PE Pulse: key takeaways from Q4 2025
From NextWave Private Equity by Bridget Walsh, EY
February 4, 2026 · 8 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the positive trends in private equity as it enters 2026, highlighting a significant rebound in deal value and exits in 2025.
Private equity entered 2026 with renewed momentum following a strong rebound in 2025, marked by a 57% rise in deal value and a significant recovery in exits. Strategic buyers and secondaries helped unlock long‑delayed liquidity, while improved macro conditions and stabilized valuations strengthened underwriting confidence. With most GPs expecting increases in both acquisitions and exits over the next six months — and signalling strong conviction in the quality of 2025 vintages — the industry heads into 2026 with clearer visibility, improved fundamentals and growing optimism.
Topics covered
- private equity
- deal value
- exits
- liquidity
- macro conditions
- valuations
Keywords
- 2026
- GPs
- acquisitions
- optimism
- vintages
More episodes of NextWave Private Equity
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- PE Pulse: key takeaways from Q1 2025 · May 1, 2025 · 7 min
- Talent's role as a strategic differentiator · March 4, 2025 · 15 min
- Differentiated Opportunities for Special Situations Investing · February 13, 2025 · 18 min
- PE Pulse: key takeaways from Q4 2024 · January 28, 2025 · 9 min
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