Interest rate cuts, aging dry powder, and ripe conditions for large public-to-private deals lifted buyout value 44% to $904 billion. Exit value jumped 47% to $717 billion, propelled by a corporate M&A boom and the growing need to generate liquidity for investors. These totals were the second best in the industry’s history behind 2021.
Global Private Equity Report 2026
Bain & Company
Research
42 Pages
Key Takeaways
Strong 2025: Interest rate cuts, aging dry powder, and ripe conditions for large public-to-private deals lifted buyout value 44% to $904 billion. Exit value jumped 47% to $717 billion, propelled by a corporate M&A boom and the growing need to generate liquidity for investors. These totals were the second best in the industry’s history behind 2021.
Megadeals: Yet below the megadeal level, the recovery was uneven, and fund-raising dragged in the face of the industry’s persistent liquidity issues. The $56.6 billion take-private transaction for Electronic Arts was the largest buyout in history.
2026 Momentum: The industry has found some momentum heading into 2026, but winning amid high asset prices and elevated interest rates will be harder than it has ever been.
Join our newsletter to have all of this content + Exclusive Newsletter Bonus Content delivered to your inbox every week
