Top Private Equity Firms (2026)
The private equity market in 2026 is more selective and capital-concentrated than in previous years. Fundraising has slowed, deal scrutiny has increased, and capital is increasingly flowing to firms with proven scale, sector depth, and active deployment.
This ranking lists the top private equity firms in the world for 2026, based on the latest available AUM disclosures, recent fund closes, and real transaction activity across buyout, growth, and infrastructure strategies. It provides a clear, data-backed view of which firms are actively deploying capital at scale and the deal profiles they prioritise today.
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Top 20 Private Equity Firms by AUM, Strategy, and Global Reach (2026)
Data is rounded and range-based where needed to remain accurate across multiple quarters. Firms such as Blackstone, KKR, Apollo, and Brookfield consistently lead global rankings and are often referred to as the Big Four due to their scale and diversification.
Note: Rankings are based on verified AUM, recent fundraising activity, and capital deployment across buyout, growth, and infrastructure strategies. Full methodology and data sources are outlined after the detailed firm profiles.
In-Depth Profiles: Top Private Equity Firms in 2026
1. KKR
Snapshot: ~$686B AUM, headquartered in New York City, founded in 1976.
Investing focus: KKR concentrates on large, control-oriented investments across technology, infrastructure, healthcare, and energy transition, with core activity in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Deal anchor: In 2024, KKR agreed to acquire OSTTRA for approximately $3.1B, strengthening its position in financial market infrastructure and enterprise technology.
Momentum & 2026 angle: KKR’s advantage in 2026 comes from its ability to deploy capital consistently across cycles by combining traditional buyouts with scaled infrastructure, credit, and insurance-linked capital.
While dealmaking has slowed across the industry, KKR continues to execute large platform transactions and infrastructure expansion, positioning it as one of the most resilient global private equity platforms in a more selective market.
2. Blackstone
Snapshot: ~$1T+ AUM, headquartered in New York City, founded in 1985.
Investing focus: Blackstone deploys capital across large-cap buyouts, real estate, infrastructure, and private credit, with global exposure to technology, financial services, logistics, industrials, and consumer sectors.
Deal anchor: In 2024, Blackstone agreed to acquire hyperscale data-center operator AirTrunk in a deal valued at approximately $16B, significantly expanding its digital infrastructure and data-driven real estate platform.
Momentum & 2026 angle: Blackstone’s strength in 2026 lies in its ability to rotate capital across asset classes as market conditions shift, with private credit and infrastructure absorbing increased institutional demand for yield and downside protection.
While traditional buyout activity has moderated, Blackstone continues to deploy capital at scale through data-driven real estate, credit platforms, and infrastructure assets. This reinforces its position as the most diversified and flexible global private equity platform.
3. Apollo Global Management
Snapshot: ~$750–800B+ AUM, headquartered in New York City, founded in 1990.
Investing focus: Apollo invests across private equity, private credit, and real assets, with a strong emphasis on complex buyouts, carve-outs, and structured capital solutions across financial services, industrials, infrastructure, and consumer sectors.
Deal anchor: A key example of Apollo’s credit-led approach is its $6.3B acquisition of Everi Holdings, highlighting the firm’s ability to structure large, value-oriented buyouts in capital-intensive sectors.
Momentum & 2026 angle: Apollo’s strength in 2026 comes from its scale in private credit and yield-driven strategies, which remain attractive in a higher-rate environment. Balance-sheet flexibility supports value-oriented equity investing, allowing Apollo to deploy capital consistently even as traditional buyout activity slows.
4. EQT
Snapshot: ~$280B+ AUM, headquartered in Stockholm, founded in 1994.
Investing focus: EQT invests across private equity, infrastructure, and real assets, with a focus on technology, healthcare, services, energy transition, and digital infrastructure across Europe, North America, and Asia.
Deal anchor: EQT’s acquisition of Perficient in a ~$3B take-private transaction highlights the firm’s continued focus on scaling enterprise technology and digital services platforms through control investments.
