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The Role of GP-Led Secondaries in Shaping the Future of Private Equity — A Conversation with Schroders Capital

A conversation with Petr Poldauf on liquidity trends, market inefficiencies, and the growing role of secondaries in Central and Eastern Europe.

In a fast-evolving secondaries market exceeding $150 billion in annual volume, GP-led transactions have become a critical tool for unlocking liquidity and extending value creation. We sat down with Petr Poldauf, Senior Investment Director at Schroders Capital, to explore how the firm’s focused strategy on GP-led secondaries is addressing market inefficiencies—and why this approach is increasingly relevant in regions like Central and Eastern Europe.

As Petr highlights:

“Last year, secondaries hit $150 billion globally—half of that was GP-led. This is no longer a niche.”


Key Takeaways:

  • GP-led transactions now account for ~50% of the secondaries market, driven by the need for liquidity and longer holding periods for high-quality assets.

  • Private equity exits are slowing, with IPOs declining as a viable route—making GP-led solutions a more attractive option.

  • Schroders Capital has doubled down on GP-led secondaries, focusing on concentrated assets where due diligence, ESG, and long-term value can be controlled.

  • Emerging Europe is catching up with global trends in secondaries, offering growing opportunities despite its smaller market size.

  • The secondaries market is undercapitalized, allowing selective buyers to pursue quality at attractive discounts.