Global private-equity fundraising has slowed to its weakest level in seven years, with firms collecting about $600 billion in the 12 months to June, according to Preqin data cited by the Financial Times. The total is roughly one-third below the record volumes seen in 2021 and reflects mounting caution among limited partners as higher interest rates, sluggish exits and a backlog of aging investments weigh on expected returns. Managers are offering a raft of concessions—including lower management fees and early-bird discounts—to entice investors, yet capital remains scarce. The tougher backdrop has pressured the share prices of listed groups such as Blackstone, Apollo Global Management, KKR and Carlyle, whose growth prospects hinge on continued fundraising and deal flow. The challenging environment is also reshaping transactions. Bain Capital, which has controlled luxury parka maker Canada Goose since 2013, has received verbal offers to take the company private at valuations of about $1.35 billion to $1.4 billion, CNBC and Reuters reported. Advent International, Boyu Capital, Bosideng International and a FountainVest Capital–Anta Sports consortium are among the interested parties, while Goldman Sachs is advising Bain. Canada Goose’s New York-listed shares have risen more than 20 % this year, lifting its market capitalisation to roughly $1.18 billion, though the figure remains far below the 2018 peak of $7.7 billion. A sale would allow Bain to exit a 12-year investment and underscores how private-equity owners are turning to take-private deals to realise gains at a time when new fundraising is increasingly difficult.