Top 10 Private Equity Firms in the World

Private equity firms wield considerable influence in the global finance landscape. They aggregate capital from diverse sources to establish investment funds that are utilized for acquiring companies, implementing restructuring strategies, and ultimately generating profits through divestment. Here we explore the top 10 private equity firms globally, which have ascended to the top. From industry veterans with decades-long track records to new players upending traditional models, these are names that demand attention from every investor.

Blackstone Group

Blackstone Group is a largest global investment firm in the world with $1.1 trillion in assets under management (AUM). Founded in 1985, the company has offices across the world and provides alternative asset management solutions to institutional investors.

The Blackstone Group offers a wide range of services including private equity, real estate, credit investments, hedge funds and infrastructure investments. The minimum investment amount varies depending on the type of product or service chosen but typically starts at around $50k USD for private equity products and can be as high as several million dollars for some real estate offerings. Fees are also dependent on the type of product or service chosen but generally include an annual management fee plus performance fees based on returns.

Apollo Global Management

Apollo Global Management is a leading global alternative investment manager with $616 billion in AUM as of December 31, 2020. Founded in 1990, Apollo has offices in New York City, London, Los Angeles and other major cities.

Apollo offers a range of products for investors including private equity funds, credit funds and real estate funds. The minimum investment amount varies depending on the fund but can be as low as $25K for some private equity investments. Fees are also dependent on the type of fund being invested in but typically include an annual management fee plus performance fees if certain return thresholds are met. Pros include access to high-quality investments that may not be available to individual investors otherwise; cons include higher fees than traditional mutual funds or ETFs.

KKR & Co.

KKR & Co. is a leading global investment firm with $590 billion in AUM. Founded in 1976, the firm has offices around the world and specializes in private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate, credit strategies and hedge funds.

The platform offers investors access to a wide range of investments including public equities and fixed income securities as well as alternative asset classes such as private equity and venture capital. The minimum investment amount varies depending on the type of security being purchased but generally ranges from $10K-$50K for most products. KKR also charges an annual fee based on the size of your portfolio which can be up to 1% or more depending on your account balance.  KKR provides access to high-quality investments that may not be available through other platforms and their fees are competitive overall.

The Carlyle Group

The Carlyle Group is a global alternative asset management firm with $417 billion in AUM. Founded in 1987, the company has grown to become one of the world's largest and most successful investment firms.

The Carlyle Group offers investors access to a wide range of investments including private equity, real estate, infrastructure, energy and natural resources, credit strategies and venture capital. The minimum investment amount for their funds varies depending on the type of fund but can be as low as $25K USD. Fees are also dependent on the type of fund but typically include an annual management fee ranging from 1-2% plus performance fees that vary based on returns.

Bain Capital

Bain Capital is a global alternative investment firm with $187 billion in AUM. Founded in 1984, Bain Capital has offices across the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific.

The platform offers investors access to private equity funds, venture capital funds, credit products and real estate investments. The minimum investment amount varies depending on the fund type but can range from $50K to several million dollars. Fees are also dependent on the fund type but typically include an annual management fee of 1-2% plus a performance fee of 10-20%. Pros include access to exclusive deals not available elsewhere as well as potential for high returns; cons include long lockup periods and lack of liquidity.

TPG Capital

TPG Capital is a global private equity firm with over $170 billion in AUM. Founded in 1992, TPG has offices across the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia.

TPG offers investors access to a wide range of investments including venture capital funds, growth equity funds, real estate funds and public market strategies. The platform also provides access to co-investment opportunities for qualified investors. Pros include experienced investment professionals who have extensive experience in their respective fields as well as an impressive track record of successful investments. Cons include high minimums which can be prohibitively expensive for smaller investors and higher fees than some other platforms on the market. Overall, TPG Capital is an excellent option for larger investors looking to diversify their portfolios with alternative investments.

Vista Equity Partners

Vista Equity Partners is a private equity firm that focuses on investments in software, data and technology-enabled businesses. Founded in 2000 by Robert F Smith, the company has grown to manage over $139 billion of capital.

The platform offers investors access to a wide range of investment opportunities including venture capital, growth equity and buyouts across multiple industries such as healthcare IT, enterprise software and financial services technology. The minimum investment amount varies depending on the type of fund but generally ranges from $50K-$250K for individual investors. 7 Vista Equity Partners also charges management fees ranging from 1%-2% per year plus 20% performance fee based on profits earned from each fund.

Thoma Bravo

Thoma Bravo is a private equity investment firm that focuses on software and technology-enabled services investments. Founded in 1980, the firm has over $142 billion of AUM across its various funds.

The platform offers investors access to a wide range of opportunities with low minimums and competitive fees. The team at Thoma Bravo provides extensive support for their portfolio companies, including operational guidance, strategic advice, and capital resources to help them reach their goals. On the downside, there are limited options for retail investors as most of the deals are reserved for institutional or accredited investors only. Additionally, some of the fees can be quite high depending on the type of investment being made.

CVC Capital Partners

CVC Capital Partners is a leading global private equity and investment advisory firm with over $174 billion in AUM. Founded in 1981, CVC has offices across Europe, Asia and the Americas.

The platform offers investors access to a wide range of investments including buyouts, growth capital, infrastructure investments and real estate opportunities. The minimum investment amount for each fund varies depending on the type of asset class being invested in. Additionally, there are fees associated with investing through CVC which include an annual management fee as well as performance-based fees that vary by fund type. CVC provides investors with access to high quality deals from around the world that may not be available elsewhere.

Insight Partners

Insight Partners is a global venture capital and private equity firm with over $90 billion in AUM. Founded in 2000, the company has invested in more than 200 companies across multiple industries.

The platform offers investors access to a wide range of investments including venture capital, growth equity, buyouts, and real estate. The minimum investment amount is typically around $1 million USD but can vary depending on the type of investment being made. Insight Partners typically charges 2% of committed capital  for their investment services.