Private Equity 3d Briefing
×Major PE Deals & Investments
Blackstone pe-insights.com has tabled a bid for UK aerospace supplier Senior Plc in a consortium deal valued at $1.5 billion. Thoma Bravo pehub.com is acquiring logistics firm WWEX Group from sellers including CVC Capital Partners, Providence Equity Partners, and PSG. Bain Capital pe-insights.com has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Swedish distributor Tingstad through its European Private Equity platform. Waterland pehub.com has scooped up pallet delivery business Palletways to accelerate expansion across Europe and invest in technology and infrastructure.
Neuberger Berman pe-insights.com led a $500 million Series E investment in Ayar Labs, valuing the Nvidia-backed chip startup at $3.75 billion. Ares Management pe-insights.com closed an $850 million continuation fund for Convergint Technologies amid a record $240 billion secondaries wave. Carlyle secondariesinvestor.com is seeking to raise $60 billion for its Alp Invest platform as part of a broader fundraising supercycle targeting $200 billion-plus by 2028.
BC Partners pehub.com chairman Nikos Stathopoulos told PEI that tariffs represent the number one risk factor for the PE industry, while Europe remains a "much safer" investment haven despite its complexities. Brookfield pehub.com president David Nowak emphasized that operational improvements at portfolio companies will be the defining factor in PE winners and losers.
Portfolio Company Moves & Exits
Lone Star pehub.com has completed the sale of SPX Flow to ITT for over $4.7 billion, marking the end of its take-private transaction from April 2022. American Securities pehub.com is selling manufacturers CPM Holdings and MW Components to Rosebank Industries in a deal expected to close in Q2 2026. Arlington Capital pehub.com has sold aerospace parts maker FSG to JF Lehman, while CCMP Growth pehub.com is in an early-stage sale process for facilities manager BGIS that could value the Canadian company at around $2.2 billion.
BCP pehub.com has sold United Utility Services to Sandbrook, while Boyne Capital pehub.com completed the sale of McKee Utility Contractors to Mastec Inc. Meritus Gas pehub.com, a portfolio company of AEA Investors, has acquired Greens Welding Supply through its subsidiary. CCMP Growth-backed pehub.com Decks & Docks picked up Pro Deck Supply, expanding its specialty distribution of composite decking and outdoor living products.
Fundraising & Strategy
Charterhouse pe-insights.com has raised approximately €1 billion at the first close of its latest flagship European mid-market fund. HgT pe-insights.com deployed around $62 million into co-investments in One Stream and Septeo. Coller Capital pe-insights.com has partnered with Mediobanca Private Banking to expand evergreen secondaries access in Italy.
New Mountain secondariesinvestor.com co-head Neal Costello discussed the firm's differentiation strategy and the growing acceptance of continuation vehicles (CVs) as exit routes alongside traditional M&A and IPO options. Moelis & Co secondariesinvestor.com managing director Jeff Hammer noted that secondaries buyers' specialization is aiding general partners' interest in considering CVs in tandem with other exit options.
Industry Trends & Insights
Lincoln's Chris Brooks pehub.com said private equity is adapting its tech playbook as AI disrupts the traditional buy-and-build model. Speaking at NEXUS 2026, Clearlake's José E. Feliciano pehub.com discussed AI disruption, while Hellman & Friedman's Patrick Healy pehub.com emphasized that "reality is rarely defeated" and noted multiple tools exist to return capital to investors.
Alvarez & Marsal pehub.com highlighted that tariff uncertainty is complicating valuations across the industry. Alp Invest's Carlyle is positioning for a $200 billion-plus capital raise by 2028, with ambitious targets set for private equity and global credit strategies.
Regional & Sector Developments
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development pe-insights.com, Morphosis Capital, and CEECAT Capital have exited Romanian retailer La Cocos to Schwarz Group. Aurelius pehub.com has opened three new offices in Amsterdam, Milan, and Zurich to target substantial potential in local SME sectors.
The Iran war sifted.eu underscores the "urgency" for Europe to build its defense capabilities, according to venture capitalists. Saab sifted.eu is opening up to defense tech startups as the Swedish defense giant adapts to changing market dynamics.
Secondaries Market
The Secondaries Awards 2025 secondariesinvestor.com recognized top performers across regions, with Goldman Sachs Asset Management secondariesinvestor.com taking Secondaries Firm of the Year in the Americas, Ardian secondariesinvestor.com winning in EMEA, and Asia-Pacific winners also being honored. Ares Management deployed $850 million in its continuation strategy as the secondaries market experiences a record $240 billion wave.
Technology & Innovation
Chip startup Vertical Compute sifted.eu raised €37 million to tackle AI's memory overload challenges. Photoncycle sifted.eu secured €15 million to scale its "summer sun to winter power" energy solution. AI upskilling platform Ivee sifted.eu raised a $1 million seed round backed by Steven Bartlett.
Some AI founders techcrunch.com are using novel valuation mechanisms to manufacture unicorn status, while investors are becoming more selective about AI Saa S companies. Equipment finance sifted.eu is emerging as a way to supercharge European startups, and infrastructure changes sifted.eu are driving a "quiet but fundamental shift" in agentic payments.
Fund & Firm Updates
Littlejohn pehub.com has tapped Shant Mardirossian as managing director and COO to work closely with the firm's managing partners across finance, legal, operations, and investor relations. Oakley Capital pehub.com made a series of promotions including four new partners within its investment team. ArcLight pehub.com named Gary Lambert as senior advisor, leveraging his experience as former Competitive Power Ventures CEO.
BCI pehub.com, Norges Bank, and Brookfield have launched Northview Energy, which will be equally funded and owned by the three investors. Danske Bank pe-insights.com has expanded its alternative investments mandate with Danish Industry to nearly $245 million.