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Money & Investing

Private equity – putting it in context

Background: Private equity funds acquire stakes in unlisted companies.

By the editors3 March 20265 min read

Private equity funds acquire stakes in unlisted companies.

The debate around “Private equity” is not new, but it has grown more urgent since 2022. The energy price shock, the turn in interest rates and geopolitical tensions have called many old certainties into question.

Economists and industry bodies assess the situation in different ways. Most agree, however, that reliable conditions for investment decisions are crucial.

Several forces are at work in “Private equity”: the interest rate environment, domestic and foreign demand, regulation and, not least, market participants' expectations. None of these can be viewed in isolation.

Risks include unexpected political decisions, supply chain disruptions and abrupt shifts in financial market sentiment. Opportunities arise where companies respond early to changing conditions.