At AOS.VC, I analyzed the new Global Private Equity Report 2026 by Bain & Company, a 42-page deep dive highlighting the remarkable resilience and emerging opportunities within the industry.

​The $904 Billion Resurgence

​Global buyout deal value surged by an impressive 44% to reach $904 billion compared to 2024. This vigorous rebound demonstrates that capital is actively flowing, with 13 massive megadeals of $10 billion or more contributing to 69% of the total global gain.

​Sovereign Wealth Fuels Megadeals

​The availability of capital from diverse, global sources has enabled historically massive transactions. The $56.6 billion public-to-private deal for Electronic Arts set a new record as the largest buyout in history. Traditional buyout funds are now effectively partnering with sovereign wealth funds, like Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, unlocking unprecedented deal scales.

​The New 10-12% Growth Standard

​While interest rates have stabilized at a higher 8%–9% baseline, this has catalyzed a healthy shift toward genuine business building. Instead of relying on cheap debt and multiple expansion, general partners are now driving a robust 10%–12% annual EBITDA growth to achieve their 2.5x return targets, resulting in fundamentally stronger and more sustainable portfolio companies.

​Unlocking a $3.8 Trillion Treasure Trove

​The industry is currently holding 32,000 mature companies valued at a staggering $3.8 trillion. Rather than viewing this as a liquidity logjam, forward-thinking investors see a monumental opportunity. These aging portfolios are prime targets for secondary market buyers and operational experts ready to inject fresh capital and technological upgrades.

​Quality Over Quantity in Fundraising

​While overall buyout fundraising adjusted to $395 billion in 2025, the capital has not disappeared; there is simply a flight to quality. Established firms with top-tier operational teams and consistent return histories are highly successful. For instance, Bain Capital easily raised a $14 billion fund, proving that limited partners eagerly back proven value creators.

​Fintech Remains a High-Margin Goldmine

​Corporate buyers are aggressively pursuing strategic, high-margin acquisitions to strengthen their ecosystems. A standout example is GTCR’s brilliant $17.6 billion sale of Worldpay to Global Payments. Payment processing technologies, much like UDMPAY, remain elite targets for buyers wanting guaranteed, scalable revenue streams.

​The Evolution of Direct Commerce

​Massive retail megadeals, such as the $23.7 billion transaction for Walgreens Boots Alliance, highlight the massive premium placed on direct consumer access. Supply chains are evolving rapidly, making direct market infrastructure incredibly valuable. This strongly validates models like UDM.MARKET, which efficiently bypass intermediaries.

​Innovative Liquidity Solutions

​The industry is demonstrating immense agility in solving distribution challenges. The use of GP-led continuation vehicles grew by an astounding 62% year over year. This innovative mechanism provides necessary liquidity to limited partners while allowing managers the extended runway needed to maximize an asset’s final exit value.

​Sustainability Drives Valuation Premiums

​Executing full potential due diligence now heavily weights environmental and operational sustainability. Integrating green technologies is no longer just compliance; it is a major value multiplier. Implementing scalable eco-friendly solutions, such as OKFIL, directly enhances operational efficiency and boosts an asset’s exit multiple.

​AI as the Ultimate Efficiency Engine

​The $6.4 billion take-private of OneStream Software by Hg established the new blueprint for scaling companies. By combining commercial diligence with deep AI assessments, Hg confirmed the software’s ability to seamlessly integrate future AI enhancements, effectively guaranteeing sustained double-digit growth.

​The private equity market has successfully transitioned from a heavily leveraged, debt-driven model to a highly resilient system rooted in operational excellence, AI-driven efficiency, and robust value creation.

​Leverage operational audits and artificial intelligence across your existing portfolio right now to uncover hidden efficiencies that can easily drive that newly 10%+ annual growth.