Momentum & 2026 angle: EQT’s advantage in 2026 lies in combining operational transformation with long-term thematic investing, supported by strong fundraising across core strategies. Responsible ownership and sustainability remain central to its investment model, positioning EQT as one of Europe’s most resilient global private equity platforms.
5. TPG
Snapshot: ~$260B+ AUM, headquartered in Fort Worth, founded in 1992.
Investing focus: TPG invests across private equity, growth equity, impact, and infrastructure strategies, with a focus on technology, healthcare, consumer, financial services, and climate-related sectors across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Deal anchor: TPG’s acquisition of alternative asset manager Angelo Gordon in a transaction valued at approximately $2.7B significantly expanded the firm’s credit and real assets platform.
Momentum & 2026 angle: TPG’s differentiation in 2026 comes from thematic investing and operational value creation. Growth and climate strategies have scaled alongside traditional buyouts. Alignment with founders and management teams remains a key strength, supporting disciplined deployment in a more selective market.
6. CVC Capital Partners
Snapshot: ~$200B+ AUM, headquartered in Jersey and London, founded in 1981.
Investing focus: CVC invests across private equity buyouts, secondaries, credit, and infrastructure, with a focus on consumer, financial services, healthcare, industrials, and sports-related assets across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.
Deal anchor: CVC’s acquisition of coatings manufacturer Hempel in a transaction valued at approximately €5B stands out as one of its most significant recent large-cap buyouts in Europe.
Momentum & 2026 angle: CVC’s advantage in 2026 comes from sector specialization and active ownership. Long-duration capital supports patient deployment, while deep regional expertise and locally embedded teams continue to drive execution across markets.
7. Thoma Bravo
Snapshot: ~$160B+ AUM, headquartered in Chicago, founded in 1980.
Investing focus: Thoma Bravo focuses almost entirely on software and technology-enabled services, with core areas including enterprise software, cybersecurity, fintech, and vertical SaaS across North America and Europe.
Deal anchor: Thoma Bravo’s $12B take-private of Dayforce (formerly Ceridian) stands out as one of the largest enterprise software buyouts in recent years, reinforcing its dominance in large-scale, mission-critical software platforms.
Momentum & 2026 angle: Thoma Bravo’s edge in 2026 is deep software specialization. Operational rigor supports margin expansion and cash flow, while recurring-revenue models provide stability. Disciplined value creation remains central to the strategy.
8. Carlyle
Snapshot: ~$440B+ AUM, headquartered in Washington, DC, founded in 1987.
Investing focus: Carlyle invests across private equity, private credit, and real assets, with activity spanning aerospace and defense, technology, healthcare, consumer, and industrials across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
Deal anchor: Carlyle’s agreement to acquire a majority stake in BASF’s coatings business in a transaction valued at about €7.7B highlights its continued ability to execute large industrial carve-outs and expand its global industrial footprint.
Momentum & 2026 angle: Carlyle’s strength in 2026 comes from sector depth and global reach. Flexible capital solutions support varied deal structures, while long-standing government and institutional relationships provide differentiated access and support deployment across cycles.
9. Advent International
Snapshot: ~$91B+ AUM, headquartered in Boston, founded in 1984.
Investing focus: Advent invests primarily in healthcare, industrials, technology, consumer, and financial services, with a focus on large-cap and mid-cap buyouts across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia.
Deal anchor: Advent, alongside Warburg Pincus, agreed to acquire Baxter’s biopharma solutions business (Vantive) in a transaction valued at approximately $4.25B, reinforcing its focus on large-scale healthcare carve-outs and complex corporate separations.
Momentum & 2026 angle: Advent’s strength in 2026 comes from deep sector specialization. Active ownership supports operational value creation. Locally embedded teams drive global execution. The firm has a long track record of scaling market-leading businesses.
10. Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R)
Snapshot: ~$82B+ AUM, headquartered in New York City, founded in 1978.
Investing focus: CD&R focuses on large-scale buyouts and corporate carve-outs, investing in industrials, healthcare, consumer, and business services across North America and Europe.
