Private Equity 8 Hours

Last updated: July 6, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

Energy Transition & Infrastructure Deals Dominate

Private equity firms are actively deploying capital into the energy transition and infrastructure sectors, signaling a strategic shift. Blackstone is acquiring Dresser Utility Solutions, a Houston-based provider of natural gas and water measurement equipment, through its new energy transition fund. This marks the first deal for Blackstone Energy Transition Partners V. Simultaneously, Permira is making a strategic investment in Iberian engineering group Quadrante, also under its Energy Transition strategy. Elsewhere, HIG agreed to acquire a majority stake in Germany's Terras Group, which offers infrastructure engineering and construction services across mobility, energy, and digital sectors. In a separate infrastructure-focused transaction, Avance is backing infrastructure firm Lexxel, with the company's founders reinvesting alongside the private equity firm.

Secondaries & Fundraisings Show Continued Interest

The private equity secondaries market and fundraising activities remain robust. Eurazeo has successfully closed its fifth-generation private equity secondaries program at €2.3 billion, surpassing its €2 billion target. This comes as some investors, like Singaporean family office JRT Partners, signal an intention to increase their exposure to secondaries across the US, Australia, and Western Europe. The firm is also seeking experienced investment consultants with strong due diligence track records across asset classes. Meanwhile, a recent analysis by Asante Capital partners suggests that while fund structure is important, the trust between managers and investors has become paramount in the current fundraising environment. However, some observers note that bad habits from an era of "easy money" may still persist within the industry, leading to an illusion of uniform success rather than a fundamentally broken model.

Strategic Exits & Mid-Market Activity

Several firms are executing strategic exits and making mid-market moves. CVC has agreed to sell its stake in D-Marin, a premium marina operator across the EMEA region, to Infra Via Capital Partners. D-Marin manages 28 marinas and serves over 50,000 customers annually. In a significant defense sector transaction, Advent-backed Cobham Ultra is set to sell its undersea warfare solutions provider, Ultra Maritime, for $3.45 billion. Bruin Capital is also divesting its golf simulation company, Full Swing, to Versant Media for $530 million. On the mid-market front, EQT is acquiring parking technology group Orikan, signaling an expansion into the Asia Pacific region's mid-market.

Sector-Specific Investments & Divestitures

Specific sectors are seeing targeted investments and divestitures. Bridgepoint has provided a €200 million minority investment to Skello, a provider of AI-powered HR management software for frontline workers. In a carve-out transaction, Capmont is acquiring Dyneon, a fluoropolymer manufacturer with products serving critical sectors like semiconductors and electric vehicles, from 3M Deutschland. Lone Star Funds is set to acquire Conti Tech, Continental's industrial materials arm, in a €4 billion deal. The cleantech sector, meanwhile, saw $15 billion in seed-through-growth-stage funding in the first half of the year, indicating a stabilization after periods of uncertainty, with investors looking beyond megafunds for potentially higher returns.