Private Equity 3 Days

Last updated: June 30, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

Private Equity Dealmaking & Strategy

Private equity firms are navigating a complex market, with recent activity showing a mix of strategic acquisitions and a focus on operational improvement. HIG Capital acquired Premier Forge Group, a US manufacturer of mission-critical forged components for aerospace, defense, and industrial markets, with Wynnchurch Capital acting as the seller in the transaction HIG Capital acquires. CVC Capital Partners is expanding its industrial automation and food ingredient portfolios, agreeing to acquire Italian automation group Clevertech with the founding family reinvesting CVC buys Clevertech, and also set to acquire Italian B2B food-ingredients manufacturer Irca from Advent CVC to acquire. In the real estate sector, Bridgepoint entered the U.S. market with an approximately $1.39 billion acquisition of Florida-based property investment platform Kayne Anderson Real Estate Bridgepoint agrees. The lower mid-market continues to present opportunities, driven by operational improvements and cash discipline, according to Fengate's Jennifer Pereira Fengate’s Jennifer Pereira.

Fundraising & Investor Relations

Fundraising within private equity is showing signs of recovery, as analyzed in PEI Group's latest data dive into the PEI 300 ranking PEI’s Data Dive. Investors, including large pension funds like CalPERS and Aware Super, are sharing their summer reading and podcast recommendations, offering insights into what LPs are consuming this year Summer’s session. Meanwhile, the political landscape is introducing complexities, particularly for defense sector strategies, with vagaries potentially impacting co-investment plans PE grapples. France is actively seeking to prevent the UK from participating in a €5 billion EU Scaleup Fund, highlighting ongoing geopolitical considerations in pan-European investment initiatives France seeks block.

Sector Focus: Technology & Infrastructure

Technology and infrastructure remain key investment areas, with a particular surge in European deeptech investment reaching record annual levels within the first six months of the year European deeptech investment. In the UK, the British Business Bank plans to support scaleups with £400 million annually, part of broader initiatives aimed at revitalizing the nation's tech sector British Business Bank. Berlin's energy tech startup Nomos Energy is set to receive a lead investment from Index Index lead investment. In infrastructure, Ardian plans to invest over €3 billion in Nordic data centers through its portfolio company Verne, underscoring the growing demand for digital infrastructure across the region.

Venture Capital & Startup Exits

The venture capital landscape is anticipating further consolidation, with more mergers on the horizon according to the founder of P101 More VC mergers. Startup exits valued at $1 billion or more have reached their highest point since the 2021 market peak, indicating a more active environment for major liquidity events in the second quarter Q2 Brought Most. Spain is emerging as a dynamic tech ecosystem within Europe How Spain emerged. Preventative health startups in Europe are also being mapped, suggesting increasing investor interest in this growing sector Europe’s preventative health startups.

Other Notable Deals & Appointments

Private equity activity extended to various other sectors, including midstream energy and financial services. San Mateo Midstream will EnCap-backed Cardinal Midstream for $752 million, focusing on oil and gas infrastructure. A JC Flowers-led investor group is set to acquire Republic Finance, with Nowlake Technology also participating JC Flowers-led investor group. In a move to bolster its European investment team, Strategic Value Partners appointed Jean Baptiste de Boissieu as managing director, joining from Davidson Kempner Strategic Value Partners appoints. Smart Gulf Coast, backed by Carr's Hill, has acquired workplace safety firms AMC Safety and Safe Construction Consulting Carr’s Hill-backed Smart Gulf. Lenders to Godiva Japan have agreed to extend the maturity of approximately ¥75 billion ($463 in loans by nine months, as MBK Partners considers selling its stake in the Japanese operations MBK Partners to sell. The private equity sector is also seeing M&A activity in mental health and neurodiversity Mental health, neurodiversity M&A.