Deal anchor: CD&R agreed to acquire Sanofi’s consumer healthcare business, Opella, in a transaction valued at approximately €15B, marking one of the largest corporate carve-outs in Europe and reinforcing the firm’s strength in complex, operationally intensive separations.
Momentum & 2026 angle: CD&R’s strength in 2026 comes from execution-heavy strategies. Operational rigor supports performance improvement. Long-term ownership drives value in mature businesses. The firm is well known for complex transformations.
11. Hellman & Friedman
Snapshot: ~$115B+ AUM, headquartered in San Francisco, founded in 1984.
Investing focus: Hellman & Friedman focuses on control investments in software, financial services, healthcare, and consumer businesses, primarily across North America and Europe, targeting market-leading companies with durable growth profiles.
Deal anchor: Hellman & Friedman’s $11B acquisition of Ultimate Software (combined with Kronos) stands out as one of its largest software platform transactions, underscoring the firm’s capability to execute major take-privates in enterprise software.
Momentum & 2026 angle: H&F’s differentiation in 2026 lies in concentrated portfolios. Deep sector focus supports disciplined capital deployment. Patient ownership enables long-term value creation. Data-driven processes remain central to execution.
12. Hg
Snapshot: ~$100B+ AUM, headquartered in London, founded in 2000.
Investing focus: Hg is a software-focused private equity firm, investing in vertical software, fintech, tax and compliance, and professional services automation across Europe and North America, backing mission-critical, market-leading software businesses.
Deal anchor: Hg led the £1B+ take-private of Ideagen in 2022, a UK-based governance, risk, and compliance software provider, reinforcing its focus on mission-critical vertical software with strong recurring revenue and retention.
Momentum & 2026 angle: Hg’s edge in 2026 comes from deep software specialization. Long-term partnerships support durable growth. Disciplined scaling improves operational performance. The firm is known for building cash-generative software champions.
13. Vista Equity Partners
Snapshot: ~$100B+ AUM, headquartered in Austin, founded in 2000.
Investing focus: Vista Equity Partners invests exclusively in enterprise software, data, and technology-enabled businesses, targeting high-growth SaaS and mission-critical platforms across North America and Europe.
Deal anchor: Vista Equity Partners’ $2.6B take-private of Duck Creek Technologies in 2023 highlights its continued focus on mission-critical enterprise software platforms serving regulated and data-intensive industries.
Momentum & 2026 angle: Vista’s differentiation in 2026 lies in its systematic operating model. Data-driven processes guide execution. Recurring-revenue focus supports predictability. The firm has a strong track record of scaling complex software organizations.
14. Warburg Pincus
Snapshot: ~$85B+ AUM, headquartered in New York City, founded in 1966.
Investing focus: Warburg Pincus focuses on growth-oriented investments, with core sectors including technology, healthcare, financial services, energy, and consumer, investing globally across North America, Europe, Asia, and emerging markets.
Deal anchor: Warburg Pincus’s recent investment agreement with PSI Software SE in 2025 highlights its ongoing commitment to scaling enterprise technology platforms across Europe and beyond.
Momentum & 2026 angle: Warburg Pincus’s strength in 2026 comes from early conviction investing. Long holding periods support value creation. Partnership-led growth remains central to the strategy. Operational support helps scale companies globally.
15. General Atlantic
Snapshot: ~$118B+ AUM, headquartered in New York City, founded in 1980.
Investing focus: General Atlantic is a global growth equity firm, investing in technology, consumer, healthcare, and financial services companies across North America, Europe, India, and Latin America, backing high-growth, market-leading businesses.
Deal anchor: In 2022, General Atlantic led a multi-billion-dollar investment in SHEIN, supporting the company’s global expansion and reinforcing the firm’s focus on backing category-defining, international consumer and technology platforms.
Momentum & 2026 angle: In 2026, General Atlantic’s advantage lies in its ability to support growth-stage companies through long-term partnerships combined with hands-on operational support. The firm’s deep regional networks across North America, Europe, India, and Latin America continue to enable international expansion and faster scaling for market-leading businesses.
16. Bain Capital
Snapshot: ~$185B+ AUM, headquartered in Boston, founded in 1984.
