Private Equity 3 Days

Last updated: June 22, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

Private Equity Dealmaking & Sector Focus

Private equity firms continue to navigate a complex deal environment, with a notable focus on sectors less susceptible to immediate AI disruption and a surge in AI-native and robotics ventures attracting significant capital. Laundry services, a traditionally stable sector, are seeing investment from firms including The Sterling Group, Surge Private Equity, HIG Capital, and Mainsail Partners, due to their perceived resilience against AI-driven obsolescence. In contrast, the robotics sector is experiencing a funding boom, with startups globally raising $18.8 billion in 2026 year-to-date, surpassing the $15 billion raised in all of 2025 and exceeding the $14.1 billion peak in previous years. This influx of capital underscores a broader trend toward investing in AI-enabling technologies, a theme echoed in Europe's push to build its own AI infrastructure by scraping non-compete clauses and fostering domestic development.

M&A Activity & Strategic Investments

Major acquisition attempts and strategic stake purchases are shaping the private equity landscape, with significant bids and consolidations dominating headlines. US private equity firm Castlelake has taken its £4.7 billion takeover proposal for easy Jet directly to shareholders after the airline's board rejected three prior approaches, signaling a determined pursuit of the airline. In a separate transaction, Investcorp is acquiring a majority stake in UK facilities management firm Smart Managed Solutions in a deal valued at $200 million or more, with Smart providing mechanical and electrical facilities management services. This follows Investcorp's confirmation of the majority stake acquisition in the UK company. Further afield, MSP Sports Capital has acquired a majority stake in the New Zealand Sail GP Team, marking its entry into the professional sailing league and underscoring its focus on sports sector investments.

Infrastructure & Technology Bets

Private equity's appetite for infrastructure and technology, particularly within the burgeoning AI and space sectors, is evident in recent transactions. EQT, supported by sovereign investors Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and Mubadala, is undertaking a take-private acquisition of the FTSE 100 testing group Intertek for £10.9 billion. Additionally, EQT has made its first investment in the space sector by acquiring Exolaunch, a German specialist in satellite deployment technology and launch mission management. This expansion into new technological frontiers aligns with a broader industry sentiment that the next wave of software will be AI-native and industry-specific, favoring vertical AI companies with deep domain expertise. Such strategic positioning is also reflected in Europe's focus on controlling the entire AI stack to bolster its domestic capabilities.

Fund Launches & Secondary Market Activity

The private equity ecosystem is seeing new fund launches and increased activity in the secondaries market, catering to diverse investor needs. INVL Family Office, based in the Baltic states, has launched a private equity secondaries fund, providing its clients access to the global secondary market. This move into secondaries is mirrored by European insurance firms like NN Group, which are also exploring the secondaries market to diversify their illiquid credit portfolios, a trend also observed by Swedish insurer LF. Meanwhile, Seedcamp, a long-standing European seed investor, has closed on $320 million across two funds, including a $220 million core fund and a $100 million select fund, to back early-stage startups and grow its assets under management to $1 billion. Investor sentiment regarding secondary market activity remains