Another incredible year for PESP
We’re proud to share the Private Equity Stakeholder Project’s latest Impact Report. Private equity and other private funds have grown substantially in recent years and now control over $24 trillion in assets…
Explore the issues
Find more information on the issues deeply affected by private equity investments:
Investors continue retreat from private markets
Investors continue retreat from private markets in 2026, underperformance persists Public pension funds have continued to scale back their exposure to private equity in 2026, a trend responding to the asset class’s anemic returns and weakening economic outlook overall.
Crain’s Chicago op-ed: Questions surround Stonepeak in Chicago parking deal
Why is Chicago handing its parking meters to a firm tied to ICE deportation flights? The following op-ed by PESP communications director Matt Parr published in May in the Crain’s Chicago Business: City Council should closely examine Stonepeak’s broader…
Chicago parking meter deal puts spotlight on Stonepeak
The private equity firm seeking control of Chicago Parking Meters LLC has ties to ICE-linked aviation operations, expanding fossil fuel infrastructure investments, and documented public health impacts Crain’s Chicago Business recently reported that Stonepeak Partners has reached…
PE firms push SEC changes that could move assets into 401(k)s
Private equity firms push SEC rule changes to dump unwanted assets on 401K retirement savers Weakened oversight of form PF and new cross-trading pressure could deepen “bailout” of private equity industry WASHINGTON, DC — The Private Equity Stakeholder…
Trump admin bails out private equity, private credit with 401(k)s
Trump administration seeks to bail out private equity, credit with workers’ 401(k) savings, PESP warns New rule expands access to private equity despite evidence of underperformance, high fees, and illiquidity risk WASHINGTON, DC — The Trump White House…
Media spotlight: Coverage examines risks of private equity in 401(k)s
As the Department of Labor moves closer to finalizing new rules on private equity and other alternative investments in 401(k) retirement plans, recent media coverage has highlighted growing questions about performance, fees, transparency, and fiduciary risk. In reporting…
Private equity lags stocks as Trump DOL moves to expand 401(k) access
New analysis raises concerns for retirement savers as federal regulators consider opening 401(k)s to private equity investments WASHINGTON, DC — As the Department of Labor moves toward finalizing rule changes that could make it easier for private equity investments to be…
Public pensions shrink private equity as headwinds persist, returns drag
Several large public pensions cut back allocations to private equity in 2025 in the face of the industry’s poor performance and unrelenting headwinds. Among the public asset owners that…
PESP in the News – August 2025
PESP’s work and research into the private equity industry generates significant media coverage in numerous outlets. Scroll down to see where our expertise was featured in August 2025. Featured coverage Stateside: Tuesday, August 12, 2025…
Private equity turns to more financial engineering as returns sink
The gyrations of public markets so far this year have been dizzying, but signals from private markets are equally nausea inducing. Industry experts and practitioners are expressing pessimism and some say alternative assets are in irreversible decline. Faced…
Private equity forms new dark money group
Private equity forms new dark money group to gain access to Americans’ 401(K)s The $22 trillion private equity industry has drawn on a familiar playbook in creating a new dark money group called the “Council for a Safe and…