Investing focus: Bain Capital invests across private equity, credit, venture capital, and real estate, focusing on healthcare, technology, industrials, consumer, and financial services across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Deal anchor: Bain Capital’s £1.2B acquisition of UK insurer Esure Group highlights the firm’s continued focus on large-scale control investments in regulated, cash-generative financial services businesses.
Momentum & 2026 angle: Bain Capital’s differentiation in 2026 lies in hands-on value creation. Deep operational involvement supports execution. Thematic investing guides capital allocation. The firm supports companies across multiple stages of maturity.
17. Partners Group
Snapshot: ~$170B+ AUM, headquartered in Zug, founded in 1996.
Investing focus: Partners Group invests across private equity, private debt, infrastructure, and real estate, focusing on mid-market growth platforms, energy transition assets, and digital infrastructure with a global footprint.
Deal anchor: In 2025, Partners Group agreed to acquire Life Cycle Power, a leading provider of mobile power generation solutions with an 897 MW fleet in the U.S., expanding its infrastructure exposure in grid resiliency and mission-critical energy services.
Momentum & 2026 angle: Partners Group enters 2026 with strength rooted in its platform-led investment approach, pairing long-duration ownership with hands-on asset management. This model continues to support resilient performance, particularly across infrastructure and private equity, with sustainability embedded as a core investment lens rather than a standalone theme.
18. Brookfield Asset Management
Snapshot: ~$1T AUM, headquartered in Toronto, founded in 1899.
Investing focus: Brookfield Asset Management invests across private equity, real estate, infrastructure, and renewable power, with a strong focus on energy transition, utilities, data centers, transport, and industrial assets across developed and emerging markets.
Deal anchor: Brookfield led the $12.4B acquisition of Origin Energy in Australia, marking one of the largest global energy-transition transactions and significantly expanding its exposure to utilities, power generation, and decarbonisation-linked infrastructure.
Momentum & 2026 angle: Brookfield’s advantage in 2026 is anchored in its long-duration capital and deep operational expertise across real assets. The firm continues to scale critical infrastructure platforms positioned to benefit from global decarbonisation and rising digital demand, with patient capital supporting large, long-term development cycles across energy, utilities, and data infrastructure.
19. Ares Management
Snapshot: ~$600B+ AUM, headquartered in Los Angeles, founded in 1997.
Investing focus: Ares Management invests across private equity, private credit, and real assets, focusing on industrials, services, infrastructure, and specialty finance across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Deal anchor: In 2025, Ares Management’s infrastructure funds acquired Meade Pipeline Co. LLC in a transaction valued at approximately $1.1 billion. This enhanced its U.S. natural gas infrastructure portfolio and reflected active deployment in energy and real asset investments.
Momentum & 2026 angle: Ares enters 2026 with momentum driven by its private credit scale and disciplined approach to risk. This foundation enables steady deployment across cycles, with equity and real asset strategies reinforcing a credit-led investment model focused on capital preservation and selective growth.
20. Ardian
Snapshot: ~$134B+ AUM, headquartered in Paris, founded in 1996.
Investing focus: Ardian invests across secondaries, private equity, infrastructure, and private debt, with a global leadership position in secondaries and activity spanning Europe, North America, and select emerging markets.
Deal anchor: Ardian’s 2025 acquisition of a significant minority stake in Heathrow Airport highlights its ability to deploy large-scale capital into core infrastructure assets through complex secondary and consortium transactions.
Momentum & 2026 angle: Ardian enters 2026 with a clear advantage in large-scale secondaries, combining long-duration ownership with disciplined portfolio construction. Its emphasis on responsible investing and diversification continues to support resilient performance across varying market conditions.
Methodology & Data Sources
This 2026 ranking uses a multi-factor model to identify the most influential global private equity firms based on scale, fundraising strength, and recent deployment activity, using only verifiable industry data.
