AirFund has been named winner of the Coupole de l'Audace for the best distribution platform dedicated to private markets (Wealth Managers) at the Coupoles de la Distribution.

Our read of French private equity in Q1 2026: deal sizes are growing, discipline is back, and manager selection has never mattered more. Plus a fund analysis grid, AirFund platform updates and Occur Paris 2026.

From Blackstone's $5 billion AI infrastructure joint venture with Google to KKR's pursuit of DCC and a $21 billion healthcare mega-merger, this week's private equity deals signal a market pivoting toward AI infrastructure, healthcare consolidation, and selective dealmaking.

EQT submits a final 10.6 billion offer for Intertek, Blackstone acquires Skroutz from CVC. Weekly analysis of private equity deals 2026 for CGPs and family offices.

Weekly private equity deals 2026 review: Apollo completes Prosol acquisition, THL Partners closes $6.35B fund, Yahoo refinances at 11% yield, and EQT raises record $15.6B Asia fund.

This week's top private equity deals 2026: Cinven & Advent's €29.4B TK Elevator exit to Kone, Apollo/Blackstone/KKR's $15B race for Shell's LNG Canada stake, Lazard's Campbell Lutyens buy, and more key moves for CGPs and family offices.

Apollo acquires 40% of Pembina Gas Infrastructure from KKR. Blackstone-backed Jersey Mike’s files for $12B IPO. EQT closes Asia’s largest PE fund at $15.6B. Senior plc, Learfield, Hologic, and more.

Europe reclaims its place as a strategic private equity market in 2026. Our read on the rebound, valuations, manager selection, and 3 must-know fund updates (AMI Labs, Abenex, Otentiq).

CD&R completes $10.3B Sealed Air take-private at 41% premium, Thoma Bravo winds down growth equity to refocus on buyouts, and Adams Street closes record $7.5B credit fund. Plus: KKR invests $820M in Samsung SDS. Your weekly PE deal review.

Blackstone & TPG close the $17B Hologic take-private, Hg completes $6.4B OneStream deal, and Senior plc agrees to $1.9B buyout. Plus: Mercer closes $3.8B fund. Your weekly PE deal review.

From EA's record-shattering $55 billion LBO debt demand to TK Elevator's potential €25 billion exit and Ardian's $30 billion secondaries fund, this week reshaped the private equity landscape.

On the occasion of Financial Education Week, we wanted to dedicate this edition of Private Markets Square to a topic that seems central to the future of our industry: education.

Discover why Small-Cap Buyouts are the most resilient segment of Private Equity. Insights from Philippe Poggioli on the ACF IX fund and European SME growth.

Explore Turenne Capital's innovative Private Equity strategies: the Regional Buyout Evergreen fund and the Hospitality FPCI. 25 years of expertise in French SME growth.

The Private Market Square podcast, hosted by Yann Charraire, co-founder of Airfund, dives deep into the world of private markets and venture capital. In this episode, Benoit Fosseprez, General Partner at AXA Venture Partners (AVP), shares insights on investing in tech startups, scale-ups, and the rapidly evolving AI and quantum computing sectors.

In a more demanding cycle, the difference is made less by the narrative… and more by asset quality, execution capability, and operational value creation. Healthcare ticks all these boxes: demand is structural, needs are long-lasting, and innovation (services, data, patient pathways, medtech, diagnostic tools) continues to reshape the sector. As a result, healthcare remains a natural playing field for specialized private markets strategies provided one is selective.

The Private Market Square podcast, hosted by Yann Charraire, co-founder of Airfund, highlights the strategies of top fund managers and their impact on private investing. In the episode dedicated to Riverside Europe Fund VII, Karsten Langer, the fund’s managing partner, shares his expertise and market insights, offering a unique opportunity to understand investing in high-potential European SMEs.

The democratisation of private assets has become one of the most debated themes in European finance. Platforms are multiplying, private banks are accelerating partnerships, wealth advisors are expanding their role, and funds are adapting their structures to reach a broader audience. Yet one fundamental question remains: are we collectively ready to make private market access not only efficient, but sustainable and virtuous for retail investors?

We are delighted to announce that we finished 3rd in the “Best Digital Platform for Private Markets Access” category, an award recognizing the most innovative players in the field of digital access to private markets. This recognition confirms the relevance of our vision: to democratize and modernize access to Private Markets through high-performance technology and an optimized user experience.

AirFund, a digital marketplace specialized in the distribution of private equity funds, announces the launch of Ask AirFund, an intelligent tool designed to help wealth management advisors (WMAs) analyze, compare, and better understand the investment solutions available on the platform.

Airfund presents Capital Dynamics Mid-Market Direct 6, the new mid-market co-investment strategy focused on high-growth mid-sized companies. This innovative fund combines financial performance with international diversification and is now available to private investors through Airfund.

The private equity market continues to evolve in an environment shaped by interest rate normalization, increased investment selectivity, and a growing focus on sustainable long-term performance.

Wealth management is currently undergoing a profound transformation. Changing client expectations, the growing importance of alternative assets, accelerated digitalization, and generational wealth transfer are all challenging the traditional wealth management model.

After two years dominated by rising interest rates and reduced liquidity, 2026 marks a regime shift in private markets. While the euphoria of 2021 is not returning, the market is entering a healthier cycle characterized by greater price discipline, a gradual reopening of exit windows, and a quality premium focusing on resilient assets capable of generating cash flow and managers with strong operational capabilities.

Airfund presents Authentic Private Infrastructure 3, the new infrastructure investment strategy by Access Capital Partners, focused on essential assets for the European economy. This innovative fund combines financial performance with stable returns and is now available to private investors through Airfund.

The Article 150-0 B ter tax regime plays a central role in wealth planning strategies related to business sales in France. As the 2026 Finance Act may reshape its framework, this tax mechanism remains, for now, a particularly powerful tool to defer capital gains taxation and redirect capital toward private market investments, directly supporting the real economy.

Private Market Square presents ABENEX Industrie 9.0, ABENEX’s new private equity strategy focused on French industrial SMEs, with a strong emphasis on decarbonization and Industry 4.0. This innovative fund combines financial performance with environmental impact and is now open to private investors via Airfund.

After several years marked by a rapid rise in interest rates and a sharp slowdown in liquidity, 2026 opens a new cycle for private markets. A cycle that is less euphoric than that of 2021, but healthier, clearer, and more supportive of long-term value creation. This edition of Private Markets Square provides a concise and practical overview tailored to wealth management professionals.

The conversation provides a deeper understanding of the mechanics of early-stage and growth venture capital, as well as Founders Future’s unique approach, which combines financial support with operational guidance to maximize value creation in innovative companies.

The discussion provides a clear understanding of private debt funds, how they operate, the different types of financing (mezzanine, unitranche, flex equity), and their essential role in financing French SMEs. The goal of this episode is to provide an educational perspective on alternative financing strategies and the role of private debt funds in portfolio diversification, while incorporating an Article 9 ESG approach for positive environmental and social impact.

Plus de 95% des entreprises mondiales financent l'économie réelle en dehors des bourses publiques.

Private equity, also known as venture capital or capital investment, involves investing in companies that are not listed on public stock exchanges. Unlike traditional stock market investments, it is not about buying shares with a click it involves taking a direct stake in a company.