Private Equity 3 Hours

Last updated: April 30, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

Private Equity Dealmaking & Strategy

The advisory and placement agent sector saw movement as Lazard agreed to acquire Campbell Lutyens for a base price of $575 million, with an additional $85 million contingent on performance metrics over several years; this acquisition will create Lazard CL, a specialized private capital advisory platform co-led by Holcombe Green and Gordon Bajnai, aiming to bolster the firm's presence in infrastructure and credit advisory services. Elsewhere in deal flow, Freshstream is divesting TrueNoord, a regional aircraft lessor, to Arcus Infrastructure Partners, signaling continued interest in specialized aviation assets within the infrastructure space. Separately, Algebris is purchasing a stake in Geosec, an Italian firm specializing in ground engineering and foundation consolidation for infrastructure projects, demonstrating targeted investment in specialized engineering capabilities.

Fund Management & Portfolio Activity

Manager selection continues to trump geographic focus for many allocators, with Cambridge Associates suggesting that quality General Partners should be favored regardless of their regional concentration, a view particularly relevant in the Asia-Pacific market where head Vish Ramaswami emphasized GP caliber. In strategic exits, Manulife is actively buying infrastructure fund commitments and secondaries to help address challenges related to low Distribution to Paid-In (DPI) ratios, even as rising retail flows provide new, albeit complex, exit channels for infrastructure holdings. Portfolio adjustments also occurred in the consumer space, where DBAY-backed Finsbury Food Group acquired Flower & White, a producer of low-calorie snack bars and light sweet treats sold across D2C and retail channels.

Sector Investments & Sector Hires

Technology buyouts saw activity as Battery Ventures-backed VertiGIS snapped up 1Spatial, a specialist in location master data management software, reflecting sustained private equity interest in geospatial technology. The AI sector continues to attract significant early-stage capital, evidenced by the fact that roughly half of all new unicorns since 2024—an estimated 207 companies—are focused on artificial intelligence technologies. In operational appointments, Greybull Stewardship appointed Kevin Mohr as CFO operating partner; Mohr brings extensive financial leadership experience from his two decades in the U.S. Coast Guard, including service as chief of financial analysis in Washington, D.C.