Private investment holding companies have become increasingly important players in the investment landscape. As large pools of private capital seek lucrative investment opportunities, private investment firms manage these capital allocations across various asset classes. In 2020 and beyond, major private investment firms like KKR, Blackstone, Carlyle Group, Apollo Global continue to deploy capital at scale into private equity, credit, real estate and other alternative investments. This article provides an overview of major private investment holding companies and key facts about their investment activities based on recently released company reports and financial statements.
Blackstone remains top private equity asset manager globally with $619 billion AUM
According to Blackstone’s 2020 annual financial report, the firm ended the year with $619 billion in assets under management, making it one of the largest private investment managers globally. The firm invested over $148 billion into new investments and acquisitions during 2020 across real estate, private equity, credit and hedge fund strategies. Blackstone’s private equity AUM grew to $247 billion in 2020, while its real estate AUM totaled $236 billion. The firm has over 2,000 employees globally managing capital primarily for pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and other institutional investors.
KKR manages over $230 billion in private markets investments
KKR & Co is another leading private markets investment firm with over $230 billion in assets under management as of 2020. The firm focuses on private equity, credit, real assets and capital markets strategies on behalf of institutional and high net worth investors. In 2020, KKR made over $44 billion in new investments spanning mergers & acquisitions, growth equity, leveraged buyouts and credit investments. The firm’s private equity portfolio includes major investments in technology, healthcare, industrials and consumer & retail companies across North America, Europe and Asia.
Carlyle Group expands into asset management and private credit
The Carlyle Group deployed over $78 billion in capital during 2020 into 476 investments, continuing its strategy of investing in private equity, real estate, infrastructure, energy and credit markets globally. The firm ended 2020 with $260 billion in fee-earning assets under management, comprising of $221 billion in its Global Private Equity, Global Credit and Investment Solutions segments. An notable area of growth for Carlyle has been its Global Credit platform, which doubled its AUM from 2019 to $143 billion in 2020 as the demand for private credit investments grows.
Apollo Global manages over $460 billion in credit, private equity and real assets
Apollo Global Management oversees $460 billion in assets spread across its integrated investment platforms in credit, private equity and real assets. During 2020, the firm committed $39 billion in capital across its various strategies including corporate loans, structured credit, opportunistic buyouts and infrastructure. Apollo’s credit investment portfolio accounts for over 50% of its AUM, reflecting the strong demand for private credit from institutional investors. The firm’s flagship private equity funds focus on consum
er, industrial and technology sectors.
Major private investment firms like Blackstone, KKR, Carlyle and Apollo managed over $1.5 trillion in assets globally across private equity, credit, real estate and other alternative investments in 2020. As private markets continue to grow rapidly, these private investment giants will remain dominant players deploying institutional capital at scale.