Private Equity 8 Hours

Last updated: May 29, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

Restructuring & Sports Assets Ares steered a restructuring of Eagle Football, the multi‑club group that owns Olympique Lyonnais, after lender Met Life signaled revised terms. The move aims to preserve the Ligue 1 franchise while reducing the club’s debt load, which had risen above €200 million following pandemic‑related revenue gaps. By proposing a debt‑for‑equity swap, Ares hopes to restore cash flow and position the club for a potential sale once financial stability returns.

Food Ingredients Carve‑outs* CVC neared a $4bn acquisition of International Flavors & Fragrances’ food ingredients division, valuing the business at roughly $4 billion. The deal follows an earlier announcement that IFF would receive about $3.8 billion in net cash at closing, underscoring CVC’s confidence in the sector’s growth amid rising demand for plant‑based and clean‑label ingredients. The transaction, expected to close in the fourth quarter, will give CVC a platform to expand into high‑margin specialty food markets.**

Tech & AI Credit Apollo and Blackstone syndicated a $36bn loan to fund Anthropic’s artificial‑intelligence expansion, marking one of the largest private‑credit financings of the year. The debt package, structured as senior secured notes, will support Anthropic’s compute investments and talent recruitment as the firm races to commercialize next‑generation language models. By tapping a broad investor base, the lenders aim to capture attractive yields while diversifying exposure to the rapidly scaling AI ecosystem.

Camera & Imaging Deal HSG moved to acquire Blackstone’s Leica stake as the firm entered advanced talks to purchase a 45% holding in the premium camera maker. The prospective transaction values Leica at approximately €1.2 billion, reflecting the brand’s resilience despite a broader slowdown in consumer electronics. HSG’s bid signals private‑equity interest in niche hardware assets that combine heritage branding with emerging imaging software opportunities.

Oncology Investment Wave PE firms targeted oncology assets with six disclosed deals, including AEA Investors’ €750 million buyout of a European radiopharma pipeline and Bridgepoint’s £500 million acquisition of a clinical‑stage immunotherapy platform. Kohlberg’s involvement in a $300 million carve‑out of a US oncology services provider rounded out the activity, highlighting sustained capital flow into cancer therapeutics as investors chase high‑growth pipelines and potential exit routes through major pharmaceutical partnerships.

Circular IT Sustainability Eurazeo secured a majority stake in T1A Group to expand its Planetary Boundaries Fund into Denmark, acquiring the circular‑IT firm for an undisclosed sum. T1A’s refurbishment and resale model extends the lifecycle of end‑of‑use equipment, cutting CO₂ emissions by an estimated 12% per device and reducing e‑waste. The investment aligns with Eurazeo’s ESG mandate and taps a market projected to reach €4 billion by 2028 as enterprises seek greener IT solutions.