According to KPMG's 2025 Global PE Value Creation Survey, private equity firms face an inflection point as traditional strategies of financial leverage and multiple expansion fade. With fundraising contracting by 12% CAGR from 2021-2025, median holding periods exceeding six years, and over $3 trillion in unsold assets, PE firms must pivot from "stock-picking" to systematic, data-driven value creation to deliver expected returns.

According to PitchBook's Q2 2025 Private Capital Indexes report, private capital delivered a near-flat return of just 0.1% in the second quarter, marking a significant deceleration from the 1.0% gain in Q1. The slowdown was driven by a notable -1.1% decline in private equity, while venture capital rebounded with a 2.7% return. Direct lending surged 8.0% for the quarter, and funds of funds jumped 6.1%, reflecting diverging fortunes across asset classes as market conditions rem

According to PitchBook's Q3 2025 US PE Breakdown, private equity deal activity posted strong quarterly growth with $331.1 billion across 2,347 transactions in Q3 2025—a 28% sequential increase and 38% year-over-year gain. The resurgence follows a brief Q2 air pocket and comes as recession risk drops below 10%, Federal Reserve rate cuts take effect, and major indices reach new highs.

According to a recent analysis by iCapital, US banks have extended $96 billion in loan commitments to private credit vehicles, primarily through revolving credit lines, with a 59% utilization rate indicating substantial unused capacity remains available. Despite recent credit events raising systematic risk concerns, current exposure appears manageable due to moderate leverage and long-term capital lock-ups in the private credit market.

What's New According to S&P Global Ratings analysts Carmi Margalit and Neil R. Stein in their October 2025 report , private credit investments now represent approximately 6% of U.S. life insurers' total portfolios (roughly $289 billion), while property/casualty insurers maintain minimal exposure at just 1%. Despite this growth, no insurer ratings have been downgraded due to private credit exposure, as S&P assesses that companies are adequately managing the heightened illiquid

Despite an executive order opening the door for 401(k) plans to adopt alternative investments, the path to meaningful private market allocations in America's $12.5 trillion defined contribution market will take years, not months, to materialize due to structural barriers and complex decision-making processes.

What's New BlackRock's new "On the Record" series forecasts the private credit market will surge from $2.1 trillion today to $4.5...

According to a comprehensive report by Richard Timbs and Nigel Williams for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, Australia's rapidly growing $200 billion private credit market exhibits significant operational deficiencies, particularly in real estate-focused funds targeting retail investors. The report reveals widespread conflicts of interest, opaque fee structures, and inconsistent valuation practices that potentially disadvantage investors while benefiting

According to Blue Owl Capital's latest whitepaper, private capital firms are positioning themselves as essential partners in financing the AI-driven infrastructure boom, with data center capital expenditure in North America projected to reach nearly $7 trillion by 2030. The investment firm argues that traditional capital markets are straining under unprecedented AI-related spending, creating opportunities for alternative financing through build-to-suit development and sale-le

Private markets firms face a critical technology architecture decision that will determine their ability to compete as the industry undergoes massive structural changes including retailization, insurance partnerships, and new product launches.

Healthcare PE deals slow amid tariff fears, but AI-driven IT assets surge as investors seek policy-insulated growth opportunities.

US tariff surge to 100-year high disrupts private markets recovery as exit drought persists despite macro support.

UK private capital adapts to exit constraints with US investment surge and secondary market growth reshaping liquidity strategies.

What's New According to PitchBook's Q2 2025 US Public PE and GP Deal Roundup , major private equity firms deployed $21 billion in...

According to PitchBook's Q2 2025 European VC Valuations Report, median venture capital valuations across Europe continued climbing in the first half of 2025, with Series E+ companies reaching €1.2 billion for the first time since 2022. The value-over-volume dynamic persisted as deal counts remained flat while median deal sizes and valuations grew across most funding series, though volatility in financial markets and geopolitical tensions created uncertainty for the second hal

The private equity secondary market shattered records in 2024, reaching $160 billion in transaction volume as limited partners and general partners turned to alternative liquidity solutions amid a prolonged distribution drought. According to StepStone Group's August 2025 report, the first half of 2025 has already seen $102 billion in transactions, putting the market on track to break last year's record again.

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.

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.