Allocators at AIMA's 14 to 15 October forum in Toronto described private equity distributions near historic lows, returning hedge fund demand and sharper scrutiny of private credit.

TL;DR

  • AIMA says its Global Investor Forum in Toronto on 14 to 15 October 2026 drew more than 600 delegates, with roughly $40 trillion in assets under management represented (currency not specified).
  • Private equity distributions remain near historic lows, hedge fund demand is returning but mostly to large multi-strategy platforms, and investors are scrutinising private credit amendments, payment-in-kind income and recoveries.
  • AIMA's summary has no Asia Pacific content, so these points are questions for APAC allocators to test, not evidence about the region.

What is the AIMA Global Investor Forum?

AIMA, the Alternative Investment Management Association, is the global trade body for hedge fund and private markets managers. Its Global Investor Forum ran in Toronto on 14 to 15 October 2026 with more than 600 delegates, over 100 speakers, 21 sessions and 14 countries represented. AIMA published its ten key takeaways on 19 October 2026.

Why are private equity distributions a concern?

AIMA says private equity distributions remain near historic lows and fund lives are lengthening, which increases reliance on secondaries and continuation vehicles, deals where a manager moves an asset into a new fund. It also reports that "dispersion between managers is widening", making manager selection critical. Preqin, a private markets data provider, points the same way in its Performance Pulse H2 2026 of 4 October: it calls liquidity the main constraint in private equity, with weak exits and slower distributions delaying capital recycling. Preqin's summary page gives no return figure for private equity.

Where is hedge fund demand going?

According to AIMA, demand is returning but mostly flows to large multi-strategy platforms. Top managers are capping capacity, raising fees and tightening liquidity terms, and some allocators are turning to emerging managers instead.

What are investors asking about private credit?

AIMA says investors are scrutinising amendments, payment-in-kind (PIK) income, where interest is added to the loan balance instead of paid in cash, and post-default recoveries. Insurers have become major buyers of investment-grade private credit. Preqin reports that private credit returned 8.3% over the 12 months to Q1 2026, but gained only 0.5% between Q4 2025 and Q1 2026, so momentum slowed.

Why it matters for APAC allocators

Neither AIMA nor Preqin gives Asia Pacific figures in these summaries. In our view, the useful read-across is a set of questions: how long would an exit take if distributions stay low, is there a credible secondary route, have hedge fund managers changed capacity or fees, and are PIK income and loan amendments disclosed? For regional data, see our coverage of Asian private credit fundraising: https://altassetasia.com/asian-private-credit-fundraising-falls-to-a-12-year-low-in-h1-2026-what-apac-investors-should-ask/ , our note on Preqin's Performance Pulse: https://altassetasia.com/preqin-performance-pulse-h2-2026-private-credit-returns-8-3-but-growth-slows-and-pe-liquidity-stays-tight/ , and the evergreen route for Asia-Pacific investors: https://altassetasia.com/eqt-nexus-asia-what-a-new-evergreen-private-equity-route-means-for-asia-pacific-investors/ . This is not investment advice.

What is not confirmed

AIMA's summary gives no figures for distributions, fees or manager capacity, and does not specify the currency for the $40 trillion figure. The views are those of forum participants and may not be representative. Preqin's full report is subscriber-only, so we relied on its public summary page.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the AIMA Global Investor Forum 2026?

It was held in Toronto on 14 to 15 October 2026, and AIMA published its takeaways on 19 October 2026.

What did AIMA say about private equity distributions?

AIMA says distributions remain near historic lows and fund lives are lengthening, increasing reliance on secondaries and continuation vehicles.

Does the AIMA forum summary cover Asia Pacific?

No. The published takeaways do not include Asia Pacific data or commentary, so any regional reading is an interpretation.

Sources and Method

Based on AIMA's key takeaways from the Global Investor Forum 2026 (19 October 2026) and Preqin's Performance Pulse H2 2026 (4 October 2026). Quotes and views are attributed. Details were checked on 21 October 2026 and may change.