Gina Lytle

Can private equity bounce back?

Alex Blostein, Allison Nathan, Mike Nickols, Gina Lytle

Following a period of exceptional growth, the private equity industry is navigating a cyclical reversion marked by subdued returns and a record $2.5 trillion in dry powder, driven by a valuation gap between buyers and sellers and limited institutional capital availability. Goldman Sachs projects a shift toward multi-asset platforms and global expansion, with firms increasingly relying on private credit, secondary markets, and GP-led continuation funds to manufacture returns and provide liquidity in a higher-rate environment. This consolidation trend suggests that future market success will depend on diversification and operational value creation rather than financial leverage, as the sector matures and normalizes its growth trajectory.