector is also eyeing growth in hospice care platforms, with firms like Kinderhook, Renovus, and Revelstoke pursuing investments, as detailed in the report "PE eyes growth in hospice care platforms: 5 deals".
Market Dynamics & Risks
Calpers remains confident in its $1.8 trillion private credit exposure despite rising AI-driven software risks, as stated in "Calpers unfazed by AI-driven software risks in $1.8tn private credit market". Saudi Arabia’s AI boom is attracting buyout interest, with Quantum Switch Tamasuk exploring strategic options, including a potential sale of its Saudi assets, per "Saudi AI boom draws buyout interest as QST explores strategic options". KKR pe-insights.com’s $13 billion FSK fund is adapting to the shifting private credit landscape amid software volatility, while a publicly traded private credit vehicle managed by Blackstone priced a $400 million 2029 bond, reflecting ongoing market adjustments.