Beyond the Balance Sheet: SIFMA’s Roundtable on Valuing the Private Markets
· Alternative Investments · MarketsFN Team
The question of how to value private markets has never been more urgent. On September 4, 2025, the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) will host its Private Markets Valuation Roundtable, a virtual event designed to bring clarity to one of the most complex areas of modern finance.
The roundtable opens with remarks from SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda, highlighting the regulatory significance of the discussion. His presence signals Washington’s growing focus on valuation practices across private equity and private credit, two asset classes that have surged in importance for institutional investors but still lack the transparency of public markets.
Unlike listed equities, where daily prices provide a reference point, private assets operate in an opaque environment. Their valuation depends on models, assumptions, and judgment calls—whether discounted cash flow projections, market comparables, or adjustments to net asset value. These methods can produce wide discrepancies, raising concerns for investors, auditors, and regulators alike.
The event comes at a time when private capital is reshaping global portfolios. Pension funds, endowments, and sovereign wealth funds have dramatically increased their allocations to private markets over the past decade. Yet as allocations grow, so too does the need for consistency. Even small differences in valuation can translate into billions of dollars in investor reporting and regulatory compliance.
SIFMA’s roundtable aims to bridge this gap, offering a platform where industry leaders and regulators can debate best practices. Key themes are expected to include the treatment of illiquidity premiums, the role of independent appraisers, and the balance between internal fund valuations and external audits. Accounting standards such as ASC 820 and IFRS will also feature prominently in the discussion.
For industry professionals, the stakes could not be higher. Market volatility in recent years has exposed the fragility of some valuation models, while regulatory bodies have signaled that alternative assets will come under greater scrutiny. By convening stakeholders from across the spectrum, SIFMA hopes to promote greater alignment in how valuations are conducted, disclosed, and monitored.
Ultimately, the Private Markets Valuation Roundtable is not just about technical methodologies—it is about safeguarding trust in a sector that increasingly underpins the global financial system. As private markets grow, so too does the imperative to ensure valuations are not only rigorous but also transparent and credible.
Registration for the event is open through SIFMA’s official website. Interested participants can sign up here: SIFMA Private Markets Valuation Roundtable