Private equity fundraising speed drops to slowest level in a decade

Against the backdrop of turbulence in private credit and software markets, as well as uncertainty brought by the Iran war, fundraising in the private equity industry remained sluggish in the first quarter. Data tracking company PitchBook reported on Friday that global private equity firms raised a total of $86 billion for acquisitions, growth, and restructuring funds in the first three months of this year. At this rate, the total amount of fundraising for the industry may fall short of last year's low of $423.4 billion. In early 2026, almost no one in the private equity industry felt optimistic about fundraising prospects. With the ongoing pressure on the private market and geopolitical disturbances brought by the war, based on the fundraising situation in the first quarter, the total amount for the year is likely to hit the lowest record since 2016.