Private equity firms in Asia have struggled to raise capital and swing deals in 2016 at the same pace as in recent years amid a regional economic cooldown and geopolitical uncertainty ahead of the U.S. presidential election, though experts say the slowdown isn't the first step towards catastrophe.

Asian private equity firms have raised a combined $19 billion from limited partners thus far this year, according to data from a report released last month by research firm Preqin, a significant drop-off from 2015's total of $47 billion. The total value of buyout deals clinched by Asian private equity firms has suffered as well, with just $12 billion worth of deals inked thus far this year compared to $52 billion in 2015.

Originally published in Law360 on October 3, 2016.