Private Equity 3 Days

Last updated: June 30, 2026, 5:31 AM ET

Private Equity Dealmaking & Strategy

Private equity firms are actively pursuing acquisitions across diverse sectors, from industrial automation to financial services and infrastructure. CVC Capital Partners agreed to acquire Italian industrial automation group Clevertech, with the founding family reinvesting alongside the firm. In a similar move, CVC also agreed to buy Irca, an Italian food ingredients manufacturer, from Advent. Meanwhile, Triton entered exclusive talks for Bureau Veritas’ fuels testing unit, which operates a network of 320 sites globally. H.I.G. Capital completed the acquisition of Premier Forge Group, a US manufacturer of components for aerospace, defence, and industrial markets, previously owned by Wynnchurch Capital. Separately, Skoyen is set to acquire Bartec Municipal Technologies, a provider of waste collection and street cleaning technology used by over 100 UK local authorities.

In the financial services space, JC Flowers-led investor group is acquiring Republic Finance, with Nowlake Technology also participating. Bridgepoint agreed to acquire Kayne Anderson Real Estate (KARE), a Florida-based property investment platform, for an upfront enterprise value of approximately $1.39 billion, marking its entry into the US real estate market. FTV is making a growth investment in Carbon Underwriting, an underwriting specialist with its own Lloyd’s syndicate. Main-backed Zig is acquiring Provadie, a Dutch provider of Saa S products for real estate valuation professionals.

Infrastructure and critical services are also seeing significant PE activity. CVC Credit led the refinancing and merger of Kanalservice Gruppe (KSG) and Grupo Sasti, creating a pan-European critical infrastructure services platform. Ardian plans to invest over €3 billion in Nordic data centers through its portfolio company Verne. In the midstream energy sector, San Mateo Midstream agreed to acquire EnCap-backed Cardinal Midstream for $752 million. Carr’s Hill-backed Smart Gulf Coast is acquiring safety firms AMC Safety and Safe Construction Consulting.

Venture Capital & Technology Focus

Venture capital is experiencing a surge in deal activity, with a particular emphasis on deeptech and AI, alongside a growing trend of consolidation. European deeptech investment reached an annual record in the first six months of the year, indicating strong investor appetite for cutting-edge technology. Index is leading an investment into Berlin-based Nomos Energy. The founder of P101 anticipates more venture capital mergers in the near future, suggesting a market consolidation phase. Hong Kong is positioning itself as a fast track into Asia’s artificial intelligence boom for European companies, offering a gateway to the region’s expanding AI market.

The UK government is bolstering support for scaleups, with the British Business Bank set to back them with £400 million annually. This initiative aims to foster growth in the country's technology sector. Spain is emerging as one of Europe’s most dynamic tech ecosystems, attracting significant investment and fostering innovation. Amidst these growth trends, Q2 saw the most billion-dollar startup exits since the 2021 market peak, signaling a healthy environment for venture-backed companies achieving significant valuations.

Fundraising & Market Trends

The private equity industry is navigating a complex environment, with a focus on operational improvement in the lower mid-market and a cautious approach to defence sector investments. Fengate's Jennifer Pereira noted that the lower mid-market offers appealing opportunities during times of geopolitical tension and fluctuating interest rates, driven by cash discipline, pricing power, and operational rigor. Investors are consuming content that reflects these market dynamics, with LPs sharing recommendations for books and podcasts on topics ranging from operational improvement to broader market trends.

Fundraising for private equity shows signs of a comeback, as revealed by an analysis of the PEI 300 ranking, which tracks firms by fundraising volume. However, political vagaries are impacting defence strategies for private equity firms, creating uncertainty around co-investment opportunities and deal structures. Meanwhile, France is seeking to block a UK role in the €5 billion EU Scaleup Fund, highlighting geopolitical considerations in cross-border investment initiatives. The market is also seeing strategic appointments, with Strategic Value Partners appointing Jean Baptiste de Boissieu as managing director to its European investment team.

Sector-Specific Investments & Divestments

Private equity firms are making strategic investments and divestments across various specialized sectors. MBK Partners is looking to sell Godiva Japan, as lenders have extended ¥75 billion ($463 of loans by nine months. In the insurance sector, FTV is making a growth investment in Carbon Underwriting, an underwriting specialist with its own Lloyd’s syndicate. The fuels testing sector is a target for Triton, which entered exclusive talks for Bureau Veritas’ global fuels testing unit.

The industrial automation and manufacturing sectors are seeing significant activity. CVC Capital Partners is acquiring Italy’s Clevertech, a designer and manufacturer of industrial automated packaging systems. H.I.G. Capital acquired Premier Forge Group, a US manufacturer of mission-critical forged components for aerospace, defence, and specialty industrial markets. In food ingredients, CVC is buying Irca from Advent, an Italian B2B food-ingredients manufacturer whose revenue has quadrupled.

The real estate sector is also active, with Bridgepoint agreeing to acquire Kayne Anderson Real Estate (KARE) for $1.39 billion, marking its entry into the US market. Main-backed Zig is set to acquire Provadie, a Dutch provider of Saa S products for real estate valuation and appraisal professionals. In the municipal technology space, Skoyen is acquiring Bartec Municipal Technologies, which powers waste collection and street cleaning for over 100 UK local authorities. The workplace safety sector is seeing consolidation, with Carr’s Hill-backed Smart Gulf Coast acquiring AMC Safety and Safe Construction Consulting.

Emerging Trends & Investor Sentiment

Emerging trends indicate a growing interest in preventative health startups and a continued focus on operational improvement within the lower mid-market. Europe’s preventative health startup scene is actively being mapped, suggesting a sector ripe for investment. Fengate’s Jennifer Pereira highlighted that the lower mid-market is resilient, driven by operational improvement and rewarding cash discipline, pricing power, and leadership maturity, particularly in the current environment of geopolitical tensions and fluctuating interest rates.

The broader market sentiment is reflected in the content that limited partners are consuming, with major investors sharing recommendations that often focus on these resilient strategies and market insights. The trend of billion-dollar startup exits seen in Q2 of 2026, the most since the 2021 market peak, suggests that venture-backed companies are achieving significant valuations, providing attractive exit opportunities for investors. The increasing M&A activity in mental health and neurodiversity is also notable, indicating a growing focus on these areas within the healthcare technology market.