Tikehau Capital, CVC Capital Partners, and Weinberg Capital Partners are among a growing group of sponsors building dedicated defence investment strategies. Tikehau is currently raising an '800m aerospace and defence fund, backed by leading industrial players including Airbus, Safran, and Thales, while Weinberg Capital recently closed its Eirene fund at '215m, surpassing its original target. Private equity dealmaking in the sector has already reached $790m so far in 2025, nearly matching the $1bn annual threshold typically seen only in exceptional years over the past two decades, according to Bloomberg data. Investor sentiment towards defence assets has shifted dramatically, with ethical concerns around ESG compliance giving way to the strategic importance of security and technological resilience. 'Investor demand for defence exposure is growing, as barriers linked to ESG concerns continue to fall,' said Lionel Mestre, Partner at Weinberg Capital. At the same time, strong demand for...
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