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Private equity is a type of investment where professional investors raise a large fund (generally from affluent investors) and re-invest those funds in a wide range of ways seeking the biggest possible profit. Firms in this somewhat risky industry often grab headlines for large acquisitions, sometimes controversial leveraged buyouts, and occasionally going bust and losing billions of dollars. But among many of these would-be titans of finance, a handful of firms have risen to the top as the largest and most successful private equity firms.
Private equity firms earn a spot on this list by growing a large fund or funds that typically lead to consistent profits over time. Looking at fundraising over the last five years, total assets under management, and similar criteria, here are the best private equity firms operating today.
01 The Blackstone Group
The Blackstone Group
Courtesy of The Blackstone Group
Even those with little interest in Wall Street have likely heard of Blackstone. The company is headquartered in New York and holds offices in major financial centers around the world. This company offers a wide range of investment products and offers services including private equity, real estate, hedge funds, and credit.
Founded by two brothers in 1985, it has ballooned to become the largest private equity firm in the world. As a public company, you can buy shares on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker BX.
Blackstone claims $457 billion under management and employs 2,400 staff. It raised $58.3 billion over the last five years. Its 95 portfolio companies earn more than $79 billion in annual revenue and employ 470,000. Portfolio companies include Vivint, Scout 24, Service King Collision Repair Centers, and Versace.
02 The Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group
Courtesy of The Carlyle Group
With $201 billion in assets under management and $40.1 billion in raised funds over the last five years, The Carlyle Group is a major force in the financial industry. The group, which was founded in 1987 and trades on the NASDAQ under ticker symbol CG, is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Major business lines at The Carlyle Group include private equity, real estate, global credit, and investment solutions. Carlyle focuses on ten core industries that it considers its areas of expertise. It employs 1,600 workers in its offices around the world.
Carlyle’s more than 200 portfolio companies stretch across industries such as aerospace, healthcare, technology, and energy. Those companies employ a combined 650,000 workers on every continent but Antarctica. While they are not all household names, major investments include Centennial Resource Production, DiscoverOrg Holding, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, The Nature’s Bounty, Veritas Holdings, and Wesco Aircraft Holdings.
03 Kohlberg Kravis Roberts
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts
Courtesy of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts
Known as KKR, this firm raised $41.6 billion in the last five years and manages $195 billion in total assets. KKR traces its roots back to 1976 and was a major force in the infamous leveraged buyout of RJR Nabisco, chronicled in the bestselling book Barbarians at the Gate.
The public can buy into Kohlberg Kravis Roberts on the New York Stock Exchange under symbol KKR. Like other large private equity firms, KKR is involved in several areas of business including real estate, hedge funds, credit, and other financial services.
KKR has 1,300 employees and is headquartered in New York City. Portfolio companies include some big names like First Data, GoDaddy, Lyft, PEMEX Midstream, UFC, and others. A recent investment that drew KKR to the headlines was Toys ‘R Us, which filed for bankruptcy and shut down over 800 stores in 2018.
04 TPG Capital
TPG Capital
Courtesy of TPG Capital
Fort Worth, Texas-based TPG Capital raised $36.1 billion in the last five years. It holds its second HQ in San Francisco. Formerly known as Texas Pacific Group, the firm manages a portfolio of over $70 billion in assets through private equity, real estate, credit, and hedge fund divisions.
The company was founded in 1992 and has completed over 175 transactions. Major holdings include computer security company McAfee. Major investments include Neiman Marcus, Harrah’s Entertainment, First Data, and Univision Communications.
With its dual headquarters in the hearts of oil country and Silicon Valley, it is no surprise to see energy and technology as two of the top focus industries for TPG. Other industries include retail, healthcare, real estate, and industrials.
05 Apollo Global Management
Apollo Global Management
Courtesy of Apollo Global Management
With $248.9 billion in assets under management and $24 billion raised in the last five years, New York-based Apollo Global Management joined the private equity scene in 1990. Apollo is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under symbol APO.
This global firm is known for leveraged buyouts and buying distressed companies. Since inception, it has held more than 150 portfolio companies. Those companies include ADT, Claire’s, Ceasers Entertainment, CareerBuilder, Qdoba, and Rackspace.
With 1,100 employees, half of Apollo’s investments come from public pensions and sovereign wealth funds. That is evidence that many large and sophisticated investors put a lot of trust in Apollo.
06 Bain Capital
Bain Capital
Courtesy of Bain Capital
Bain Capital manages $105 billion in assets and raised $18.2 billion in new funds over the last five years. Founded in 1983, Bain is based in Boston and employs over 1,000 at its global offices. Bain is partially known for co-founder Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee.
This private equity firm operates in credit, public equity, venture capital, and real estate markets. Some major brands that have passed through the Bain portfolio in the last decade or so include Clear Channel Communications, Canada Goose, Virgin Holidays Cruises, and Bugaboo International. Other major past holdings include Staples, Sports Authority, Guitar Center, Gymboree, Houghton Mifflin, Domino’s Pizza, Burger King, The Weather Channel, and Brookstone.
Fund expertise areas include the socially conscious Bain Capital Double Impact division, Bain Capital Life Sciences, and Bain Capital Real Estate. Looking at its past portfolio, you can also see a preference for retail, restaurants, and other consumer brands.
07 Warburg Pincus
Warburg Pincus
Courtesy of Warburg Pincus
New York City-based Warburg Pincus was founded in 1966. With 1,000 employees, the company manages a $47 billion private equity portfolio and has made more than 835 investments in its long history.
In the last five years, Warburg Pincus has attracted $30.8 billion in new capital. This firm is organized into the energy, financial, healthcare and consumer, industrial and business services, and technology, media, and telecommunications sectors. Some noteworthy investments include 1&1 Hosting, Avaya, PayScale, Mariner Finance, and a wide range of foreign firms.
08 CVC Capital Partners
CVC Capital Partners
Courtesy of CVC Capital Partners
This private equity firm was founded in 1981 and has 500 employees in 24 global offices. CVC Capital Partners is headquartered in Luxembourg, falling into a unique set of European laws. It was the largest non-U.S. private equity firm in terms of funds raised over the past five years, at $19.9 billion.
CVC Capital manages $69 billion in assets. It primarily focuses on private equity and credit. While it has a more boutique focus, it is anything but a boutique firm. It originated as the European division of Citicorp Venture Capital before becoming its own company in 1993.
The firm has 61 current portfolio companies. Major investments have included Formula One Group, Petco, Avast, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Breitling, Republic Finance, Pilot Flying J, Samsonite, Skrill, and others.
Our Process
Our writers spent 6 hours researching the most popular private equity firms on the market. Before making their final recommendations, they screened 300 different firms. All of this research adds up to recommendations you can trust.
