Private Equity 3 Days

Last updated: May 13, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

Dealmaking Trends and Activity

Global private equity deal volume contracted in Q1 compared to the prior period, although the aggregate value of completed transactions rose, suggesting a focus on larger, more established targets amid market uncertainty. This trend is underscored by significant M&A activity across sectors, including Graycliff snapping up Tramont Manufacturing and Apollo acquiring Noble Environmental, which provides waste collection services to municipalities. Meanwhile, in the digital space, Blackstone acquiring Skroutz from CVC signals continued appetite for leading European digital marketplaces, even as some market participants urge caution regarding secondary sales platforms.

In terms of major portfolio activity, Gen Nx360 selling Precision Aviation Group to VSE for over $2bn marks a substantial exit, while on the buy side, EQT launching a tender offer for Kakaku.com at JPY 3,000 per share demonstrates aggressive action in the Japanese market. Further consolidation is evident in specialized services, with Altaline and Haven unveiling the Ascend Safety Collective through the merger of elevator service networks, bolstered by the addition of industry veterans to the board.

Sector-Specific Acquisitions and Exits

The food and beverage space saw several transactions, with E2p-backed Roskam Foods picking up Kitchen Partners, expanding its portfolio of frozen breakfast foods and custom ingredients based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In the specialized consulting arena, the PE-backed Chartis subsidiary HealthScape Advisors acquiring indie pharmacy PayerAlly points to continued platform-building within healthcare advisory services. Elsewhere, Green Arrow Capital completing its acquisition of DeA Capital established Italy’s largest alternative investment manager, boasting €8bn in assets under management post-closing.

Industrial and manufacturing sectors also experienced movement, as Branford Castle-backed snaps up manufacturer Sutter Instrument, a scientific instrumentation equipment maker serving life sciences. Furthermore, Lone Star completing its acquisition of DOMO Engineered Materials targets the polyamide-based engineered materials sector. On the service side, Altor acquiring a majority stake in Sertion strengthens its position in Nordic pipework services across infrastructure and industrial markets.

Fundraising and Investor Relations

Large institutional investors are deepening existing commitments, with Qatar Investment Authority committing $500m to General Atlantic's global strategies, signaling confidence in growth equity mandates. On the fundraising front, Kevin Hartz’s A[closing its third fund with $450M](https://headlinesbriefing.com/private-markets/techcrunch-venture/kevin-hartzs-a-capital-raises-450m-fund-iii-for-early-stage-tech-startups-62df199d) illustrates continued venture capital deployment, with average check sizes slated between $3 million across broad categories including AI and fintech. Meanwhile, the secondaries market is experiencing friction, as uncertainty dents otherwise burgeoning volumes, with specific challenges noted in closing software deals.

Fundraising efforts continue across regions, with PSG targeting a first-half final close for its latest Europe fund seeking €3.4bn for software investments. In response to investor demand, Ardian and iCapital broadening distribution of evergreen strategies through major custodians like Allfunds and Euroclear aims to widen access for wealth channels. Separately, Verdane announced the closing of a €635 million multi-asset continuation vehicle, with Coller emerging as the sole lead on a similar €600m-plus Verdane CV.

Talent Moves and Strategic Hires

Private equity firms are actively recruiting senior talent to bolster specialized functions, particularly in capital formation and operational strategy. Pantheon hiring CVC’s TMT Europe co-head Leif Lindbäck signals a focused push into GP-led secondaries transactions. Concurrently, Mako recruiting Vanessa Gabela as partner and IR head will centralize its capital formation efforts. Operational expertise is also key, with Shore Capital appointing Aurelio Banda as exec operating partner to drive its platform strategy in building an industrial automation distributor.

Technology, AI, and Sector Focus

The technology sector remains a magnet for capital, though specific sub-sectors face unique challenges. While European AI funding is growing, supported by investments in frontier models, there are looming talent crunches in adjacent fields like quantum computing. In the life sciences, DeepMind spinout Isomorphic Labs raising $2.1bn underscores massive capital requirements for advanced research, although the energy demands of future quantum technologies pose an escalating environmental concern.

Major technology firms are also leveraging private capital for scaling initiatives; TPG, Brookfield, Advent, and Bain Capital backing OpenAI's $4bn-plus deployment JV aims to accelerate enterprise AI adoption, while a separate consortium including Blackstone, Hellman & Friedman, and Goldman Sachs nears a $1.5bn JV with Anthropic. In energy infrastructure, Blackstone and Halliburton investing $1bn in VoltaGrid targets power generation solutions for data centers and industrial applications.

European Ecosystem Developments

The European ecosystem is showing signs of early-stage funding concentration, with specific hubs attracting attention, such as the F1 paddock emerging as a venue for deal-making. Furthermore, there is a notable pipeline of early-stage companies seeking expansion capital, with 25 European YC startups due to raise a Series A, alongside 12 ETH Zurich spinouts preparing for Series A rounds. Legal technology is also evolving, with Legora seeking acquisitions in a field where concepts are shifting from pure Legal AI to 'Agentic Law'.

The region's commitment to defense and resilience is attracting private capital interest, as M&G spies opportunities at the borders of Europe’s defense push, potentially financing facility conversions and industrial resilience. Meanwhile, investment firms are actively building sector expertise; for instance, Bridgepoint-backed NMi Group acquiring TechnoLab enhances its environmental testing capabilities, and Dynasty Equity CEO Don Cornwell discusses fandoms and sports business models, reflecting investments in assets like Liverpool FC. Key industry gatherings are set to convene dealmakers, including Switzerland's Largest Private Equity Conference returning to Zurich in June and CEE's Largest Private Equity Conference convening in Warsaw in May.