Private equity drives rapid growth through acquisitions and rising IPO activity

Private equity investment is driving rapid inorganic expansion across various sectors. In the accounting profession, PE-backed firms within the IPA 100 reported a 27.0% total growth rate, significantly outpacing the 9.1% growth seen in non-PE-backed firms. However, organic growth remains identical for both groups at 7.0%, indicating that the advantage for PE-backed organizations stems from acquisitions and capital-heavy strategies rather than internal revenue generation.

In the broader German M&A market, transaction volumes rose by 15% in the first half of 2026, while the number of initial public offerings (IPOs) doubled compared to the previous year. This resurgence in exits provides a more functional pathway for private equity firms to realize profits. For individual investors, access to the private equity market is expanding through various channels, including individual stocks, ETFs, and ELTIF offerings that allow entry with minimal capital.