CVC’s Lucas highlights transformative impact of AI on PE portfolios

CVC Capital Partners chief executive Rob Lucas believes AI will play a decisive and potentially disruptive role across private equity portfolios, and is urging firms to move quickly to adapt to rapid technological change, according to a report by Bloomberg.
Speaking at the SuperReturn International conference in Berlin Lucas said that AI is expected to reshape portfolio companies across sectors, including healthcare, retail, and financial services. He described the technology as both disruptive and broadly positive for firms able to adopt it effectively, while emphasising the need for speed and conviction in deployment.
CVC has already begun expanding its AI initiatives, including a partnership with Google Cloud aimed at accelerating adoption across its portfolio businesses. However, Lucas noted that the implementation phase remains costly and that many of the financial benefits have yet to fully materialise at industry level.
The comments come as listed private equity firms, including CVC, have faced investor caution amid concerns about AI-driven disruption and exposure to private credit markets, with the company’s shares down around 10% year-to-date.
CVC currently manages approximately €209bn in assets across private equity, credit, infrastructure, and secondaries strategies, and continues to pursue large-scale transactions, including recent and potential deals in the European consumer and healthcare sectors.