Southeast Asia private equity deal value declined in 2025, but market regains momentum

Southeast Asia’s private equity (PE) deal value fell to $9.1 billion across 59 deals in 2025, reflecting a cautious market with fewer megadeals compared with $16 billion across 67 deals in 2024.

The slowdown reflects a cautious investment climate, with deal activity continuing but fewer megadeals (above $1 billion). Overall, the region saw four megadeals in 2025, compared with eight in the previous year. Among the deals where values were disclosed, average deal size dropped to $267 million from $356 million a year ago.

For sectors, infrastructure, specifically digital infrastructure, accounted for 42% of PE investments, followed by telecommunications (12%), real estate (10%) and energy (10%).

This is according to the EY Southeast Asia Private Equity Pulse 2025: Year-in-review, which provides a roundup of PE deals along with capital activities across major sectors in the region for the period between January and December 2025.

On the region’s PE deal performance in 2025, Luke Pais, EY-Parthenon Asean Private Equity leader, said: “While 2025 started with robust activity in the first quarter (Q1), geopolitical volatility and concerns over potential US tariffs led to more cautious investor sentiments seen in the second quarter (Q2). However, PE investment activity in SEA rebounded in the third quarter (Q3), which became the most active deployment period in 2025, reflecting a shift toward larger, more selective transactions as valuations stabilised and financing conditions improved. Notably, Singapore continues to be the regional anchor, accounting for over 74% of total PE value. This underscores the country’s role as a safe haven for capital in times of uncertainty.

Looking ahead in 2026, digital infrastructure and renewables will likely remain primary beneficiaries with increasing convergence between compute growth and clean power solutions. We also expect to see more broad-based activity compared to 2025, with significant transactions in other sectors.”

Exit momentum improves as deal volume recovers; fundraising momentum builds

For exits, SEA recorded 33 deals generating $4.4 billion in realised proceeds in 2025, with an 18% increase yoy in volume. General partners (GPs) have held assets for longer and the increase in exit momentum, which we expect to further accelerate in 2026, will get the capital cycle flowing faster. GPs have been focusing on operational and strategic improvements to drive returns and ensure exit readiness.

Pais added, “The SEA PE landscape is characterised by a focus on resilience amid global economic uncertainty. The market is transitioning to value creation-led PE, with sponsors prioritising more control, operational improvement and exit readiness.”

In terms of fundraising, SEA remains a strategically important allocation market in Asia Pacific, accounting for 14% of Asia Pacific PE fundraising. SEA recorded 10 PE fund closes in 2025, raising a cumulative $4.6b, up 97% yoy.

Alternative credit emerges as key financing pillar

In 2026, SEA’s private credit market is set for growth, driven by sustained demand from mid-market corporates and financial sponsors amid tighter bank lending conditions. Solid domestic demand and continued digital economy expansion are creating lending opportunities across sectors including digital infrastructure, real estate-intensive businesses such as healthcare and education, fintech and renewable energy. Borrowers are increasingly comfortable to pay a premium in exchange for a customised transaction with lighter covenants. Rising allocations from local pension funds and insurers, alongside growing cross-border interest in unitranche, mezzanine and structured credit, are supporting market depth. Ongoing regulatory reforms and improvements in credit infrastructure are expected to further reduce information asymmetries and support the scaling of private credit strategies across the region.

Pais concluded, “Differentiated value across private credit can be generated through bespoke financing structures, strategic partnerships with regional sponsors and digital underwriting tools that improve credit assessment. Overall, private credit in SEA offers compelling diversification benefits with attractive spreads above traditional fixed income, particularly for tranches addressing under-served segments of the capital stack.”

Re-disseminated by Wealth and Society