Private Equity 8 Hours

Last updated: June 2, 2026, 2:31 PM ET

Private Equity Fundraising

Goldman Sachs Alternatives has secured $3bn at the first close of its fifth infrastructure fund, reaching 75% of its $4bn target in under six months. Meanwhile, Eurazeo has closed its seventh-vintage direct lending fund at a record €3.9bn, surpassing its initial €3bn target. The robust fundraising environment extends to Berkshire Hathaway, which has anchored Alphabet's $80bn equity raise with a $10bn private placement, demonstrating continued appetite for large-scale technology investments.

AI and Technology Investments

SoftBank is in talks to invest $800m in Agile Robotics as the Japanese conglomerate continues its push into artificial intelligence and automation. At the same time, Europe is positioning itself as a distinct player in the global AI race, with VivaTech 2026 expected to showcase a different approach to AI development compared to Silicon Valley and China. The region's diverging AI strategy emphasizes regulatory frameworks and ethical considerations that differ from the U.S. model.

Special Situations and Infrastructure

H&F has agreed to acquire B2B events platform Hyve from Providence and Searchlight, with the target generating EBITDA exceeding $100m. In another special situations deal, JC Flowers has acquired Monte Paschi Banque of France, aiming for a transformational turnaround of the French lending specialist. Meanwhile, JMI Equity is leading the acquisition of Sewer AI, which provides a connected platform for infrastructure data analysis, reflecting continued interest in technology-enabled infrastructure solutions.

Defense and Security Investments

The defense sector is experiencing unprecedented investment momentum, with defense startup funding hitting an all-time record of more than $14.6bn already this year, surpassing previous records. This trend is reflected in the strategy of APG, the €601bn Dutch pension administrator, which is pursuing earlier-stage investments in defense-adjacent technology and taking a more proactive stance toward European venture capital.

Secondaries and Talent

As the secondaries market continues to expand, firms are facing talent shortages amid growing competition for experienced professionals. This talent crunch has prompted Ropes & Gray to hire from Coller's legal team, as the law firm anticipates innovation in the secondaries market across a broader range of products. At the same time, SaaS may be experiencing a transformation as AI enables software companies to move beyond productivity tools toward knowledge-work solutions, though reports of its demise may be premature.

Board Appointments

CPP Investments has appointed Elizabeth Cannon to its board, adding institutional leadership and governance experience to the supervisory body of the C$793.3bn fund. This appointment comes as institutional investors continue to strengthen governance structures in response to increasing regulatory scrutiny and complexity in private markets.