Private equity (PE) continues to be a cornerstone of global M&A and capital markets, shaping how businesses operate, grow, and transform. Monitoring private equity trends is vital in 2025 as regulatory changes, technological advancements, and shifting strategies redefine the landscape. For businesses navigating corporate transactions, SEC filings, and compliance challenges, these trends highlight opportunities and risks alike.

DFIN’s fourth quarter and full-year 2024 earnings, out yesterday, illustrate that our transition to the new ActiveDisclosure platform is driving success in the marketplace.

The SEC Form F-4 is a type of registration statement that foreign companies or foreign private issuers must file in order to register certain types of securities for trading on US exchanges. This registration statement is also used for disclosures around mergers and acquisitions when a company is located outside the US.

One of the most common SEC filings that publicly traded companies make is Form 10, which is a type of registration statement companies must file in order to be classified as a reporting company under the Exchange Act. There are several scenarios in which a company might choose to do this, such as restructuring, selling off a subdivision or registering a class of securities for trading purposes. From a compliance point of view, Form 10 requires companies to disclose key pieces of information for reasons of investor protection and transparency.

2025: A Look at What’s Ahead in Capital Markets, Regulatory Compliance, and Cybersecurity Series

Shaped by a new presidential administration, economic shifts, and technological advancements, 2025 marks a transformative year, with significant changes expected across mergers and acquisitions (M&A), IPO activity, regulatory compliance, and cybersecurity.

2025: A Look at What’s Ahead in Capital Markets, Regulatory Compliance, and Cybersecurity Series

The regulatory environment for 2025 is being shaped by shifting policies under a new presidential administration and evolving global frameworks. As companies navigate these, understanding the compliance trends and preparing for potential changes will be critical to their success.

2025: A Look at What’s Ahead in Capital Markets, Regulatory Compliance, and Cybersecurity Series

Cybersecurity continues to be a critical focus for companies in 2025, with emerging threats such as AI-driven cybercrime and supply chain vulnerabilities testing organizational resilience.

Companies need access to capital to grow. The funding opportunities available to a company vary by the structure of that company, such as public or private.

While investor onboarding may not be top of mind for busy fund managers, it is critical for investors and for the success of the working relationship. A new generation of digital tools, including virtual data rooms, streamlines the onboarding process for mutual satisfaction. Explore key ways these digital tools make the investor onboarding process more efficient, with a focus on virtual data rooms or VDRs.

DFIN achieved record software solutions net sales of $82.2 million, a year-over-year increase of 12.3%, or (13.6% on an organic basis), in our 3^rd quarter 2024 earnings results, announced this week.  Software solutions net sales accounted for 45.8% of total net sales, up from 40.7% in the third quarter of 2023, and the highest percentage of our sales mix attributable to software solutions achieved to date.