Private Equity/Venture Capital/Hedge Funds/Alternative Investments 

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) produce quarterly data and analysis on VC investment activity in the U.S.; additionally publish annual reports and aggregate trend data. Check out their reports and white papers.

Private Equity

Public Value: A Primer on Private Equity (Private Equity Council)
Explores the contributions that private equity investment firms make to the global economy and detail the manner in which private equity firms strengthen companies and deliver superior returns to their investors.

Global Private Equity Report, 2008 (PWC)
Highlights the challenges private equity firms are facing: creating sustainable value, accessing emerging market growth, building business models, appreciating the busineess case for responsibility, reporting fair value, and addressing tax in a wider world. Bot the full report and a web cast are accessible on the site.

Private Equity and Strategic Asset Allocation, 2008 (Ibbotson)

Private Equity Council Research
Private Equity Council white papers offer detailed analysis of a variety of important issues involving the economy and private equity investments; links to research reports focus on issues related to private equity, economic growth, competitiveness and other related challenges, published  by the Council and other reputable organizations/consultants.

Private Equity Council Case Studies
This series of company-specific case studies  document how private equity investments have strengthened a wide variety of American companies and the products and services they bring to the retail marketplace.

PWC Private Equity Publications
PWC regularly published white papers, surveys, etc. on private equity.

Private Equity Reseach and News (Pregin)
Proprietary research and monthly "spotlight" newsletter focused on global private equity activity and performance.

Private Equity Research (Altassets.com)
Thie site aggregates the full text of PE and related global industry research and surveys. Don't overlook the series of "leading edge" reports, focused on showcasing innovation and progressive thinking in private equity.

Emerging Markets Private Equity Association Research & Publications
Good source of information about regional PE activity, regulations, and more.

Venture Capital

2008 Venture Capital Yearbook (NVCA)
This report details the state of the venture capital industry and detailed industry statistics for the past twenty years, including commitments, disbursements, IPOs, acquisitions and performance (most recent data is full year 2007).

Global Trends in Venture Capital, 2008 Survey (Deloitte/NVCA)
The 2008 annual survey focuses on the technology industry and where VCs see the greatest potential for new ideas to evole from concept to stand-alone products/technologies or life-changing products and services. Where do VCs believe the hot spots are for global innovation. Read the 2007 global report.

The Exit Slowdown and the New Venture Capital Landscape (PWC/MoneyTree Report, Sept. 2008)
Reflects on the 2nd and 3rd qtr of 2008; Predicts that the VC landscape has been altered: 1) bigger but fewer IPS; 2) shift in VC investment focus; 3) VCs as incubators for strategic investment.

Acceleration: Global Capital Venture Insights Report, 2007 (Ernst & Young)
E&R's annual review of the VC industry examines: what lies ahead for the venture capital industry and likely trends, clean technology and renewable energy, FAS 157, due diligence and auditor independence, and the biotechnology year in review.
Read the 2006 report.

HBS Venture Capital Colloquium (April 2008)
This conference addressed major issues, including 1) what strategies are most effective creating top-decile firms; 2) will strategies work in the current global environment; 3) how is globalization changing VC opportunities; 4) how should VC firms orgnaize to take advantage of domestic and international opportunities. Read the full report.

2007 Venture Impact: The Economic Impact of Venture Capital Backed Companies to the U.S. Economy (Global Insights)
This annual study, commisioned by the NVCA, measures the contribution of venture backed companies to U.S. jobs, sales, economic growth and technological progress.

European Venture Capital Association Monthly Barometer (EVCA)
The EVCA Barometer is a monthly publication that provides EVCA members with targeted desk research of relevance to the private equity and venture capital industry. Each issue covers a survey-based industry snapshot, discussing a private equity and venture capital related topic. Furthermore, the EVCA Barometer includes an analysis of macro-economic, stock market, IPO, M&A and leverage loan market indicators.

Patient Capital: How Venture Capital Investment Drives Revolutionary Medical Innovation (NVCA)
Provides an overview of key medical innovations that can be traced back to venture capital funding and real life examples of how venture capital investment has resulted in better technology and saving/improving lives.

Alternative Investing

Russell Investments Survey on Alternative Investing, 2007-2008 (Executive Summary)
Russell annually surveys large tax-exempt institutions in North America, Europe, Japan and Australia to gauge participation in and expectations for core alternative investing strategies. The report presents data by region, investment category and type of institution, including detailed analysis of use of investment strategies, investment types, geographic allocation and expected returns.

Hedge Funds

Hedge Fund Survival Start Up Guide (Alternative News, Inistitutional Investor)
Manual to everything first-time managers need to know about creating, growing and managing a successful hedge fund in today's market.

Hedge Fund Reseach and News (Pregin)
Proprietary research and monthly "spotlight" newsletter focused on global hedge fund activity and performance.

HedgeWeek Special Reports (Hedgemedia Ltd.)
Free access to most the this publisher's industry special reports and whitepapers.