1. Ranking Framework (Three Core Inputs)
Firms are assessed using three core inputs:
-
Assets Under Management (AUM)
Latest reported AUM (2023–Q1 2025) from regulatory filings, annual reports, and firm disclosures. AUM reflects platform scale, not performance. -
Fundraising Momentum (2023–2025)
Evaluated through recent fund closes, oversubscription levels, and consistency of capital raising. -
Deal Activity (Last 24 Months)
Includes buyouts, growth investments, infrastructure deals, add-ons, and major exits, weighted by size, strategic relevance, and geographic reach.
This reflects how different private equity investment strategies shape risk, returns, and capital deployment across cycles.
2. Inclusion Criteria
Firms are included if they meet at least one of the following:
- Manage $10B+ across private equity strategies.
- Operate a global or multi-regional buyout or growth platform.
- Maintain active deployment across multiple sectors.
- Run dedicated infrastructure or special situations strategies.
Venture-only and hedge-fund-only firms are excluded.
3. Data Sources (Cross-Verified)
To ensure accuracy, every data point is validated using two or more of the following:
- Regulatory filings: SEC, FCA, MAS, Companies House.
- Industry databases: PitchBook, Preqin, S&P Global, PEI.
- Institutional reports: Public LP disclosures, pension fund commitments.
- Press releases: Firm websites, portfolio announcements.
- Financial media: Bloomberg, Reuters, Financial Times.
- PEL directory: firm-verified submissions and historical profiles.
Where multiple figures exist, the most conservative verified number is used.
4. AUM Format (Ranges vs. Exact Values)
- Top 10 firms: Exact AUM where disclosed.
- Remaining firms: Range-based AUM (e.g., $90–100B) to avoid outdated precision.
- Estimates noted clearly when based on secondary reporting.
Rising Stars: Emerging PE Firms to Watch in 2025–26
The mid-market private equity segment is expanding rapidly. A new group of firms is standing out for fast capital deployment, deep specialization, and repeatable value creation. Often overlooked in mainstream rankings, these firms give founders and LPs a clear information advantage through focused sourcing, disciplined sector bets, and strong operational execution.
Overall, the private equity business model is characterized by a proactive approach to sourcing deals, conducting thorough due diligence, and actively managing investments to drive growth and generate returns.
1. Summit Partners
Summit Partners is a global growth equity firm managing ~$23B+ in assets, investing in minority and majority stakes across software, healthcare technology, fintech, and consumer internet businesses.
The firm has backed 550+ companies globally, including NetSuite, Avast, WebEx, Reverb, and early-stage Uber, with active deployment across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Summit’s strength in 2025 lies in its high-velocity, non-auction sourcing model and consistent growth-stage execution. Its ability to support profitable companies through global expansion, without relying on mega-fund leverage, continues to differentiate it within the growth equity landscape.
2. HGGC
HGGC is a mid-market private equity firm with ~$7B+ in AUM, specializing in structured equity and control-oriented investments across technology, business services, healthcare services, and financial services.
The firm has invested in more than 60 platform companies, with well-known portfolio names including Certara, Fullbeauty Brands, Hyland Software, Nutrien Ag Solutions, and Sunquest Information Systems, primarily across North America.
HGGC is rising due to its “advantaged investing” model, which combines deep operational partnership with custom capital structures that work in complex or non-standard situations. In 2025, its edge lies in fast execution, downside protection, and the ability to scale niche platforms that traditional buyout funds or pure growth investors often overlook.
3. Insight Partners
Insight Partner’s mid-market strategies sit within a broader platform managing ~$90B+ in AUM, with these vehicles focused on SaaS, cybersecurity, data infrastructure, and vertical software at the lower end of Insight’s traditional growth range.
These funds have backed fast-scaling companies such as Veeam, SentinelOne, WalkMe, Pendo, and Tricentis, often entering earlier than Insight’s flagship growth funds.
Their momentum in 2025 comes from combining growth equity discipline with majority buyout optionality, enabling earlier governance control and faster operational scaling. Deep software specialization and founder-aligned capital allow these strategies to compound value earlier in the company lifecycle, despite receiving less visibility than Insight’s larger funds.
4. Lightyear Capital
Lightyear Capital is a sector-specialist private equity firm with ~$5B+ in AUM, investing almost exclusively in financial services, insurance, fintech infrastructure, and wealth management platforms.
