Private Equity News and Headlines

Gore Street Capital Eyes €1bn Through Energy Storage Fundraise by Year End

Gore Street Capital aims to raise €1bn for a new energy‑storage fund and a co‑investment vehicle by the end of 2026. The capital will target grid‑scale battery projects that support Europe’s renewable integration. Institutional investors are expected to form the...

Debtwire Middle-Market – 2/23/2026

Sponsor‑backed merger and acquisition activity surged to $165 billion in December 2025, marking the second‑largest monthly volume in the past decade, just shy of the $168 billion peak recorded in April 2021. Data from Mergermarket shows that leveraged buyouts and other sponsor‑driven deals now...

Covenant Trends – 2/23/2026

Covenant Review released its latest quarterly snapshot of new‑issue institutional loans that include a pick‑your‑poison covenant provision. The accompanying chart tracks the share of such loans by quarter, showing a clear upward trajectory over the past two years. The data...

Octus: Private Credit & Deal Origination Insights – 2/23/2026

The 2026 outlook for Americas private credit is dominated by the mass maturity of loans originated in 2021, pushing the asset class into the mainstream. Refinancing activity surged in 2025, with a 29% jump in deals that now represent 28%...

KBRA Direct Lending Deals: News & Analysis – 2/23/2026

KBRA released its latest TTM Direct Lending Default Index on February 23, 2026, showing a year‑to‑date default rate of 2.8%, up from 2.4% in the prior quarter. The index recorded 150 cumulative defaults across the direct‑lending universe, while the weighted average spread...

The Pulse of Private Equity – 2/23/2026

Private equity activity in healthcare surged in 2025, driven primarily by the devices and supplies segment. Deal value in this sub‑sector jumped more than 270 % year‑over‑year, the strongest growth among all healthcare categories. The breakout transaction was Hologic’s $18.3 billion leveraged...

What Does Ssense’s Rescue Deal Mean for Its Future?

Ssense, the Montreal‑based luxury e‑commerce platform valued at $4 billion in 2021, filed for bankruptcy in August 2025 after US tariff hikes and operational missteps eroded its margins. In February 2026 the Atallah brothers secured court approval to purchase the company’s...

FS KKR Capital Corp (FSK) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

KKR reported record fundraising in 2025, raising $129 billion and reaching over 80% of its $300 billion target for 2024‑2026. Fee‑related earnings per share rose to $1.08, with management fees up 24% YoY, driving a 68% FRE margin. The firm announced a...

Panoro Energy ASA - Contemplated USD 49 Million Private Placement to Finance Transformational Acquisition

Panoro Energy ASA announced a private placement of up to NOK 467 million (approximately USD 49 million) to help fund the acquisition of Kosmos International Petroleum’s 40.375% non‑operated interest in Block G offshore Equatorial Guinea. The offering consists of two tranches – a fully...

2026 Should Mark Record Year for Exits and Secondaries Volume – Blackstone’s Perry

Blackstone’s global head of Strategic Partners, Perry, projected that 2026 will deliver a record year for private‑equity exits and secondary‑market volume. He explained that accelerated exit cashflows enable secondary buyers to bid higher prices, which in turn should entice more...

Eagle Energy Metals and Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. II Announce Closing of Business Combination

Eagle Energy Metals Corp. completed its business combination with Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. II, creating Eagle Nuclear Energy Corp. The new company will begin Nasdaq trading on February 25, 2026 under the ticker symbols NUCL and NUCLW. The merger pairs the largest...

NEXUS Panelists: Lack of Exits, Compressed PE Returns Complicating LP-GP Dynamics

At PEI Group’s NEXUS 2026 conference, Mike Lazorik of Texas TRS warned that the alignment between limited partners (LPs) and general partners (GPs) has become increasingly fraught. He cited a sharp decline in exit opportunities and compressed private‑equity returns as...

CalPERS Wants Its GPs to Do Better on Transparency

CalPERS, the $613.7 billion California public‑employees pension, announced it will require its private‑equity general partners to provide far greater transparency on portfolio‑company data. CEO Marcie Frost said enhanced visibility will sharpen risk management and fulfill fiduciary responsibilities. The fund plans to...

