What is the long-term outlook for private equity?

Private equity returns were positive in the second half of this year, but underperformed their public market counterparts. However, long-term outperformance remains robust, says Neuberger Berman. Meanwhile, deal volume is off its 2021 peak, but remains in line with healthy pre-Covid levels. Investors are focused on high-quality assets, take-private deals and smaller transactions, particularly add-on acquisitions. Tighter lending standards and more expensive cost of capital remains a challenge to deal activity. Exit activity has been muted across IPOs, corporate acquisitions and even sponsor-to-sponsor...