Private Equity 3d Briefing
×Market Activity & Fundraising
EQT pe-insights.com, Eurazeo, and Atomico have been shortlisted to manage the European Union's planned €5 billion technology investment fund. Blackstone pe-insights.com and Ares have deployed $5 billion in private credit financing for a Thoma Bravo logistics deal. City Detect techcrunch.com, which uses AI to help cities stay safe and clean, has raised $13 million in Series A funding.
Deal Activity
Wynnchurch-backed ORS Nasco pehub.com has acquired industrial wholesalers AD Member Supply and Alliance. Greenbelt-backed Saber Power pehub.com has snapped up Bounds Construction, an electrical power system services firm. Serent pehub.com has invested in health tech firm Saisystems to accelerate its technology roadmap. Littlejohn pehub.com has invested in power infrastructure consulting firm GDS Associates.
Private Equity Exits
Mutares pe-insights.com has agreed to sell its €100 million logistics platform in Time Group to Tawin Holdings. Mutares pehub.com is exiting Peugeot Motocycles through a management buyout. BlackPeak pehub.com has sold its stake in eu Shipments.com to Austrian Post.
New Fund Launches
New PE firm Synergy Sports Capital pehub.com has debuted with a focus on the lower middle market. Brydell Partners pe-insights.com has backed £75 million in bulk home purchases from Vistry Group, acquiring over 200 homes.
Industry Trends
The mantra "DPI is the new IRR" has caught on across the private equity industry as limited partners and general partners face unique circumstances. The GP-led secondaries market is taking stock of macroeconomic events that could lead to pricing movements. Abry Partners CEO CJ Brucato pehub.com sees the lower mid-market as particularly attractive, while William Blair notes that normalizing aircraft build rates are bolstering interest in aerospace suppliers.
Strategic Investments
Goldman Sachs pehub.com has backed cybersecurity compliance firm Schellman, with Lightyear continuing as an investor. Vista pehub.com has made a new investment in aviation software provider Portside, with existing investor Insight Partners remaining a significant shareholder. Tributary Group pehub.com has invested in regulatory software company Softworks Group, with founder and CEO Tim Edlund continuing to lead the company.
Add-on Acquisitions
Littlejohn-backed Ardurra pehub.com has acquired Remington & Vernick Engineers, a complex engineering and design services firm. Astorg pehub.com-backed Solabia has expanded with three strategic acquisitions, representing its first add-ons since Astorg's investment in October 2025. Visualize Group pehub.com has acquired gaming certification lab BMM Testlabs, which serves gaming product suppliers across six continents.
Technology & Innovation
Science Corp. news.crunchbase.com, a biotech startup founded by Neuralink alumni, has raised $230 million in Series C funding for brain-computer interface technologies. Denki news.crunchbase.com, a YC-backed startup, has raised $4.1 million to automate financial audits using AI-powered software. Quantum scaleup Pasqal sifted.eu is going public at a $2 billion valuation.
Market Outlook
The secondaries market is bracing for the next round of macroeconomic uncertainty, with a playbook based on previous choppy markets. PJT Partners' Adrian Millan secondariesinvestor.com sees 2026 setting another record despite macro uncertainty. GP-led secondaries deals and evergreen funds are being examined for compatibility as evergreen fund investment in GP-led deals rises.
Emerging Strategies
Private equity firms are increasingly exploring defence investing strategies, with Europe potentially spending €14 trillion on defence and related infrastructure over the next decade. The lower middle market is being positioned as a deal haven amid market uncertainty. GP-led secondaries are expected to gain traction in the APAC region this year, though they remain a fraction of the global market.
Operational Developments
MacLean Power Systems pehub.com and Power Grid Components have completed a merger, with Blackstone Energy Transition Partners becoming the majority owner. Springcoast pehub.com has led a $180 million investment in commerce and logistics firm Cart.com, whose existing investors include PayPal Ventures and Oak HC/FT.
Market Structure
The private equity industry is grappling with questions about whether shifting investment behaviors are strengthening or straining LP-GP relationships. Gender disparity in UK financial services shows no improvement, according to Fox & Partners. The CV (continuation market is seeing increased specialization and evolving processes to address LP pain points.