Higher costs of capital, slower deal flow and increased crowding are putting pressure on traditional value creation levers, making it more challenging to generate returns in private equity. In a market facing greater scrutiny, the quality of underwriting, manager discipline and deal selection is becoming increasingly important in determining which portfolios remain resilient and which become exposed to weaker assets and overcrowded trades.

This session will examine how underwriting standards and deal selection are evolving, and whether discipline is holding across the market. Explore how leading managers are adapting their approach, where returns are now being generated and how you can distinguish differentiated managers from those relying on crowded strategies or favourable market conditions. Understand which indicators can be used to assess underwriting quality in practice, avoid overexposure to competitive segments and build portfolios that are better positioned to withstand pressure while still capturing differentiated long-term returns.