The firm targets regulated, operationally complex businesses across specialty finance, payments, insurance distribution, and financial technology, with a primary focus on North America.
Lightyear’s momentum in 2025 is driven by its deep regulatory expertise and operator-led approach, enabling platform building in compliance-heavy markets. This specialization supports consistent deployment and fundraising, even during slower private equity cycles.
5. Energy Impact Partners (EIP)
Energy Impact Partners (EIP) is a fast-growing climate-focused private equity firm with ~$4B–$5B+ in AUM, backed by a global coalition of utilities, industrials, and energy strategics.
The firm invests across electrification, grid modernization, energy storage, mobility, distributed energy, and emissions-reduction technologies, with activity spanning North America and Europe.
EIP is rising due to its strategic LP network, which provides proprietary deal flow and commercial pull-through that traditional PE firms cannot replicate. In 2025, its differentiation lies in sector credibility, utility-backed sourcing, and long-duration exposure to the energy transition, making it a core beneficiary of infrastructure and decarbonization capital flows.
6. Shore Capital Partners
Shore Capital Partners is a healthcare-focused private equity firm managing ~$10B+ in assets, specializing in micro-cap and lower-middle-market healthcare services across North America.
The firm has completed hundreds of acquisitions across physician practice management, diagnostics, veterinary care, dental, and specialty healthcare, using a highly repeatable roll-up model.
Shore’s momentum in 2025 is driven by its exceptional deal velocity and consolidation playbooks, enabling the firm to scale fragmented healthcare verticals through standardized operations and centralized services, despite limited visibility in broader global PE rankings.
7. PSG Equity
PSG Equity is a software-focused private equity firm managing ~$20B+ in assets, investing in B2B SaaS, payments, workflow automation, and data-driven platforms.
The firm is highly active in sub-$200M enterprise value transactions, with portfolio companies across North America and Europe spanning both vertical and horizontal software categories.
PSG’s momentum in 2025 comes from its disciplined platform-and-add-on strategy and deep domain-specific operating playbooks. This approach enables fast execution, founder-aligned capital, and consistent value compounding in the lower-middle-market software segment, where competition from mega-funds remains limited.
8. L Catterton
L Catterton is a global consumer-focused private equity firm managing ~$35B+ in assets, investing across growth equity, middle-market buyouts, and brand platforms.
The firm targets consumer brands, wellness, beauty, food and beverage, retail, and consumer technology, with a global footprint across North America, Europe, and Asia.
L Catterton’s momentum in 2026 is driven by its proprietary consumer insights and brand-building expertise, supported by deep relationships across retail and distribution ecosystems. This positioning allows the firm to align capital with long-term consumer shifts toward health, sustainability, and digital engagement, making it a preferred partner for scalable consumer businesses.
9. Bow River Capital
Bow River Capital is a U.S.-based mid-market private equity firm managing ~$2.5B+ in assets, with a focus on healthcare services, industrials, and lower-middle-market software investments.
The firm invests primarily across North America, often backing founder-led businesses outside traditional coastal hubs, with an emphasis on operational improvement, governance, and disciplined execution.
Bow River’s momentum in 2025 reflects growing LP interest in regionally grounded managers with local sourcing advantages. Its ability to identify overlooked assets in non-core markets and drive value through hands-on operational playbooks continues to differentiate the firm from more financially engineered strategies.
10. Bregal Partners
Bregal Partners is a lower-middle-market private equity firm managing ~$3B–$4B+ in assets, investing across sustainable food systems, environmental services, consumer products, and healthcare services.
Backed by long-term family office capital, the firm focuses on control investments primarily across North America.
Bregal’s momentum in 2025 is driven by its alignment with structural growth themes, particularly sustainability and mission-driven services. Its patient capital base, emphasis on responsible investing, and hands-on operational value creation continue to resonate with LPs prioritising durability over scale.
Which PE Firm Is Right for You?
Choosing the right private equity partner depends on your stage of growth, industry, capital needs, and risk appetite. The following categories provide a clear decision path, helping founders, operators, and investors navigate toward the most suitable firms.
