Private equity funds continue to play a central role in the Italian M&A landscape, with 51% of deals being PE-backed throughout the year. Financial sponsors have been instrumental in sustaining aggregate values, particularly through large mid-market transactions and selected mega-deals. In 2026, sponsors are expected to maintain a focus on platform roll-ups and domestic consolidation strategies, where due diligence is more efficient and exposure to tariff and currency risks is reduced. This panel will examine how private equity is shaping dealmaking dynamics and will remain a key driver of market activity going forward.

• How are private equity firms adapting their fundraising and deployment strategies to remain proactive in capturing opportunities, particularly in private transactions and platform add-ons?
• How are tools such as tax insurance being used to accelerate transactions and provide greater deal certainty?
• Is due diligence becoming more rigorous in response to heightened scrutiny around AI governance, data privacy, and supply chain resilience, and how is this shaping execution timelines?
• Are secondary buyouts expected to remain the primary exit route? And is the appeal of GP-led continuation funds and trade sales continuing to grow in the uncertain tax climate?
• Are trade policy shifts, increasing regulatory scrutiny including FDI and ESG requirements and ongoing financing challenges influencing valuations and deal structures?