Top private equity news of the week

EQT Partners, the Swedish private equity firm managing €269bn in assets, generated €11bn in exit proceeds in 2024. This represents a 72% increase from the previous year.

This growth signals a recovery in private equity after years of subdued exit activity.

Key transactions included the Swiss IPO of dermatology group Galderma, which raised SFr2.3bn ($2.53bn) and has since doubled in value, and the New York listing of healthcare technology company Waystar, which is up 77% post-IPO. CEO Christian Sinding attributed the rebound to improving market conditions, including falling interest rates, robust capital markets, and political stability.

Read more: https://pe-insights.com/eqt-achieves-e11bn-in-exits-signaling-rebound-in-private-equity-activity/

Ardian, the French private equity firm, has closed its latest mid-cap growth fund, Ardian Expansion Fund VI, at €3.2bn, surpassing its target by 10%.

The fund represents a 60% increase from its predecessor. It attracted 200 limited partners from 28 countries, including nearly 120 new investors. The successful raise underscores Ardian’s strong track record and investor confidence in its strategies.

The fund will focus on high-growth, mid-sized European businesses, with equity investments ranging from €50m to €300m. Ardian has already committed a third of the fund to eight transactions. These include the acquisition of a majority stake in Diam, a provider of merchandising solutions for the beauty and luxury sector, and Vecos, a smart locker company.

Read more: https://pe-insights.com/ardian-closes-e3-2bn-fund-to-drive-growth-in-european-mid-cap-companies/

Neuberger Berman has unveiled the NB Private Equity Open Access Fund. The fund is designed to provide retail and professional investors in the EU with diversified access to private equity co-investments.

The fund combines flexibility and accessibility, offering monthly subscriptions and quarterly redemptions while maintaining a target of 15% in liquid investments managed by the firm’s multi-asset team.

The fund’s minimum investment of €10,000 for most share classes aims to democratise access to private equity. Investors can participate directly or through trading platforms, depending on local availability. The ELTIF-style fund focuses on co-investments in private companies, partnering with leading private equity managers in strategies such as M&A, digital transformation, operational improvement, and strategic growth.

Read more: https://pe-insights.com/neuberger-berman-introduces-semi-liquid-private-equity-fund-for-retail-investors/

Can’t stop reading? Read more