Best PE Firms for Tech Startups
Tech-focused founders typically benefit from growth-oriented private equity firms with a strong track record in scaling software, cybersecurity, and data infrastructure platforms. These investors combine deep technical playbooks with global operating teams, enabling faster product expansion and disciplined execution.
Top firms consistently backing tech and SaaS leaders include:
For founders seeking long-term scalability and repeatable value creation, these firms represent some of the most reliable equity partners in the technology ecosystem.
Best PE Firms for Healthcare & Biotech
Healthcare and biotech companies require investors with deep regulatory expertise, clinical understanding, and operational discipline. Leading private equity firms in this space have deployed billions across biotech, diagnostics, life sciences tools, and provider networks, making them critical partners in compliance-heavy markets.
Top firms consistently backing healthcare and life sciences platforms include:
These investors stand out for their ability to scale complex healthcare businesses while navigating regulatory and reimbursement challenges.
Healthcare Investors Directory
Best PE Firms for Infrastructure & Climate
Infrastructure and climate-focused founders benefit from investors with long-duration capital, technical depth, and large-scale execution capabilities. Leading private equity platforms in this space deploy capital across energy transition, renewables, utilities, and climate infrastructure, often operating across both private and public markets.
Top firms consistently backing infrastructure and climate platforms include:
These firms stand out for their ability to fund, operate, and scale critical infrastructure assets globally.
Infrastructure Investors Directory
Best PE Firms for Founders Seeking Growth Capital
Founders raising expansion-stage capital benefit most from growth equity specialists with flexible ownership models and strong operating support. These firms back companies with proven product-market fit and help accelerate international expansion, acquisitions, and commercial scaling.
For many founders, understanding how a growth equity firm differs from a traditional buyout investor is critical when choosing the right long-term capital partner. Top firms consistently providing growth capital include:
These investors combine capital efficiency with hands-on guidance and global go-to-market expertise.
Best PE Firms for Investors (Low Risk vs. High Growth)
Investor risk tolerance plays a major role in selecting the right private equity partner. Lower-risk investors often prefer diversified global platforms that offer scale, multi-asset exposure, and downside protection. Higher-growth seekers gravitate toward focused mid-market specialists with sharper sector bets and higher return potential.
Lower-risk, diversified PE platforms:
Higher-growth, mid-market specialists:
Understanding your risk profile helps align capital with the right strategy, whether stability-driven diversification or targeted upside.
2026 Market Trends in Private Equity
The private equity industry enters 2026 with a more selective, data-driven investment environment shaped by tighter fundraising cycles, shifting sector priorities, and rising competition for high-quality assets.
The dynamics below reflect the most material changes influencing global equity funds, private companies, and the strategies of the largest private equity firms.
Fundraising Climate
Fundraising in 2026 remains highly polarized. While the largest private equity firms continue to attract the majority of institutional commitments, mid-market managers face longer fundraising timelines and more stringent LP due diligence.
Investors now prioritize durable performance, realized track records, and operational value-creation capabilities over pure brand recognition. Interest rates remain elevated relative to pre-2022 levels, increasing LP scrutiny on leverage usage and distributions.
As a result, capital continues to consolidate around platforms able to demonstrate predictable private equity investment outcomes across cycles.
Hot Sectors for Capital Allocation
Capital allocation in 2026 is being driven more by long-term structural themes than short-term macro cycles. According to EY’s latest report on PE trends for 2026, investors are prioritizing sectors with durable demand, defensible moats, and clear paths to operational value creation.
- Technology: AI infrastructure, cybersecurity, vertical SaaS, data platforms for regulated industries.
- Healthcare & Biotech: life sciences, diagnostics, healthcare services, clinical innovation.
- Infrastructure & Climate: energy transition, grid modernization, renewables, sustainable mobility.
- Industrial Technology: automation, advanced manufacturing, supply-chain modernization.
These sectors stand out for their ability to compound value over long holding periods, supported by secular growth, pricing power, and operational leverage. This trend also reflects the continued rise of sustainable private equity as capital increasingly targets long-duration, resilience-driven assets.
