FWIW: I’ve tracked the gloomy headlines re: lagging contributions for a while … but the kicker came from a Fortune story a few weeks ago on the tantalizing possibility of dropping the regulatory barrier between 401ks and private equity. The author noted a dearth of investment and a wealth of excitement over the possibility of PE trapping into the pool of capital currently held in 401ks.
Enter Trump.
He’s just signed an Executive Order and voila!
Just like that he’s broken down a regulatory barrier between financial speculation and middle & working class wealth held in 401ks. That has portended bubble trouble in the recent past … from the Savings and Loan Scandal to the Dotcom Bubble to the Crash of 2008.
PE is doing what the financial elite often do when faced with an unfavorable market … they alter the rules to force the Invisible Hand to do their bidding. And that often signals the coming of a financial racket’s final feeding frenzy. - jp
Private equity sponsors are lowering equity contributions
https://www.pionline.com/data-rankings/chart-of-the-day/pi-us-pe-equity-check/
Private equity fundraising slides as sector’s downturn deepens
https://www.ft.com/content/f7387912-1079-43d4-a9a2-2308989400d4
Private Equity Fundraising Hits Lowest Level in 7 Years
https://www.pymnts.com/news/investment-tracker/2025/private-equity-fundraising-hits-lowest-level-in-7-years/
Eldridge targets $1bn for new GP-solutions fund amid private equity liquidity crunch
https://pe-insights.com/eldridge-targets-1bn-for-new-gp-solutions-fund-amid-private-equity-liquidity-crunch/
Private equity needs a liquidity wake-up call, says Bain & Co’s MacArthur
https://www.buyoutsinsider.com/private-equity-needs-a-liquidity-wake-up-call-says-bain-cos-macarthur/
Trump opening up 401 (k)s to private equity is a 'huge step,' SEC Commissioner says
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6377517203112
Private equity could transform your retirement, Wharton alternative investment experts say, but only if it adapts to protect savers
https://fortune.com/2025/08/24/private-equity-401k-retirement-wharton-experts-trump-executive-order/
Investor losses underscore need for private equity regulations, researchers find
https://phys.org/news/2025-08-investor-losses-underscore-private-equity.html
How Private Equity Funds Understate the Risk in Their Investments
https://www.morningstar.com/alternative-investments/how-private-equity-funds-understate-risk-their-investments
Private equity insiders say their investments beat the stock market. Is that true?
https://www.businessinsider.com/do-private-equity-investments-really-beat-the-stock-market-2025-8
Private Equity Keeps Inventing New Ways to Give Cash to Investors
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-22/private-equity-cash-crunch-spawns-even-more-newfangled-financing
Private Equity: Using the New Tax Law to Save on Taxes, Deals
https://www.claconnect.com/en/resources/articles/25/new-tax-law-benefits-for-private-equity
Vanguard Still Bullish On Private Equity Despite Lagging Near-Term Returns
https://www.fa-mag.com/news/vanguard-still-bullish-on-private-equity-despite-lagging-near-term-returns-83879.html
Private-Equity Firms Spot a Healthcare Value Play in Contract Manufacturing
https://www.wsj.com/articles/private-equity-firms-spot-a-healthcare-value-play-in-contract-manufacturing-3353cfc7
Ballad To Outsource Hospitalist Services At Greeneville Community Hospital To Private-Equity Backed Firm
https://www.greenevillesun.com/news/local_news/ballad-to-outsource-hospitalist-services-at-greeneville-community-hospital-to-private-equity-backed-firm/article_4893c71d-b158-4596-b733-a9c794ce6708.html
A Private Equity Giant Took Over African Hospitals. Then the Complaints Rolled In
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-08-25/private-equity-giant-tpg-s-african-hospital-push-sparks-safety-complaints
Private equity legacy clouds sale of Prospect's hospitals
https://www.ctinsider.com/business/article/prospect-connecticut-hospitals-sale-21019578.php
Owning the game: Private equity’s buying into Warriors, Giants. What happens next?
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giants/article/warriors-giants-private-equity-20895229.php
One Year In, Private Equity Boosts NFL Values on Handful of Deals
https://www.sportico.com/business/finance/2025/nfl-private-equity-growth-sales-future-1234868441/
The Role Of Venture Capital, Private Equity, And Fans In The NIL Era
https://www.forbes.com/sites/vitascarosella/2025/08/27/the-role-of-venture-capital-private-equity-and-fans-in-the-nil-era/
The private equity firm that wants to revitalize US manufacturing
https://www.manufacturingdive.com/news/manufacturing-revitalization-corporation-of-america-private-equity-azevedo-rivas/757623/
Continental to Sell Hose, Bearing Business to Private Equity Firm
https://www.inddist.com/mergers-acquisitions/news/22948961/continental-to-sell-hose-bearing-business-to-private-equity-firm
Will Minnesota Power sell to private equity?
https://www.minnpost.com/glean/2025/08/will-minnesota-power-sell-to-private-equity/
Minnesota’s energy future deserves better than BlackRock’s empty promises
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/minnesotas-energy-future-deserves-better-than-blackrocks-empty-promises/758652/
US private equity firm buys Ørsted shares at offer price - agrees to capital plan
https://energywatch.com/EnergyNews/Utilities/article18485435.ece
With takeover complete, Walgreens' private equity owner installs Staples execs in top jobs
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/health-care/walgreens-sale-finalized-sycamore-partners-installs-ceo
Boots splits off from Walgreens after private equity takeover
https://theindustry.beauty/boots-splits-off-from-walgreens-after-private-equity-takeover/
Claire’s receives private equity lifeline, will close some Arkansas stores
https://talkbusiness.net/2025/08/claires-receives-private-equity-lifeline-will-close-some-arkansas-stores/
St. Charles private equity fund goes into receivership—and stokes fears
https://www.stlmag.com/news/visionary-private-equity-receivership/
RIA leader pushes back on ‘evil private equity’ narrative
https://www.investmentnews.com/ria-news/ria-leader-pushes-back-on-evil-private-equity-narrative/261891
From vultures to defenders, Japan private equity deals head for record year
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/vultures-defenders-japan-private-equity-deals-head-record-year-2025-08-27/