As a market now worth millions of dollars on a global scale, the history of private equity dates back to the early 1900s when J.P. Morgan purchased the Carnegie Steel Corporation. Since then, the industry has seen tremendous growth, especially as the global economic climate continues to develop. Over the next four years, analysts predict that the global private equity market will grow by $734.93 billion between 2022 to 2027, a CAGR of 9.32%.
Much of this growth is being driven by many factors. One of the most important factors is the increasing number of high-net-worth individuals on a global scale. High-net-worth individuals are defined as people with net investable assets amounting to more than $1 million. Because of this wealth, they are key players in private equity investments. Based on a report published by Boston Consulting Group, its projections show that capital commitments to private equity funds from these wealthy individuals will grow at a CAGR of 19% to reach $1.2 trillion by 2025 and account for over 10% of all capital raised by private equity funds.
The rise in private equity deals is another major driver of the market. Strategic alliances between companies are becoming more common, allowing them to access resources they otherwise would not be able to gain access to on their own. For example, Blackstone recently partnered with Thomson Reuters to carve out its financial and risk business into a USD 20 billion strategic venture.
Despite the various drivers of market growth, there are a few challenges that could impact the future development of the private equity market, such as transaction risks and liquidity. This concern primarily arises in transactions between companies from two different countries. Transaction risk can lead to losses when the currency rate changes before transactions are completed, as well as through delays or defaults in payments due to foreign exchange controls or political instability in certain countries. Additionally, low liquidity levels of private equity assets could hinder investments in private equity, as investors require more liquidity to invest in other assets.
Overall, the private equity market is expected to experience moderate growth over the next five years. This growth will be driven by factors such as an increasing number of HNWIs investing in private equity and a rise in strategic alliances between companies. However, some challenges could impede this future development including transaction risks associated with international transactions and low liquidity levels of assets. Despite these potential issues, global private equity investments will likely increase between 2023 and 2027 due to economic recovery and businesses seeking new investments.