NEXUS Panelists: Lack of Exits, Compressed PE Returns Complicating LP-GP Dynamics

At the NEXUS 2026 conference, private‑equity executives highlighted that a slowdown in exits and tighter returns are straining the traditional LP‑GP relationship. Mike Lazorik of Texas TRS warned that alignment “has never been more complicated” as limited partners push for...

Bruin Hires Managing Director to Focus on Fan, Media Opportunities

Bruin Capital announced the hiring of Adam Hasiba as its first Managing Director, tasking him with expanding the firm’s sports, media and fan‑engagement platform. Hasiba leaves consumer‑focused private‑equity giant L Catterton after more than a decade, bringing deep experience scaling media‑centric...

The Evolving Nature of Direct Secondaries Valuations

Direct secondaries are emerging as a leading exit strategy for private‑equity portfolios, prompting a reassessment of how these assets are valued. Subu Parmeswaran of Valuation Research Corporation highlights that traditional static models no longer capture the nuanced risk‑adjusted returns of these...

Gemspring Sells Security 101 to Morgan Stanley

Gemspring has sold its stake in the cybersecurity startup Security 101 to Morgan Stanley. Gemspring originally invested in Security 101 in 2021, and the transaction marks its exit from the venture. The acquisition gives Morgan Stanley full ownership of the...

Bain’s MacArthur: 401(k) Opportunity Is ‘Major Inflection Point’ for Alternatives

Chair of Bain’s global private equity practice, Hugh MacArthur, says the growing ability for 401(k) participants to invest in private equity marks a major inflection point for the alternatives industry. He argues that retail access will set a new performance...

Meridiam Seals €2.2bn for Fund Extending Exposure to Long-Hold European Infra Assets

Meridiam has closed its latest infrastructure fund with €2.2 billion of commitments, extending its exposure to long‑hold European assets. The capital raise reached final close this week, adding to the firm’s growing pool of long‑term infrastructure capital. The new vehicle will...

GIC Emerges as Lead Buyer on Meridiam’s €2bn+ CV

GIC has emerged as the lead buyer for Meridiam’s continuation vehicle (CV) valued at over €2 billion. The CV aggregates a portfolio of 22 infrastructure assets currently held in Meridiam’s legacy funds. By acquiring the majority stake, GIC positions itself at...

Thoma Bravo’s Holden Spaht, Anastasia Titarchuk of New York State’s Common Retirement Fund, 26North’s Josh Harris Speak at PEI Group’s...

The PEI Group launched its NEXUS 2026 summit with a high‑profile speaker roster. Thoma Bravo’s Holden Spaht joined Anastasia Titarchuk of New York State’s Common Retirement Fund and 26North’s Josh Harris on the opening panel. The event gathers private‑equity leaders,...

Blackstone Strategic Partners Leads on EQT’s Evergreen CV for EdgeConnex

Blackstone Strategic Partners is spearheading EQT’s new evergreen continuation vehicle aimed at EdgeConnex, an Australian data‑centre operator. The fund is projected to close at roughly $2 billion, with provisions to expand as additional assets become available. By using an evergreen structure,...

Brookfield-Backed Rockpoint Gas Storage Closes C$459 Million Secondary Offering

Brookfield-backed Rockpoint Gas Storage completed a secondary offering, selling 16.4 million shares at C$28 per share. The transaction generated approximately C$459 million in gross proceeds, including shares issued under an over‑allotment option. The capital raise bolsters the company’s balance sheet and funds...

26North’s Josh Harris: Retail Capital Presents ‘Recipe for Problems’

At the PEI Group’s NEXUS 2026 conference, 26North veteran Josh Harris warned that blending unaccredited retail investors with traditional wealth capital in private‑market vehicles creates a regulatory mismatch. He argued that differing oversight levels could spark investor backlash and damage the...

