Private markets are experiencing a "quarter of adjustment" with higher tariffs, lower interest rates, and increased policy clarity driving renewed activity. According to Partners Group's Q3 2025 Private Markets Chartbook, deal volumes are rebounding from 2024 lows as trade negotiations provide greater economic certainty and Federal Reserve rate cuts support portfolio company financing costs.

The venture capital industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation as firms abandon traditional stage-focused investing in favor of comprehensive software investment platforms that can deploy capital from Series A through full buyouts. Deven Parekh, Managing Director at Insight Partners, argues this "stage agnostic" approach provides superior market intelligence and better outcomes for both entrepreneurs and investors.

Global private equity fundraising is on track for its weakest year since 2020 — and lowest fund count in over a decade — with just $224.9B raised across 248 vehicles by midyear, according to KPMG’s Pulse of Private Equity Q2’25. The slowdown reflects muted exit activity in recent years, as GPs struggle to return capital to LPs and face tougher fundraising conditions.

What’s New Private equity is making billion-dollar bets on the backbone of artificial intelligence — from hyperscale data centers to...

Private equity firms are leaning heavily on continuation vehicles (CVs) in 2025 to hold onto high-quality assets longer, according to KPMG’s Pulse of Private Equity Q2’25. With exit markets weak — particularly for IPOs and secondary buyouts — GPs are opting to roll prized portfolio companies into new funds rather than sell at a discount. LPs, however, are pushing back over valuation transparency and the risk of “stranded” assets.

Global private equity dealmaking plunged in Q2 2025, with total announced investment dropping to $363.7B across 3,769 deals, the lowest volume since Q3 2020, according to KPMG’s Pulse of Private Equity Q2’25. The slowdown was most pronounced in Asia and the Americas, as investors delayed deals pending clarity on U.S. tariff policies — despite blockbuster U.S. transactions like Blackstone’s $11.5B TXNM Energy buyout.

Nic Humphries, Senior Partner and Executive Chairman of HG Capital, one of the world's top 10 largest private equity firms with over $100 billion in assets under management, warns that companies must aggressively adopt AI technologies or face being disrupted by startups.

The venture capital industry faces a fundamental crisis where 90% of limited partners shouldn't be investing in the asset class, according to analysis showing median returns barely exceed 8% while top-quartile funds struggle to beat public market equivalents. Miles Dieffenbach, Managing Director of Investments at Carnegie Mellon University, shared this stark assessment on Harry Stebbings' 20VC podcast, drawing from his experience overseeing a $4 billion endowment.

TPG delivered outstanding Q2 2025 results with after-tax distributable earnings of $268 million ($0.69 per share), up 26% year-over-year, driven by record-breaking fundraising of $11.3 billion—the second highest quarter in company history.

The Carlyle Group delivered record Q2 2025 Fee-Related Earnings of $323 million (up 18% YoY) and Assets Under Management of $465 billion, while announcing a leadership restructure naming three Co-Presidents. The private equity giant raised full-year FRE growth guidance to 10% from 6% as its diversification into credit and solutions businesses now generates 55% of firm-wide FRE, up from less than 30% two years ago. CEO Harvey Schwartz highlighted the firm's industry-leading ca

Apollo Global Management delivered blockbuster Q2 2025 results with record $627 million in fee-related earnings (22% YoY growth), driven by unprecedented $81 billion in originations and $61 billion in inflows. The alternative asset manager demonstrated the full power of its origination-to-deployment flywheel, achieving record AUM of $840 billion while maintaining robust 350bp spreads over treasuries despite market compression, positioning for accelerated growth.

According to S&P Global Market Intelligence's 2025 US Insurance Investments Market Report, life insurers accelerated their shift toward alternative investments in 2024, with other long-term invested assets and mortgage loans each gaining portfolio share for the fourth consecutive year.

Erik Hirsch, co-CEO of Hamilton Lane, which manages nearly $1 trillion in private assets, detailed this credit revolution and its implications for both borrowers and investors on Bloomberg's Masters in Business podcast with Barry Ritholtz.

Ares Management Corporation posted second-quarter results that demonstrated resilience amid market disruption, delivering record quarterly fundraising of $26.2 billion and assets under management growth to $572 billion. The alternative investment manager navigated tariff-related volatility that temporarily slowed transaction activity in April and May while successfully integrating its GCP International acquisition, which contributed $103 million in revenues during its first f

Private wealth investors currently allocate just 3-5% to alternatives compared to 20-50% for institutions, representing a massive untapped opportunity that could reshape the entire asset management industry over the next decade. Peter Aliprantis, Partner and Head of Private Wealth Americas at EQT, argues that evergreen structures and improved investor education will drive this transformation.

Blue Owl Capital delivered a record-breaking Q2 2025 performance with $12.1 billion in equity fundraising and $284.1 billion in AUM (up 48% YoY), marking the 17th consecutive quarter of management fee and FRE growth. The alternative asset manager continues aggressive expansion through strategic acquisitions and new product launches, positioning itself at the intersection of AI infrastructure demand and private credit markets while successfully scaling institutional and privat

Private equity firms are abandoning traditional value creation playbooks in favor of organic growth strategies as prolonged high interest rates and extended exit timelines force a fundamental industry transformation. According to Alvarez & Marsal's inaugural North American survey of 50 PE investors and portfolio executives, firms are implementing comprehensive operational improvements and AI-powered initiatives across portfolio companies rather than relying on multiple expans

Credit secondaries surge 70%+ annually as continuation vehicles become mainstream solution for GP-led liquidity needs.

Private markets have exploded into a $13 trillion powerhouse as traditional banking retreats, with private credit alone tripling from $517 billion in 2015 to over $1.7 trillion today. Harvey Schwartz, CEO of Carlyle Group—one of the world's largest private equity firms managing over $450 billion—warns we're in the early days of this financial transformation, with regulators increasingly concerned about systemic risks in this largely untested shadow banking system.

Private markets pivot toward retail access as Trump administration prepares 401(k) executive order for $12T retirement market. Secondary transactions hit record $103B amid exit drought. GIC signals caution on compressed private credit spreads. Major deals include Apollo's £600M dental financing, Carlyle's $250M farm loans.