An Updated Outlook for Private Equity in 2025

The private equity world entered 2025 with hopes for smoother waters, but instead, it’s been more like steering through a storm with a half-working compass.

Tariffs are back, the Fed is keeping rates higher for longer, market volatility is living rent-free in investor heads, and regulatory “clarity” is still stuck in traffic. All this is creating a brutal cocktail of market uncertainty, and PE dealmaking is feeling the chill.

According to the latest PitchBook US PE Pulse Report, the vibe has shifted hard. What was once optimism for exits and cautious capital deployment has flipped. Now: exits look dicey, but buyer opportunities are ripening as sellers lower their expectations.

In our latest Foley Ignite post, Brian Wheeler and yours truly look into what’s ahead for private equity in 2025. As this time of uncertainty does not seem to be ending any time soon, make sure to check out our insights over on Foley Ignite - https://foleyignite.com/updated-outlook-private-equity-2025/