ASC-Backed CampusWorks Merges with College Consulting Firm Dynamic Campus

CampusWorks, a Sarasota‑based higher‑education consulting firm backed by private equity firm ASC, announced its merger with Dynamic Campus, a complementary college consulting provider. The combined entity will pool expertise in enrollment management, student success, and operational efficiency to serve a...

Capital Constellation Forms Strategic Partnership with Gallatin Point Capital

Capital Constellation announced a strategic partnership with Gallatin Point Capital to co‑invest in lower‑middle‑market companies across North America. The alliance combines Capital Constellation’s deep sector expertise with Gallatin Point’s operational platform and capital resources. Both firms will jointly source, evaluate,...

Honigman Adds Strategic PE Duo to Growing Chicago Office

Law firm Honigman has added Alexander Moss and Injune Park as partners to its Private Equity Practice in Chicago, marking the seventh and eighth partner hires this year, both coming from Benesch. The duo brings extensive middle‑market private‑equity experience, covering...

Secondaries Investor Full-Year 2025 CV Deal Log

Secondaries Investor’s 2024 deal log shows 85 continuation vehicles closed, while an additional 40 vehicles are either launching or under review. Continuation vehicles, which allow private‑equity funds to extend ownership of select assets, remain a dominant tool for managing liquidity....

Skilled Nursing Dealbook: 280 Beds Realigned in Ohio as 80-Bed Nebraska Nursing Home Changes Hands

Senwell Senior Investment Advisors completed a multi‑party realignment of more than 280 skilled‑nursing beds across Ohio, moving capacity from overbedded counties to operators targeting high‑demand markets. The transaction involved 12 unnamed sellers and multiple buyers seeking growth or new facility...

Gridiron Adds to Leadership Team Amid Fund VI Roll-Out

Gridiron Capital has elevated Scott Harrison to Managing Partner and Chief Operating Officer, expanding its senior leadership team. Harrison, who blends investment acumen with operational expertise, now sits alongside founders Tom Burger and Kevin Jackson. The promotion comes as the...

26North Founder Josh Harris Sees Mid-Market as Private Credit Sweet Spot

Josh Harris, founder of 26North, told PEI Group’s NEXUS conference that the firm is targeting the mid‑market segment as the sweet spot for private credit. He noted that even though the credit cycle is in its later stages, a pronounced...

Ex-Sequoia Capital India Arm Peax XV Raises $1.3bn Across New Fund Trio

Peax XV, the former Sequoia Capital India unit, announced a $1.3 billion raise across three newly launched funds. The capital is allocated to a seed‑stage vehicle, a growth‑stage fund, and a later‑stage continuation fund, enabling the firm to support startups throughout...

Evercore Taps Adams Street Partners for New APAC Secondaries Head

Evercore has appointed a senior executive from Adams Street Partners to lead its Asia‑Pacific secondary market advisory team. The move comes after the exit of Shane Gong, who had headed Evercore’s APAC private‑capital advisory unit until January 2025. The new...

Majority of CVs Run by Mid-Market GPs in 2025 Equivalent to 50% or More of Latest Flagship – Lazard

According to Lazard’s latest report, mid‑market private‑equity sponsors will run the majority of continuation vehicles (CVs) by 2025, with assets under management equivalent to at least 50 % of the most recent flagship CVs. Sponsors are increasingly using larger CVs to...

Loan Note: Nexus 2026 Is Under Way; Venture Debt Performance Under Scrutiny

Private market leaders are gathering at Nexus 2026, the flagship conference spotlighting emerging trends in venture debt. MSCI’s latest data shows a slowdown in venture debt performance, with rising default rates and lower returns compared to previous years. Meanwhile, LBP...

The Pipeline: Quinbrook Mulls Stake Sale, CVC DIF Collects €3.5bn, Macquarie’s Double Deal Week

Quinbrook Partners is weighing a minority‑stake sale to bring in strategic capital, aiming to accelerate its infrastructure expansion. Meanwhile, CVC’s Direct Investment Fund closed a €3.5 billion double‑fundraise, reflecting strong investor appetite for long‑dated, inflation‑linked assets. Macquarie Capital announced two sizable...

