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The Wire

Private equity deal news and insights from the London newsroom

Mar 3, 2025

 

Bain & Co’s Schmitz expects plenty of dealmaking opportunities; Blackstone, Permira-backed Adevinta sells Austrian digital marketplace

Good morning, Nina Lindholm here with the Europe Wire from the London newsroom.

 

We kick things offwith a mildly optimistic outlook on dealmaking, as we delve into Bain & Co’s latest Global Private Equity report, just released this morning. PE Hub’s Europe editor Craig McGlashan caught up with Alexander Schmitz, partner and head of EMEA at the consultancy company’s private equity practice, to learn more about the findings.

 

Bain & Co might be onto something if this morning’s deal announcements are anything to go by. First, we have PAI Partners agreeing to become a majority owner in a German economy design hotel chain.

 

Next, we have Blackstone and Permira-backed Adevinta selling a stake in Willhaben. We have the value for you on that one.

 

To finish, we gear up to our Deal of the Year Awards announcement.

 

Turning the corner

Bain & Co is “mildly optimistic” about private equity dealmaking in 2025, with a lot of processes being prepared and many “fruitful” conversations with clients taking place, Alexander Schmitz, partner and head of the EMEA private equity practice, told PE Hub’s Craig McGlashan.

 

For more on that, take a look at the premium Wire here.

 

Welcome in

Let’s move on to our freshly announced deals. PAI Partners has agreed to enter a proprietary partnership with a consortium led by Dieter Müller for Motel One Group.

 

For more on the deal, check out the full Wire coverage here.

 

Digital deal

European growth investor Sprints and Styria Media Group have entered a strategic partnership to jointly acquire all of Adevinta’s shares in Willhaben, an Austrian digital consumer marketplace.

 

To learn the transaction value, take a look at the premium Wire coverage here.

 

Almost time

The Oscar winners may have been announced last night, but the award season is not over yet. Be sure to tune in later today when PE Hub will announce the winners of the 35th annual Deal of the Year Awards, as we honor exceptional buyouts realized in 2024.

 

Set your reminders – you won’t want to miss the stories featuring winners in all categories, available on the PE Hub website from 11.00am GMT. US Wire readers will also get highlights from the awards.

 

That’s all from me. MK Flynn will be with you later today with the US edition, while Craig McGlashan is on Europe duty tomorrow.

 

Cheers,

Nina

 

 

Read the full Wire commentary on PE Hub ...

Today's must reads

> Bain & Co: Dealmaking has ‘turned the corner,’ despite slow January More...
> PE eyes generic pharma investment opportunities: 5 deals More...
> Eurazeo to buy Mapal as private equity sees gap in hospitality back office tech More...
> 11 deals in the franchise sector: An 'increasingly attractive model for investors' More...
> Blackstone’s Solotar: ‘We plan to be ready for 401(k)s’ More...

Also of note (may require subscriptions)

 

Return to peak fundraising levels still a couple of years out: Private equity fundraising could get a lift in 2025 from more buoyant deal activity, but a return to sustainable rates of growth are still not in view. GPs should plan accordingly for the long haul. (Buyouts) 

 

Ward Fitzgerald returns to his entrepreneurial roots: Six months after leaving EQT Real Estate, PERE's 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award winner is ready for the next chapter in his career with ExCorde Capital.  

 

Is infra eating real estate’s lunch? Industry executives are concerned Donald Trump'senergy policies could further steer investor capital away from real estate to infra. (Infrastructure Investor)

 

At the forefront of the UK’s private markets push: Phoenix Grouphas signed up to the UK’s Mansion House Compact and launched an investment initiative with Schroders. The firm’s chief credit officer Michela Bariletti discusses UK pensions’ performance deficit and the role of private assets in addressing it. (Private Debt Investor)

 

EU Omnibus: Investors split over simplification proposal. While some have raised concerns over diminishing transparency, others have welcomed efforts to streamline the EU rules. (Responsible Investor)

Deals

> Novo Holdings, TA Associates agree Biocomposites investment More...
> Blackstone-and Permira-backed Adevinta to sell Willhaben More...
> PAI Partners to take majority stake in Motel One More...
> Verdane sells part of stake in Finnish beauty brand Lumene Group More...
> Apax Partners beefs up stake in ECI Software Solutions More...
> New Mountain-backed Amerit Fleet Solutions snaps up Vector Fleet Management More...
People
> Blackstone recruits Zemmel as portfolio operations global head More...
> Lead Edge Capital opens first international hub in London More...
> Core Industrial Partners-backed Winky Lux taps Bloomer as CEO More...

They said it

“The reality is that we are far away from the post-covid heights. January was not a strong month. But we also have to be a bit careful not to judge the year by one month. I do think we’ve turned the corner.”

— Alexander Schmitz, partner and head of the EMEA at Bain & Co's private equity practice, on dealmaking outlook

 

Today's letter was prepared by Nina Lindholm

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