Report: 2025 Private Markets Outlook | McDermott

Private Markets Update: January 2025

Overview


As we transition into 2025, private markets continue to navigate a landscape marked by challenges and opportunities. 2024 was a testament to the resilience and adaptability of market participants who have had to contend with a myriad of macroeconomic and geopolitical factors.

While the summer brought a sense of cautious optimism, the latter half of 2024 demanded a more nuanced approach to investment and strategy. But there is no question that markets have been busy.

Carve-outs are becoming a growing feature – this moving chart showcases trends in carve-out transactions PE deal activity over time from 2014 through 2024 for European deal values. (Source: Pitchbook, September 2024)

Discover how the high-interest-rate environment is shaping various sectors in the latest edition of Private Markets Update. This report will provide valuable insights into strategic transitions toward high-quality assets and alternative deal structures. You’ll also gain a deeper understanding of the current state of mergers and acquisitions, the complexities of today’s fundraising landscape, and much more.

Dive in to uncover key developments from 2024 and explore the emerging legal trends anticipated for 2025.

A Look at Trends in Private Markets for 2025

China Opens Its Health Industry to Investors

With China’s potential for economic development set against an aging population, its demand for medical services is growing. Partner such demand with the decline in foreign direct investment in China and it is no surprise that the announcement that China will allow greater foreign capital into its health and medical care sectors has garnered significant attention.

Light grey-colored graphic with black text and moving bubble-like renderings in grey, black, white, and yellow along the bottom. Text reads: "These programs are clear signals of China’s intention to bring back foreign investment and stabilize growth."

UK Real Estate Is Set for a Positive 2025

After taking time to reflect on the mood and sentiment at EXPO REAL 2024, the general outlook expressed by those attending the international property and investment fair in Munich could best be described as cautious optimism. With the UK budget announcements also playing into some of the prevalent market themes emerging from EXPO REAL, the following is our insights into some of the main real estate asset classes as 2024 comes to an end.

Soft green-colored graphic with white text and a 3D pie chart displaying renderings of various geographic locations (cities, water, forests, data centers, etc.) on the right side. Text reads: "Demand for data centers is rising exponentially in the United Kingdom and Europe."

Transatlantic Restructuring Trends: What to Expect in 2025

In 2024, mature Western economies finally appeared to emerge from the inflationary, high-interest-rate environment that characterized the last three years. Economies benefited from a gradual reduction in interest rates and a low-growth environment while fears of a recession and the risk of a sharp spike in restructurings largely abated.

Gradient light blue graphic with a white and yellow geometric rendering on the right side and white text on the left side. Text reads: "Most of the major legislative changes in the restructuring sector have occurred in the European Union and the UK."

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Interested in more insights? Visit our Cross Border Investment Resource Center or explore key debt market trends in the latest Credit Conditions webinar.