Partners Group Private Equity (PEY) is about to get flush with cash, and that's creating an opportunity for what could be one of the biggest shareholder payouts the London-listed firm has seen in years.

According to an Edison Investment Research note published Wednesday, PEY pulled in €65.4 million (roughly $76.4 million) in distributions during the first nine months of 2025. But here's where it gets interesting: about 22% of the firm's net asset value sits in deals that are close to completion, while another 11% is parked in publicly traded companies that management plans to trim or exit over time.

Do the math, and you're looking at approximately €200 million ($233 million) in exit proceeds for both 2025 and 2026. That kind of liquidity tends to find its way back to shareholders, and Edison analysts are forecasting what they called "sizeable buybacks" as the firm shifts toward returning capital.

Portfolio Performance Driving the Momentum

The exit windfall isn't happening in a vacuum. PEY's underlying holdings have been performing well, with valuations jumping more than 10% over the past year on a constant-currency basis. Double-digit EBITDA growth and expanding multiples across the portfolio have done the heavy lifting.

Recent public listings of Indian retailer Vishal Mega Mart and Swiss skincare company Galderma helped validate those gains, catching strong demand in public markets and adding to PEY's valuation bump.

The Buyback Calculus

For a listed private-equity vehicle like PEY, buybacks make a lot of sense when shares trade below net asset value. Retiring stock at a discount is one of the most accretive moves you can make with excess capital, boosting NAV per share for everyone who stays in.

With corporate buybacks making a comeback globally, PEY looks ready to join the party with meaningful firepower.

Timeline and What Comes Next

Edison's team suggested a formal buyback announcement could land in early 2026, though timing depends on how quickly deals close and how much capital management decides to recycle versus return. The company's already testing the waters—it bought back 150,000 shares in October and added more purchases in November.

If the buyback program hits the high end of expectations, shareholders could see both a lift in per-share NAV and a narrowing of any discount the stock currently trades at relative to its underlying assets.