Key Takeaways from the Swiss Private Equity Breakfast in Zurich
April 2026
Pedersen & Partners and CMS co-hosted the Swiss Private Equity Breakfast, bringing together representatives from leading Swiss and international private equity and venture capital firms. The event focused on the latest trends, strategic insights, and provided a platform for high-level networking.
The panel discussion was moderated by Poul Pedersen, Executive Chairman of Pedersen & Partners, and Daniel Jenny, Co-Head Corporate/M&A and Co-Head Private Equity at CMS Switzerland.
Panelists included:
- Martin Gamperl– Partner, Alantra
- Roman Ornik – Investment Director, Rivean Capital
- Ellen Rietmann Ahl – Senior Investment Manager, Swisscanto
- Felix Signorell – Managing Director, Ardian
- Arijana Walcott – Founder & Managing Partner, DART Ventures
- Sandro Wiesendanger – Head of M&A DACH, Head of Business Area Services DACH, Storskogen
- Mark Zuend – Managing Director, Head of Private Equity, Unigestion
Thomas Markwirth, Country Manager Switzerland at Pedersen & Partners, highlighted the following takeaways:
- M&A activity rebounded: Switzerland saw an increase in both deal volume and value in 2025 vs. 2024. Cross-border dynamics shifted, with inbound transactions rising strongly while outbound deals declined.
- AI as a dominant driver: Despite macroeconomic pressures such as geopolitical conflicts and elevated energy prices, artificial intelligence emerged as the most impactful external factor shaping deals and portfolio company strategies.
- Challenging exit environment: Exit volumes and Distributed to Paid-In (DPI) levels remain below historical averages. While high-quality assets continue to attract buyers, broader exit conditions are more difficult—benefiting the secondary market.
- Ongoing industry consolidation: The acquisition of Unigestion’s private equity business by Sagard from Canada underscores continued consolidation among fund managers.
We thank all participants for their contributions and perspectives.