The value of UK M&A activity for the first half of 2024 rose by two-thirds compared to the same period last year despite volume being down by a fifth over the same period, according to figures from PwC’s latest Global M&A Industry Trends report.

Genstar Capital, a San Francisco-headquartered private equity firm focused on the financial services, software, industrials and healthcare sectors, has made a majority investment in Docupace, a provider of back-office software for wealth management enterprises and financial advisors.

LA-based software and technology-focused private equity firm Diversis Capital has made an investment in Decision Lens, a provider of public sector planning software. 

Platinum Equity, a private investment firm with more than $48bn in assets, is to acquire GSM Outdoors, a US outdoor and consumer sporting goods company with a portfolio of around 50 brands, from Gridiron Capital.

Global private investment firm KKR is to acquire Janney Montgomery Scott, a wealth management, investment banking and asset management firm with over $150bn in assets under administration, from The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company.

An affiliate of $64bn global alternative investment firm HIG Capital has acquired Naturalia Tantum, a company operating in the Italian organic beauty & personal care sector.

Los Angeles-based global private investment firm Atar Capital has sold its portfolio company, Microcel, a distributor of lifestyle products in Canada, to Canadian distribution company TDL Gentek.  

Mubadala Investment Company’s asset management subsidiary Mubadala Capital has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Bugaboo Group, a provider of strollers and children’s consumer products and one of Bain Capital’s portfolio companies. 

European mid-market private equity firm Inflexion has invested in FDMUK, a provider of telecoms market share, pricing and proposition data across Europe. The investment is being made by Inflexion’s Enterprise Fund V.