Global Private Equity Investment Hits $1.5 trillion
This article will count 0.25 units (15 minutes) of unverifiable CPD. Remember to log these units under your membership profile.
Private equity (PE) is still flexing its muscles globally, with $1.5 trillion invested in the first nine months of 2025. That’s despite a clear drop in the number of deals being done when compared to 2024 figures. These insights come from KPMG’s Q3 2025 Private Equity Pulse, a global snapshot of where the big investment money is going, what sectors are heating up, and how PE firms are navigating today’s uncertain economic climate. KPMG’s PE Pulse tracks:
Global investment volumes and deal trends
Hot sectors like AI, infrastructure, and tech
Where PE funds are flowing (US, Europe, Asia)
How exits (cash-outs) are playing out.
This information is not only for investors. Accounting professionals play a vital role in private equity deals, from due diligence and structuring to valuations, tax, and compliance. If you’re advising businesses, working in finance, or leading a practice, this report gives you real-world signals on what services your clients need and where the next opportunity lies.
Fewer Deals, But Way Bigger Ones
In Q3 2025, private equity firms invested a massive $537.1 billion globally, but across just 4,062 deals, down from over 5,000 in the same period last year. The US led the charge with major takeovers like Electronic Arts for $54.6 billion. The trend is clear: PE firms are becoming more selective, choosing to place larger bets on fewer, high-value opportunities.
Sectors to Watch
Some sectors are attracting massive investor interest:
AI infrastructure (data centres, power for AI)
Infrastructure and transport (already beat 2023/2024 totals)
Tech, media, telecoms (TMT), still top at $469B
Industrial and retail sectors are also strong.
For accountants, this means growing demand for sector-specific advisory — especially in valuation, forecasting, and compliance.
Exits: Good Prices, Not Many Buyers
Private equity firms are starting to sell off their investments again, and when they do, they’re getting solid returns, with exit values reaching $832 billion so far in 2025, nearly matching all of 2024.
There’s one major bottleneck: the number of exit deals is the lowest it’s been in over ten years. There’s plenty of value on paper, but very few actual sales happening. There’s a lot of money stuck in the system with PE firms are stuck waiting for the right time, or buyer, to cash out.
Africa Quiet, Cross-Border Deals Up
No major African deals were listed, but cross-border deal value is surging ($750B across 4,849 deals). This shows global investors are looking outside their home countries for high-quality assets.
Africa didn’t feature in the big PE deal headlines, but cross-border deals hit $750 billion across 4,849 transactions. That means global investors are actively seeking quality assets beyond their own borders.
What this means for you:
Tap into international networks and become the local expert for global deals.
Offer services in tax, valuations, compliance, especially for inbound investment.
Help local clients become “investor-ready” for foreign capital.
What South African Accountants Should Do Now
Stay sector-smart: Learn the basics of AI infrastructure, ESG, and logistics, these sectors are PE magnets.
Sharpen your value-add: Investors need help with financial modelling, due diligence, and structuring.
Position your practice: Mid-market and cross-border deals are growing. There’s room for SA firms to advise locally and regionally.
The PE world is changing fast. Deals are fewer but fatter, exits are delayed, and the AI wave is just starting. For accountants, this is a call to upskill, niche down, and position yourself where the money’s moving.
