December 02, 2025
Why Private Markets Now? Positioning for 2025 and Beyond
Unlocking the Private Market Advantage
“Diversification is key and patience is rewarded.” — Marc-André Lewis, PhD, President and Chief Investment Officer, CI Global Asset Management
With today’s markets driven by geopolitical uncertainty, concentrated leadership, elevated valuations and rapid sector rotations, investors are struggling to find stability in traditional public markets. The opportunity set has narrowed, volatility remains elevated and headlines often change faster than fundamentals. As a result, more investors are seeking exposure to assets that can provide true diversification, consistent income and long-term growth that isn’t dictated by quarterly earnings cycles. Private markets continue to stand out as one of the most compelling ways to add resilience, broaden opportunity and strengthen portfolio construction in today’s challenging environment.
3 Reasons Why Private Markets Make Sense Now
1. Public markets are shrinking — private opportunities are expanding
IPO activity has slowed, more companies are staying private longer and the breadth of investable names in public markets has narrowed. Meanwhile, private equity, private credit, infrastructure, venture capital and real estate now represent one of the fastest-growing global opportunity sets. Leading institutions such as Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) already allocate over 30% to private equity alone, underscoring the structural shift underway.
LEADING CANADIAN PENSION PLANS ARE INCREASING ALLOCATIONS TO PRIVATE MARKET INVESTMENTS
Source: Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) Annual Reports.
2. Strong long-term return potential with lower volatility
Private equity has historically outperformed public equities with better downside protection, while private credit and real assets have delivered attractive income with lower correlation to traditional markets. Taken together, these characteristics support a more modern allocation framework, moving beyond the traditional 60/40 allocation toward a more resilient 50/30/20 mix across public equities, fixed income and private markets.
PRIVATE EQUITY PROVIDES CONSISTENTLY LOWER VOLATILITY OVER THE LONG TERM
Source: CI Global Asset Management, Morningstar Research Inc., as at September 5, 2025.
3. Access to institutional-quality diversification, now available to retail investors
As private assets continue to move into the mainstream—with global private market AUM projected to reach $18–25 trillion by 2030—investors have a timely opportunity to enhance diversification and strengthen long-term portfolio outcomes. For those looking to move beyond traditional public market exposure, CI offers a dedicated solution: CI Private Markets Growth Fund. This open-ended, one-ticket portfolio provides convenient institutional-grade access to a globally diversified mix of private equity, private credit, venture capital, private infrastructure and private real estate. Leveraging CI’s global relationships, deep manager network and rigorous due diligence process, the Fund is designed to identify high-quality opportunities across asset classes, regions and vintages. By combining leading and emerging private market managers within a disciplined, risk-managed structure, CI Private Markets Growth Fund delivers the type of access, scale and expertise historically reserved for large pension plans and institutional investors and it’s now available to a wider range of clients through CI.
About the Author
Roberto leads the national strategy and execution for alternative investment adoption, spanning Private markets, Hedge funds and Liquid alternatives.
Previously, Roberto was CEO of Marret Asset Management, where he focused on hedge funds and alternative credit. At Marret, he drove the design and execution of the firm’s growth strategy, expanding its presence in the Canadian alternatives landscape.
Roberto holds a Finance degree from the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University and is a CFA charter holder with more than 25 years of investment-industry experience.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS
CI Private Markets Growth Fund (the fund) is not subject to rules and regulations that apply to publicly offered mutual funds, including restrictions intended to create diversification and liquidity in the fund’s portfolio and certain ongoing public reporting requirements. Potential purchasers should carefully review the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the fund’s Offering Memorandum before making any decision to subscribe for units.
CI Private Markets Growth Fund has not been marketed, and is not available, to retail investors. The fund is only being made available to “accredited investors” (as such term is defined in the Securities Act (Ontario) or National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions, as applicable) resident in, or otherwise subject to the securities laws of, any province or territory of Canada, or pursuant to such other exemptions from the prospectus requirements under applicable securities legislation.
Certain statements in this document are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements (“FLS”) are statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” or “estimate,” or other similar expressions. Statements that look forward in time or include anything other than historical information are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results, actions or events could differ materially from those set forth in the FLS. FLS are not guarantees of future performance and are by their nature based on numerous assumptions. Although the FLS contained herein are based upon what CI Global Asset Management and the portfolio manager believe to be reasonable assumptions, neither CI Global Asset Management nor the portfolio manager can assure that actual results will be consistent with these FLS. The reader is cautioned to consider the FLS carefully and not to place undue reliance on FLS. Unless required by applicable law, it is not undertaken, and specifically disclaimed that there is any intention or obligation to update or revise FLS, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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