Prime Capital Eyes Lower Target for Debut Infra Debt Fund – Exclusive

Prime Capital, a European infrastructure‑debt specialist, announced it will lower the fundraising target for its debut infra‑debt fund. The manager also extended the fundraising window by roughly six months to tap renewed investor appetite for infrastructure assets. The revised target...

Private Equity's Dry Spell Now Worse Than 2008 Crisis, Bain Says

40% of GPs Expect to Mull CV in the Next Two Years – Bain Study

Bain’s latest survey finds that 40% of private‑equity general partners plan to evaluate a continuation vehicle (CV) within the next two years. More than half of those respondents say the primary motivation is to return capital to existing limited partners....

Morgan Stanley’s PCA Chief Leaves the Bank

Morgan Stanley announced that its global head of the Principal Capital Allocation (PCA) group has departed the firm. The bank confirmed the PCA unit will continue operating without interruption, but a successor has not yet been named. The move follows...

Flipping the Script: Inside DealMAX with GF Data’s Ruben Burke and Ryan McCann

GF Data’s senior leaders Ruben Burke and Ryan McCann joined the Inside DealMAX podcast to discuss how the Las Vegas conference is reshaping engagement between data providers and middle‑market dealmakers. They previewed GF Data’s Q4 2025 findings, highlighting a 30%...

Investor Intentions: NCIA Looking to Grow Its Private Infrastructure Portfolio

The National Council for Infrastructure and Assets (NCIA) is signaling a strategic push to expand its private infrastructure holdings, with allocations projected to reach between $8 billion and $10 billion. This represents a sizable portion of the council’s overall investment portfolio and...

Meridiam Amasses over €2bn for European Infra CV Fund

Meridiam has closed a continuation vehicle (CV) fund that raised more than €2 billion to acquire a portfolio of 22 European infrastructure assets. The assets span highways, high‑speed rail, hospitals, university accommodation and a range of low‑carbon solutions. The fund provides...

Secondaries’ Next Iteration: Market Capitalisation in 2026 and Beyond

Evercore’s global head of private capital advisory, Nigel Dawn, outlined the outlook for secondary market activity through 2026 in the latest Secondaries Investor podcast. He highlighted accelerating capitalisation, driven by heightened LP liquidity demands and a surge in GP‑led transactions....

Blue Owl Sold Private Loans To Pension Giants And Own Insurer

Blue Owl Capital secured four buyers for a $1.4 billion private‑loan portfolio to meet a looming cash‑return deadline in one of its credit funds. The purchasers include three of North America’s largest pension funds and Blue Owl’s own insurer, Kuvare. The...

Blue Owl Halts Quarterly Redemptions in a Non-Traded BDC

Blue Owl Capital Corp II, a non‑traded business development company, has halted its quarterly redemption program, effectively gating investors. The manager simultaneously sold approximately $1.4 billion of loans across three of its BDC portfolios to bolster liquidity. The redemption freeze and...

LPs Reveal Their Biggest Frustrations with GPs

Ahead of PEI’s NEXUS conference, a new survey of limited partners (LPs) uncovered the top sources of friction with private‑equity general partners (GPs). The research highlights persistent issues such as opaque performance reporting, unpredictable capital calls, and fee structures that...

Tikehau Latest Manager to Close Credit Secondaries Fund as Market Fires on All Cylinders

Tikehau Capital’s second credit‑secondaries fund closed with over $1 billion in commitments, less than a year after its first vehicle launched in H2 2023. The rapid close reflects soaring investor appetite for private debt secondary transactions, which offer immediate cash flow and...

PE Weekly: Fundraising for Follow-On Investments

The latest Middle Market Growth roundup highlights a wave of fundraising activity aimed at follow‑on and continuation investments. JLL Partners closed its ninth fund with $1.4 billion, while HarbourVest launched a $1.1 billion Private Equity Continuation Solutions fund. Union Capital secured $450 million...