Private equity raised an all-time record amount of capital in 2017. Fueled by low yields and investors' willingness to forgo traditional risk protections, it is expected to play a growing role in financial markets. But industry leaders are split on whether the size of the funds and dry powder constitute a bubble. Will the golden age of private equity continue? Or has the market turned a corner? How would global markets absorb all of that cash? And as the number of public-traded companies shrink, will private equity become the more popular market? How will interest rates impact the deals that have been financed with cheap debt?

Moderator
Leslie Picker
Reporter, CNBC

Speakers
Leon Black
Chairman, CEO and Director, Apollo Global Management, LLC

Bruce Flatt
CEO, Brookfield Asset Management Inc.

Robert Smith
Founder, Chairman and CEO, Vista Equity Partners

Jonathan Sokoloff
Managing Partner, Leonard Green & Partners, L.P.