ATLANTA, Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Invesco Ltd., a leading global asset management firm, today announced the launch of the Invesco Core Plus Real Estate Trust, a collective investment trust (CIT) exclusively designed to provide defined contribution (DC) plans access to private real estate through a daily valued structure purpose-built for retirement portfolios."Private market strategies have gained attention among retirement plan sponsors and participants in recent years," said Greg Jenkins, Managing Di ...

Core Insights - Robinhood is launching Robinhood Ventures Fund I to provide retail investors access to private market investments, which have traditionally been reserved for institutional investors [3][4] - The fund will be listed on the NYSE and will allow retail investors to trade shares of the fund while investing in late-stage private companies [4][6] Fund Structure and Holdings - The fund's portfolio includes significant allocations to companies such as Databricks (23.24%), Revolut (14.30%), and Mercor (14.23%), indicating a focus on enterprise software, fintech, and AI-driven sectors [3][4] - The fund will raise capital through an IPO, and the capital will be used to acquire stakes in private companies, with liquidity provided through the publicly traded shares of the fund [4][6] Investment Potential - Databricks, the fund's largest holding, was valued at approximately $43.4 billion in September 2023, with expectations of reaching a valuation of around $130 billion, representing a potential upside of over 300% [7] - The structure allows retail investors to gain exposure to private market investments without minimum investment requirements or liquidity issues, thus democratizing access to high-growth opportunities [6][7]

Core Insights - Morgan Stanley has completed the acquisition of EquityZen, a leading private shares platform, enhancing its private market ecosystem [1][2] Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition aims to integrate EquityZen's technology to better connect supply and demand in private markets [2] - This move positions Morgan Stanley to connect clients seeking liquidity with investors looking for private market exposure, which is increasingly in demand as companies remain private longer [2] Group 2: Company Overview - Morgan Stanley Wealth Management offers a wide range of services including brokerage, investment advisory, financial planning, and trust services [3] - Morgan Stanley operates globally, providing investment banking, securities, wealth management, and investment management services across 42 countries [4]

Core Insights - BlackRock has raised nearly $700 billion in net cash, bringing its total assets under management to $14 trillion, with a record $181 billion in net new money from its iShares ETF franchise in Q4 2025 [1][2] Fundraising Strategy - The company has outlined an "ambitious 2026 fundraising plan" focusing on private markets, target-date funds, active ETFs, and international retirement savers [2] - The goal for new private market assets is set at $400 billion by 2030, with significant interest from insurance companies [5] Private Market Focus - 2026 will mark the first full year of BlackRock's acquisitions of private-credit player HPS, infrastructure investor GIP, and private-market-data provider Preqin [3] - The firm plans to launch its first target-date fund with private market exposure later this year, pending regulatory approval for private assets in 401(k) plans [6] Sales and Distribution - BlackRock's sales and distribution team, described as the largest in the industry, is actively promoting HPS products to financial advisors at major wirehouses [7] - The company sees growth opportunities in international markets, particularly in Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America [7][8] Investment Products - BlackRock continues to expand beyond fixed-income products, with significant growth in bond investment products, including active ETFs [9] - In 2025, fixed-income ETFs attracted $159 billion in net new money, nearly matching core equity offerings [10]

Core Insights - Empower, the second-largest U.S. retirement plan provider, has added Blackstone to its private markets investment partnership program, aligning with the Trump administration's initiative to broaden private market access for defined contribution plans [1][4] Group 1: Empower's Private Markets Program - Empower launched its private markets investment partnership program in May 2025, offering investments in private equity, private credit, and private real estate through collective investment trusts [3] - The initial partnerships included notable firms such as Apollo Global Management, Goldman Sachs, and PIMCO, with investments accessed through managed accounts rather than traditional 401(k) menus [3] Group 2: Blackstone's Role - Blackstone has established a dedicated business unit for working with defined contribution plan sponsors, enhancing its offerings in private equity, private credit, real estate, and infrastructure products for individual investors [2] - Blackstone's involvement is expected to significantly enhance the investment opportunities available to retirement savers, leveraging its 20 years of experience in private markets [4] Group 3: Market Trends and Interest - A report from Cerulli Associates indicates a growing interest among defined contribution plan sponsors in incorporating private market investment options, with 37% of surveyed sponsors expressing high interest in understanding the benefits and drawbacks [4] - Projections suggest that by 2030, 7% of plan sponsors may allocate to private markets through target-date funds or managed accounts [4]

Core Insights - Retirement plan sponsors are increasingly interested in adding private markets exposure to defined contribution (DC) plans, with estimates suggesting that up to 20% of DC plans may incorporate such exposure within a decade [2][3] Group 1: Interest Levels Among Plan Sponsors - A 2025 Cerulli survey found that 37% of retirement plan sponsors are very interested in understanding the pros and cons of incorporating private market assets, particularly among those with $250 million to $1 billion in assets, where interest peaks at 57% [3] - Interest in private markets is lower among small and medium-sized sponsors (30% to 37%) and those with over $1 billion in assets (35%), indicating that larger plans may already have some allocation to private market assets [4] Group 2: Regulatory Environment and Historical Context - The Trump administration has pushed for the inclusion of private market assets in retirement plans, with an executive order aimed at facilitating this for DC plan sponsors [5] - Previous surveys indicated that around 20% of plan sponsors had already discussed incorporating private market investments with their consultants or advisors [5] Group 3: Future Projections - Asset management and DC consultants predict that by 2030, 7% of plan sponsors will have a private markets allocation through target date funds or managed accounts, potentially rising to 17% by 2035 [6] Group 4: Product Development by Asset Managers - Several asset managers are developing products for private market investments in retirement accounts, including Apollo Global Management, State Street Global Advisors, Empower, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, and Blackstone Inc. [7]

