Best of LinkedIn: Private Equity Insights CW 24/ 25

Over the past two weeks, the PE conversation shifted clearly from capital availability to proof of execution. The strongest themes were liquidity pressure, operational value creation, AI moving from pilot to EBITDA impact, and a more selective deal market where sourcing quality and management capability matter more than broad investment theses.

Date

June 23, 2026

Private Equity Insights

Thomas Allgeyer

Methodology: Every two weeks we collect most relevant posts on LinkedIn for selected topics and create an overall summary only based on these posts. If you´re interested in the single posts behind, you can find them here: https://linktr.ee/thomasallgeyer. Have a great read!

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If you prefer listening, check out our podcast summarizing the most relevant insights from Private Equity Insights CW 24/ 25:

LP Liquidity & Market Mood

LP attention shifted toward DPI, cash distributions, and realization timing as exit markets remained selective
Secondaries, continuation vehicles, and dividend recaps gained relevance as practical tools to manage slower liquidity cycles
Fundraising appetite remained present, but investors appeared more selective on GP credibility, governance, and repeatable value creation
Wealth investors and family offices showed continued interest in private markets access, especially through European and Luxembourg-based structures

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Operational Value Creation

PE value creation was framed as an execution discipline, not a financial engineering exercise
Operating partners, CFOs, and management teams became central to margin improvement, working capital control, and scalable growth
Buy-and-build strategies faced sharper scrutiny where integration, incentives, and cross-sell execution were weaker than planned
Talent diligence moved earlier in the investment process, with leadership gaps and transformation readiness assessed before close

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AI & Digital Transformation

AI moved from narrative to measurable value creation, with stronger focus on EBITDA impact and enterprise-wide deployment
Portfolio companies faced a clear execution gap between AI pilots and scalable operational advantage
Data readiness, governance, process quality, and ownership emerged as critical enablers of AI success
AI maturity became relevant for diligence, valuation, exit readiness, and competitive positioning

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Deal Activity & Platforms

European deal activity remained visible across Services, Consumer, TMT, software, infrastructure, and sustainability data
EQT’s agreed take-private of Intertek stood out as a major UK transaction with significant co-investor backing
DACH mid-market activity included platform investments, add-ons, and services-led consolidation themes
Medallia highlighted risks in peak-vintage software deals, especially where leverage, AI disruption, and lender control intersected

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Sector Themes

Defence tech gained prominence through NATO commitments, dual-use technologies, and critical infrastructure demand
Blue-collar services remained attractive due to cashflow resilience and operational improvement potential
Germany’s €500bn special infrastructure fund was linked to PE opportunities across data, energy, defence, and hospitals
Italy was positioned as a compelling buy-and-build market due to fragmentation, succession dynamics, and founder-led companies

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Leadership & Talent

PE-backed CXO roles required stronger understanding of equity economics, recapitalizations, vesting, and sponsor return targets
The operator-to-owner path gained relevance as executives were assessed on value creation capability rather than titles
Chief Transformation Officer success depended on mandate clarity, authority, and practical enterprise transformation experience
CFO expectations expanded toward finance transformation, AI adoption, margin governance, and exit preparation

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Risk & Governance

Diligence expanded beyond financial modelling into AI disruption, customer concentration, leadership quality, and execution feasibility
Construction deals highlighted the risk of applying leverage without fully assessing bonding capacity and growth constraints
Pharma platform commentary emphasized early legal involvement around compliance, IP, contracts, and exit readiness
Tax and cross-border work topics surfaced through Bangladesh dividend taxation concerns and German permanent establishment clarification

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Products & Thought Leadership

Gain positioned its live deal intelligence platform as a source for tracking European PE activity with proprietary reporting and AI support
A new AI transformation whitepaper focused on PE-backed companies and practical multiple expansion levers
EY’s exit readiness study highlighted the difference between prepared sellers and reactive organizations
New practical tools included an LBO pro forma balance sheet template, a PE waterfall system-of-record demo, and an operator-to-owner career guide

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