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The Wire

Private equity deal news and insights from the London newsroom

May 30, 2025

 

IK backs Kestrel Capital amid rising demand for wealth management; Tariffs test Europe’s tech sector, cybersecurity and cloud show resilience

We kick things off with a focus on wealth management. IK Partners has taken a stake in an Irish investment management and financial planning firm. PE Hub caught up with IK’s Simon May to hear about the firm’s plans to build value, scout for acquisitions and navigate the broader trends pushing Ireland’s wealth management sector forward.

 

Next, we explore how tariffs are shaking up Europe’s tech sector. Lincoln International’s Harald Mährle and Alvarez & Marsal’s Amir Malik unpack which companies and subsectors stand to benefit from the tariff regime, and which ones might find themselves on the losing end. 

 

To finish, we look at how these macro conditions are shaping the exit climate. HarbourVest’s Carolina Espinal weighs in on the viable exit strategies of today’s market, particularly as IPOs face challenges. 

 

Wealth in motion

IK Partners has agreed to invest in Kestrel Capital, an Irish investment management and financial planning company, alongside its existing shareholders.

 

Find out in the premium version of the Wire why IK is betting on Kestrel Capital and how it is poised to grow in Ireland’s growing wealth management market, with €1bn in AUM and bolt-on potential.

 

Operationally resilient

For European tech-focused private equity investors, tariffs have gone from a minor worry to a clear portfolio risk. As trade tensions rise and supply chains tighten, some tech sectors are holding steady while others are facing challenges.

 

Subscribe to the premium version of the Wire to uncover insights onwhich tech segments are weathering tariffs and recession fears, and where investors are finding resilience.

 

Check out this story to find out where investment opportunities lie within industrials despite tariff uncertainty. 

 

Subdued outlook

All this macro noise is making exit plans trickier too. Exit activity is likely to remain more muted this year, given the impact of tariff uncertainty, said Carolina Espinal, managing director, HarbourVest, in a statement.

 

Read the premium version of the Wire to explore how tariff-driven uncertainty is reshaping exit strategies.

 

And with that, we pivot to this week’s exits across the US and Europe:

  • One Peak agrees to sell Ireland’s Brightflag
  • EQT to sell Acumatica to Vista Equity Partners
  • TJC to sell Silvus Technologies to Motorola for $5bn
  • ATL Partners sells optical systems producer Geost to Rocket Lab USA
  • Triton exits taxi company Dantaxi
  • Charterhouse to sell Casa Optima to Terlos-led investor group

 

That’s it from me. Catch John R Fischer with the US edition in the New York morning and Nina Lindholm will be back with the Europe edition on Monday. 

 

Warmly,

 

Irien

 

Read the full Wire commentary on PE Hub ...

Today's must reads

> EQT's Alex Darden: 'Water is critical for our survival' More...
> PSG, Verdane see European cybersecurity with scale attracting premium valuations More...
> TPG looks to leverage tech inflection points with AvidXchange and Sabre Hospitality deals More...
> Infra funds line up for Lindsay Goldberg-backed Liquid Tech Solutions, sources say More...
> How PE healthcare investors are navigating M&A regulations state by state More...

Also of note (may require subscriptions)

 

Have we hit peak fundraising capacity? The latest PEI 300 ranking shows an industry that's hit another fundraising milestone, while experiencing the lowest year-on-year growth on record. (Private Equity International)

 

Underlying value of companies within CVs accelerates in 2024 – Houlihan Lokey. Nearly 45% of companies within single-asset CVs had an implied TEV greater than $2bn last year reflecting minority interest or strip sales for larger companies being used in these deals. (Buyouts)

 

StepStone emerges as buyer for Taiwan Life’s PE portfolio sale: The deal marks another notable Taiwanese transaction after Fubon sold a massive private market portfolio last week. (Secondaries)

 

LPs back ESG and DEI despite backlash, survey finds: Investors’ expectations around these hot-button issues have only risen over the past year. (Private Funds CFO)

 

Brunel Pension Partnership extolls virtues of profit participation schemes: Employee ownership and profit participation schemes can 'drive some good outcomes' outside of an investor's impact allocation, according to senior portfolio analyst Alex Owen. (New Private Markets)

Deals

> Round Hill Music picks up catalogs that include hit songs by Rod Stewart and Olivia Newton-John More...
> Valeas Capital scoops up TicketManager More...
> Gemspring-backed Amplix snaps up tech advisor The Hastings Group More...
> One Peak agrees to sell Ireland's Brightflag More...
> Vista Equity Partners to acquire ERP platform Acumatica More...
> EQT-backed WSO2 acquires tech startup Moesif More...
People
> Warburg Pincus appoints SK Sharma as senior advisor for tech group More...
> LO3 Capital taps TJ O'Donnell as partner More...
> Bow River taps Mark Hantho as executive chairman More...

They said it

“If tariffs are here to stay, we’re likely to see a renewal of investment and strategy in European onshore tech and software.”

— Amir Malik, managing director at Alvarez and Marsal’s digital wing, on the impact of tariffs on Europe’s tech sector

 

Today's letter was prepared by Irien Joseph

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