Private Equity 8 Hours

Last updated: July 13, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

Private Equity Eyes European Growth

Ardian will a majority stake in German battery-tech firm Munich Electrification, a company founded in 2014. The deal will see the founders retain a minority stake, with management also investing alongside Ardian. Separately, Bridgepoint is set to buy a majority stake in Danish defense company UMag, which was spun out of the Technical University of Denmark in 2018. Founders will remain significant shareholders and continue to lead the business.

Sectoral Focus and Market Trends

Private equity firms are increasingly targeting the European water treatment sector due to the significant investment required for infrastructure development and existing constraints in skilled labor and specialist equipment. Meanwhile, LP-led secondaries as market conditions encourage more sellers to enter the market, according to leaders from LGT Capital Partners, Dawson Partners, and Pomona Capital.