Private equity firms help people manage and invest their funds into the stock market for large returns. Certain companies are very good at this and are able to bring in billions for their clients as well as the company with the portion they take from each deal. Private equity firms make it easier for companies and people to handle their money without making horrible mistakes that they will regret in the future because they just know the market best and how it works. Here are the five largest private equity firms in the world.
5. Blackstone’s Capital Partners VI – $16.2 billion
The Blackstone Group was founded back in 1985 by Peter Peterson and Stephen Schwarzman. They are considered to be the largest alternative investment firm in the world and aside from handling private equity, the company handles credit and hedge fund strategy and financial advisory for companies that are considering mergers, acquisitions, private placement, restructuring, or simply reorganizations.
4. KKR – $17.6 billion
KKR stands for Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. based upon the company’s three founders; Jerome Kohlberg, Henry Kravis, and George Roberts. The company started back in 1976 and is a multinational private equity firm that received its start by handling leverage buyouts for companies. In fact, KKR & co. practically created this specific industry and led the way with these types of deals. Since the KKR & Co. firm’s start, the company has completed over $400 billion in private equity transactions.
3. Apollo Global Management – $18.4 billion
Apollo Global Management was originally created in 1990 by primary founders Leon Black and Drexel Burnham Lambert. The company is fairly new compared to some of the other private equity firms but has built up their profile by covering a range of different fields. Apollo Global Management works with leverage buyouts, purchases of distressed securities that deal with corporate restructuring, industry consolidations, as well as other special situations.
2. TPG Partners – $18.9 billion
TPG (formerly known as the Texas Pacific Group) was founded by David Bonderman, James Coulter, and William Price in 1992. The company handles leverage buyouts but also focuses on growth capital and leveraged recapitalization. TPG Partners covers a wide variety of investment areas and since their start has handled more than 18 private equity funds that have brought in over $50 billion.
1. Goldman Sachs Private Equity Unit – $20.3 billion
Goldman Sachs was founded in 1869 and is one of the oldest but has one of the best private equity arms around. Goldman covers investment banking and management, securities, and financial services specific to their clients needs. However, Goldman Sachs pretty much does everything and anything that relates to private equity and has brought in billions with their decisions. Their employees and executives have done so well that some have even been plucked and offered positions under former presidents.
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