The NWD Private Equity I investment fund recorded a 36% increase in value for 2024, according to its recently completed audit. The fund focuses on private equity buyouts, with a portfolio concentrated primarily in the United States and complemented by investments in Europe. Its holdings currently span nine companies, with plans to nearly double this number in the near future. Key companies in the fund’s portfolio include Exclusive Networks, a global cybersecurity distributor operating in 170 countries; Focus Financial Partners, which manages over USD 400 billion in client assets; MFG, the UK’s largest petrol station network; Resideo, a smart home solutions provider with products in 150 million households; and Truist Insurance, the fifth-largest insurance broker in the United States. Štěpán Tvrdý, director of NWD investiční společnost, noted that private equity has been a core area of expertise for the company over the past decade. In addition to the NWD Private Equity I fund, the firm also manages the NWD Private Equity II fund, which was launched a year and a half ago and recently closed to new investors after reaching its target allocation. NWD currently manages 20 funds and sub-funds covering a range of strategies, including real estate, equities, private equity, supply chain finance, physical gold, and multi-asset portfolios. The majority of the firm’s assets—around 92%—are invested outside the Czech Republic, primarily in euro and U.S. dollar-denominated assets, with the option to hedge against Czech koruna risk. The broader private markets sector experienced a notable increase in activity in 2024. Rising interest rates influenced corporate valuations and contributed to an 18% year-on-year increase in total deal value, making 2024 the second strongest year on record. Private equity buyout transactions rose to 4,828 in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 4,462 in the same period of 2024, with total transaction value increasing from USD 354 billion to USD 495 billion. Recent data from consulting firm McKinsey shows sustained institutional interest in private markets, with 30% of institutional investors planning to increase their allocations to this asset class over the next year.