MARKET ANALYSIS
The Global Fund of Fund Landscape
The private equity secondaries market reached record levels in 2025, with dedicated secondaries funds from Blackstone Strategic Partners, Ardian, Lexington Partners, and Coller Capital raising vehicles exceeding $10 billion to $25 billion. GP-led continuation vehicles and structured solutions now represent over half of secondary transaction volume.
The private wealth push is real. Hamilton Lane, StepStone, Pantheon, Lexington, and BlackRock PEP have all launched evergreen and registered fund vehicles targeting financial advisors and HNW investors. This channel could add hundreds of billions in new capital to private markets over the next decade.
Consolidation is reshaping the fund of funds market. Clearlake acquired Pathway Capital for $1 billion, EQT announced a combination with Coller Capital, Patria acquired abrdn's PE solutions business, and Goldman Sachs completed its acquisition of Industry Ventures, reflecting the premium placed on scaled private markets distribution platforms.
Customized separate account mandates are eating into the traditional blind-pool model. Institutional LPs increasingly demand custom portfolio construction, co-investment rights, and fee transparency rather than accepting one-size-fits-all commingled vehicles. The FoF managers who can deliver that flexibility are winning the mandates.