| Morning all, Craig McGlashan here with the first Europe Wire of 2025 from the London newsroom. I hope you all had a good break and are looking forward to what most sources have been telling us should be a busier year for dealmaking than 2024. Something that is likely to touch many deal pitches this year is artificial intelligence, and this morning Hg’s Alan Cline talks us through how his tech-focused firm is navigating what he calls the “AI revolution.” Next, we round up the articles we wrote in December looking back at some of the big themes in dealmaking in 2024. We then close with a scheduling note for the Europe Wires in 2025. AI push Hg has around 250 AI projects underway across its portfolio and is already seeing benefits in cost efficiencies and revenue acceleration, Alan Cline, head of North America, told PE Hub's Irien Joseph in the latest of our 2025 Outlook pieces. Find out more in the premium version of the Wire. In case you missed it We ran a series of articles in December looking back at the year in dealmaking in 2024. In case you missed any of them, here’s a roundup of those from the London newsroom: AI, payroll automation and employee benefits digitization spark PE interest in 2024 Grid upgrades, digitalization and energy efficiency drew PE interest in 2024 European PE exits in 2024: IPO rebound, LP pressure, secondary sales drive activity Food and beverage M&A fed by consumer demand for healthy, convenient choices Private equity buys into European services with a global outlook Private equity European office push pays off with UK, Germany and France deals Private equity snaps up listed UK companies, but premiums in line with US Skincare deals on the rise despite customers tightening purse strings Travel industry attracts PE interest amid AI boom and post-covid holidays Schedule note We’re updating the Europe Wire author schedule from next week. Nina Lindholm will write to you on Mondays and Thursdays, while I’ll be in the chair on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Irien Joseph will remain on Friday Wire duty. Right, that’s a wrap. Michael Schoeck will be on US duty later today and Irien Joseph will bring you the Europe Wire tomorrow. Cheers, Craig Read the full Wire commentary on PE Hub ... | 