Private Equity 3d Briefing
×Market Moves & Valuations
Blackstone pehub.com has become the majority owner of Mac Lean Power Systems after its merger with Power Grid Components, while Centerbridge Partners is making a new investment in the combined entity. Meanwhile, Springcoast pehub.com is leading a $180 million investment in commerce and logistics firm Cart.com, with existing investors including PayPal Ventures, Arsenal Growth Equity, Mercury Fund, and Oak HC/FT. In the consumer sector, Missoni family pe-insights.com has passed control to FSI, which has become the controlling shareholder of the €130 million Italian fashion house rather than pursuing a sale.
European Deal Activity
Waterland Private Equity pe-insights.com has acquired a majority stake in Palletways, backing one of Europe's largest pallet distribution platforms as part of its cross-border growth strategy. Main Capital Partners pe-insights.com has acquired a majority stake in Swedish manufacturing software platform Good Solutions, expanding its portfolio in the industrial software sector. Charterhouse Capital Partners pe-insights.com has raised approximately €1 billion at the first close of its latest flagship European mid-market fund, signaling continued investor confidence in the region.
AI & Technology Investments
Neuberger Berman pe-insights.com has led a $500 million Series E investment in Ayar Labs at a $3.75 billion valuation, with Nvidia also participating in the energy data analytics platform. Eight Sleep news.crunchbase.com has raised $50 million at a $1.5 billion valuation to expand into "predictive, AI-driven health," marking its second funding round in a year. The intersection of biosecurity and AI has seen a seed-stage investment spike, with AI's potential to weaponize biology emerging as a growing concern among investors.
Secondaries & Continuation Funds
Ares Management pe-insights.com has closed an $850 million continuation fund to hold Convergint Technologies amid a record $240 billion secondaries wave. Hamilton Lane pe-insights.com and Ardian have backed Latour's first continuation fund for Gutor, while Coller Capital pe-insights.com has formed a distribution partnership with Mediobanca Private Banking to expand evergreen secondaries access in Italy. The market is seeing increased acceptance of continuation vehicles as exit routes alongside traditional M&A and IPO options.
Healthcare & Life Sciences
TPG pehub.com has invested $250 million in social care tech platform Findhelp, building on its Rise Funds' mission to improve healthcare access for vulnerable populations. PE-backed Esperion pehub.com is acquiring biopharma firm Corstasis for $75 million upfront, with up to an additional $180 million available upon regulatory and commercial milestones. Kyip Capital pehub.com has invested in Chiron to develop an outpatient diagnostics platform, focusing on aggregating and operating diagnostic, surgery, and rehabilitation services nationwide.
Industrial & Manufacturing
Braemont-backed Royal Cup pehub.com is taking Farmer Brothers Coffee private in a deal that will combine two major US coffee and tea makers and distributors. Greenbriar-backed West Star Aviation pehub.com has acquired aircraft maintenance firm DCJet, expanding its MRO services for business aviation. Kohlberg-backed Riveron pehub.com has invested in AI and data tech firm Cuesta Partners, while Jacmel-backed VTG pehub.com has acquired Vector Tech Group to strengthen its IT, security, and cloud services capabilities.
Private Equity Strategy & Leadership
Carlyle's Steve Wise pehub.com says the market is open for bigger, higher-quality businesses, while Nikos Stathopoulos of BC Partners pehub.com identifies tariffs as the number one risk factor in investment theses. Lincoln's Chris Brooks pehub.com notes that private equity is adapting its tech playbook as AI disrupts the traditional buy-and-build model. Maven pehub.com has announced planned leadership succession as part of a strategic succession plan, while Littlejohn pehub.com has tapped Shant Mardirossian as managing director and COO in a newly created role.
Infrastructure & Energy
AllianzGI pe-insights.com and Total Energies have committed $550 million to a German battery storage portfolio, with Allianz acquiring a 50% stake in 11 assets. BCI, Norges Bank, and Brookfield pehub.com have launched Northview Energy, a jointly funded and owned venture. ArcLight pehub.com has named Gary Lambert as senior advisor, leveraging his experience as former Competitive Power Ventures CEO. Orion, CGF, and Exiro pehub.com have partnered in a $200 million investment in Manitoba's Thompson Mine Complex alongside Vale.
Portfolio Company 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. Boyne Capital pehub.com has sold McKee Utility Contractors to Mastec Inc, following its recapitalization partnership with management in December 2022. American Securities pehub.com is selling manufacturers CPM Holdings and MW Components to Rosebank Industries, with the transaction expected to close in Q2 2026.
Fundraising & Market Expansion
Waterland pehub.com has scooped up Cooper Turner Beck, a provider of safety-critical fastener services for energy, construction, and heavy industries. TDR Capital-backed David Lloyd Leisure pehub.com has acquired Aspria, a high-end operator of 10 upscale member clubs across Germany, Belgium, Italy, and Spain. Ares is deploying its $850 million continuation strategy as the secondaries market reaches record volumes, while Carlyle AlpInvest secondariesinvestor.com seeks to raise $60 billion as part of a broader fundraising supercycle targeting $200 billion-plus by 2028.