Core Viewpoint - Ares Management Corp. is considering a potential acquisition to enhance its private equity business and improve competitiveness against industry leaders like Blackstone, KKR, and Apollo Global Management [2][11]. Group 1: Rationale Behind Acquisition - Ares Management has sufficient financial capacity for both organic growth and acquisitions, especially as U.S. retirement plans increase access to private markets [3]. - A broader and diversified private equity franchise is becoming crucial as defined contribution plans open to alternative investments [3]. - Although no specific acquisition targets were mentioned, Ares Management could feasibly acquire a private equity firm managing $100 billion or more, which would not be disproportionate to its market value [4]. Group 2: Current Private Equity Position - Private equity constitutes approximately $25 billion of Ares Management's assets under management (AUM) as of September 30, 2025, representing just over 4% of total AUM, a decrease from over 13% at the time of the company's public listing in 2014 [6][11]. - The company's private equity arm is relatively small compared to competitors like Blackstone, KKR, and Apollo, indicating room for growth [5]. Group 3: Recent Acquisitions and Industry Trends - Ares Management has been active in reshaping its business through acquisitions, including the purchase of GLP Capital Partners' international arm for up to $5.2 billion in March 2025, which enhanced its real estate and digital infrastructure capabilities [7]. - Competitors are also expanding through strategic collaborations and acquisitions, such as Blackstone's partnership with Phoenix Financial and KKR's expanded collaboration with Capital Group [8][9]. Group 4: Market Performance - Over the past three months, Ares Management's shares have increased by 3.3%, contrasting with a 6.7% decline in the industry [10].

Core Viewpoint - Blackstone and Revolut are in initial discussions for a potential partnership focused on wealth management services, allowing Revolut's clients to access Blackstone's investment funds [1][3]. Group 1: Partnership Details - The proposed partnership aims to enhance Revolut's upcoming private banking service by integrating Blackstone's investment offerings [1]. - This collaboration would mark a significant move for private capital firms to reach high-net-worth clients and diversify funding sources [3]. Group 2: Revolut's Expansion Plans - Revolut is planning to establish a private markets team to enhance its wealth management services, which includes recruiting junior investment bankers, asset managers, and private capital advisers [2]. - The company is also seeking to hire a private banker in the UK to manage relationships with high-net-worth individuals globally [2]. Group 3: Blackstone's Strategic Moves - Blackstone has expanded its presence in Europe, tripling the number of wealth managers, private banks, and insurers over the last two years [3]. - This expansion aligns with Blackstone president Jon Gray's strategy to broaden the firm's reach into the mass market while maintaining its institutional business [4]. - BlackRock is also planning to expand its private investment businesses, aiming to raise about $400 billion for its private investment divisions by 2030 [4].

Core Insights - StepStone Group has appointed Lindsay Creedon as the new Head of Private Equity, effective January 1, 2026, marking a significant leadership change within the firm [1][2] - Scott Hart, the current CEO, will continue to serve on the Private Equity Investment Committee and focus on the firm's global expansion [1] Company Overview - StepStone Group is a global private markets investment firm that provides customized investment solutions and advisory services, managing approximately $771 billion in total capital, including $209 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2025 [4] - The firm's client base includes major public and private pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, endowments, foundations, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals [4] Leadership and Culture - Lindsay Creedon has been with StepStone since 2010, becoming a Partner in 2015, and currently co-chairs the Private Equity Investment Committee while managing key client relationships [2][3] - She has played a crucial role in establishing StepStone's Talent and Culture Committee, contributing to the firm's award-winning workplace culture and supporting employee development [3] Future Outlook - Ms. Creedon expressed her commitment to leading the private equity business and delivering strong results for clients, emphasizing the firm's growth from a boutique asset manager to a global player while maintaining an entrepreneurial culture [4]

Core Insights - Morningstar has launched the Morningstar PitchBook US Modern Market 100 Index, which tracks 100 top public and private market companies, including 90 publicly traded and 10 venture-backed firms like SpaceX and OpenAI [1][2] Group 1: Index Structure and Purpose - The index's 90/10 mix reflects the actual structure of the modern equity landscape, utilizing secondary market transactions for private equity data and official exchanges for public companies [2] - The inclusion of private companies in investment portfolios is essential, as they represent some of the fastest-growing and most dynamic companies [3][4] Group 2: Investment Accessibility - Retail investors face challenges in buying shares of private companies due to securities laws that restrict private firms from selling securities to the general public [5] - Investment in private companies is generally limited to accredited investors, who are defined as individuals or entities with a net worth of at least $1 million, excluding their primary residence [6] Group 3: Types of Private Investments - Private investing can take various forms, including angel investing for early-stage startups, venture capital for growth support, and late-stage investments known as private equity investing [7]