What Changed in the Top Firm Rankings This Year
The global private equity landscape is evolving as large diversified platforms and specialists outperform traditional single-strategy buyout firms.
Industry data shows that the biggest private equity firms continue to dominate due to scale, diversification across asset classes, and sector breadth.
- Diversified mega-platforms gaining ground: Multi-asset firms such as Blackstone, KKR, Apollo, and Brookfield remain at the top of industry rankings because they combine private equity with credit, real assets, and alternative strategies, allowing more flexible capital deployment across cycles.
- Specialist firms climbing: Tech-focused investors like Thoma Bravo and other sector specialists are increasingly prominent due to strong recurring revenue models and deep industry expertise, with mid-tier players catching up in influence and strategy execution.
- Regional visibility expanding: European firms such as EQT and CVC have strengthened their global presence and asset growth. This is driving higher visibility in industry rankings and spotlighting diversified investment approaches beyond the U.S.centric buyouts.
Overall, these shifts show how platform diversification, specialist sector focus, and strategic execution are key drivers of private equity firm performance and ranking movement in the current cycle.
Where the Money Is Moving Next
Looking ahead, capital is expected to shift toward firms capable of integrating data analytics, sector specialization, and flexible capital structures. This trend continues to accelerate as continuation vehicles, evergreen funds, and AI-enabled sourcing models become more widely adopted.
Here’s what’s expected for PE firms in 2026:
- Adoption of continuation vehicles, evergreen funds, and AI-enabled sourcing models is accelerating, reshaping how capital is deployed and recycled.
- LPs are increasingly favoring platforms that can invest across the capital stack, from control buyouts to structured equity, with an emphasis on downside protection.
- Energy transition, digital infrastructure, healthcare services, AI-driven software, and industrial automation are expected to attract the largest share of future commitments.
- Private equity activity in emerging markets is likely to increase as investors seek new growth vectors beyond saturated Western deal environments.
Overall, the market is rewarding adaptability, sector depth, and operational excellence over pure asset scale.
Limitations & Data Caveats
Private equity rankings require careful interpretation, as several structural limitations affect the accuracy and comparability of firm-level data.
While this list reflects the most reliable information available at the time of publication, users should understand the following caveats inherent to the private equity industry and the broader universe of equity firms in the world.
AUM Doesn’t Equal Performance
Assets under management (AUM) indicate the scale of a private equity firm, not the quality of its returns. Large AUM figures can be influenced by strategy mix, fee structures, or multi-asset expansion rather than true outperformance.
Smaller equity funds or emerging private equity companies may deliver superior results despite managing far less capital.
For this reason, AUM is used as a structural metric. It is not a proxy for vintage performance, operational value creation, or long-term investment outcomes, even among the most established private equity platforms.
Reporting Lag in Private Markets
Private equity markets operate with limited real-time disclosure. Fundraising totals, AUM updates, and deal values often lag by several quarters. This delay depends on regulatory requirements, fund structures, and geographic reporting standards.
Many private companies within PE portfolios do not publish updated financials, and exit data may remain undisclosed or partially reported.
As a result, certain figures within this ranking may reflect time-imperfect information even when sourced from credible institutions.
Rankings Likely to Shift Every 6–12 Months
Private equity rankings are not static. Market exits, capital raises, strategic moves, and investor demand can materially change a firm’s position.
Firms with aggressive deployment strategies may climb rapidly, while those facing slower fundraising cycles or fewer realizations may move down.
For accuracy and transparency, this list is refreshed regularly, but positions should still be viewed as directional rather than permanent.
Find the Right Private Equity Partners Faster
Private equity in 2026 rewards precision, sector fit, and execution, not just firm size. Turning insight into action requires access to reliable, comparable data across private capital strategies.
Private Equity List helps founders, operators, and investors move from research to shortlisting with confidence. Using verified data and an AI-powered search experience, you can quickly identify private equity firms by sector focus, geography, deal size, and investment strategy - all in one place.
Start building a targeted shortlist of private equity partners today.
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