CVC da impulso al 'private equity' secundario en 2026 con un nuevo megafondo

After the 2025 boom, it seems unlikely that secondary-focused alternative investments will match last year's peak capture level. However, major projects are helping to narrow the gap. The new CVC Capital Partners megafund has joined this group. CVC Secondary Partners, the division overseeing this strategy that targets the acquisition of primary investors' or asset portfolios' positions, has closed a vehicle to continue these reconversion operations after raising $10 billion (around €8.6 billion).

This is the Secondary Opportunities Fund VI (SOF VI), the largest global secondary investment instrument launched by the alternative assets expert. CVC Secondary Partners' CEO Carlo Pirzio-Biroli valued the milestone, noting that previous funds in this category absorbed $5.8 billion in 2023 (SOF V) and $2.7 billion in 2019 (SOF IV).

The SOF VI surge highlights the strong momentum behind CVC's secondary asset division and the international growth of investments with this angle, according to the manager. But SOF VI's positive impact extends beyond CVC. Its scale also serves as a lever for 2026 sector figures, which last year broke all fundraising records with over $140 billion captured worldwide, according to Pitchbook analysis platform data.

Since January, this strategy has absorbed $54.3 billion through 49 global funds. Of these projects, 13 have a European passport and have added $21.4 billion. Despite SOF VI's weight, it is not the largest secondary vehicle launched in 2026. That honor still belongs to Coller International Partners IX, which closed in January with a potential purchase of $12.5 billion.

The latest Portfolio Advisors instrument, Portfolio Advisors Secondary Fund V, established in April with $3 billion, has also joined the top ranks of this strategy's funding resources ranking for the year. While it is unlikely the sector will repeat the 2025 fundraising success, this investment approach continues to attract significant interest from the market.

Persistent difficulties in selling stakes and distributing fund distributions to investors highlight the key role of the alternative investment secondary market as a tool for investors and managers, providing crucial liquidity and diversification and portfolio rebalancing options. Experts conclude.