Private Equity 3d Briefing
×Fundraising & Investment Activity
EQT pe-insights.com, Eurazeo, and Atomico have been shortlisted to manage the European Union's planned €5bn technology investment fund. The shortlisted firms include Vitruvian Partners and Northzone, with the fund expected to target deep-tech sectors across Europe. Meanwhile, Blackstone pe-insights.com and Ares Management have deployed $5bn in private credit financing for a Thoma Bravo logistics deal, highlighting continued deployment of capital in the private markets.
Deal Activity & Exits
Mutares pe-insights.com has agreed to sell its €100m logistics platform, in Time Group, to Tawin Holdings, marking another exit for the German investment firm. In a separate transaction, Mutares pehub.com is selling Peugeot Motocycles in a management buyout, further streamlining its portfolio. BlackPeak pehub.com has sold its stake in eu Shipments.com to Austrian Post, with the e-commerce logistics provider serving over 1,300 online retailers across Europe.
Sector-Specific Investments
Greenbelt-backed pehub.com Saber Power has acquired Bounds Construction, expanding its electrical power system services footprint in Houston. Littlejohn pehub.com has invested in power infrastructure consulting firm GDS Associates, while Littlejohn-backed pehub.com Ardurra has snapped up Remington & Vernick Engineers to strengthen its engineering and consulting capabilities. In the health tech sector, Serent pehub.com has invested in Saisystems to accelerate its technology roadmap.
New Fund Formations & Strategies
New PE firm pehub.com Synergy Sports Capital has debuted with a focus on the lower middle market. Abry Partners pehub.com CEO CJ Brucato outlined why the lower mid-market is particularly attractive, citing opportunities in aerospace suppliers as aircraft build rates normalize. The firm sees this segment as a deal haven amid broader market uncertainty.
Market Outlook & Trends
2026 secondariesinvestor.com should set another fundraising record despite macro uncertainty, according to PJT Partners' Adrian Millan. The secondaries market is taking stock of macro events that could lead to pricing movements. Meanwhile, the mantra "DPI is the new IRR" has caught on across the PE industry as limited partners and general partners navigate unique circumstances around distributions and performance metrics.
Technology & Innovation
City Detect techcrunch.com, which uses AI to help cities stay safe and clean, has raised $13M in Series A funding and is now operating in at least 17 cities including Dallas and Miami. Science Corp. news.crunchbase.com, a biotech startup focused on brain-computer interface technologies founded by Neuralink alumni, has raised $230M in Series C funding. In fintech, San Francisco-based news.crunchbase.com Denki, which has built AI-powered software for financial auditors at public companies, has raised $4.1M in funding.
LP-GP Relations & Governance
Private Take privateequityinternational.com examines whether shifting investment behaviors are strengthening or straining limited partner-general partner ties, with LPs and GPs increasingly divided on the benefits of certain behaviors. Side Letter privateequityinternational.com explores whether executives will lose roles to AI, consolidation creating GP selection headaches for LPs, and why New Mountain is convinced CVs are here to stay.
Defense & Infrastructure
Bridgepoint privateequityinternational.com is mulling options for a defense investing strategy as Europe could spend as much as €14trn on defense and related infrastructure over the next decade, according to a white paper from the Carlyle Group. This potential spending boom is attracting attention from private equity firms looking to capitalize on government infrastructure investments.
Portfolio Company Activity
ORS Nasco pehub.com, backed by Wynnchurch, has acquired industrial wholesalers AD Member Supply and Alliance to expand its MRO product distribution business. Vista pehub.com has made a new investment in aviation software provider Portside, with current 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 business.
Market Performance & Valuations
February closed with the largest startup investment of all time - OpenAI's $110 billion financing - but did not bring a jump in overall deal count, according to Active Investors news.crunchbase.com. The data shows active investors spent more on fewer deals, indicating continued concentration of capital in high-quality assets despite broader market uncertainty.