PE deal value up 19% in 2025 as deal count fell 9%

So what

Private equity is back in deal mode, but on a concentrated basis: 2025 deal value rose 19% to about $2.5 trillion while the number of deals fell 9%. Sponsors are writing bigger cheques for fewer, higher-conviction assets, with buyouts leading the recovery. Sellers of mid-sized assets should not read the headline rebound as an open exit window.