Private Equity and M&A Forum Europe round-up

Mergermarket’s Head of Auctions Rachel Lewis speaks with Debtwire’s Head of Private Capital Josh O’Neill about how the deal financing environment for private-equity buyouts is evolving as we approach the end of 2024. As we head into the final quarter of the year, European buyouts are on par with the total disclosed value seen across the whole of last year - standing at EUR 133bn. The total number of deals is, however, still down at 946 versus 1,234. Direct lenders have always had a vital role to play in financing leveraged buy-outs but their approach to auctions, to lending and to sponsors has changed in a higher interest rate and high inflationary environment. Against this backdrop, O’Neill and Lewis discuss from both of their sides of the table - equity and debt - how the changing financing environment will impact the pipeline for the rest of the year and heading into 2025. Introduction - 0:25Pipeline from the lenders’ perspective - 2:35Protecting downside risk - 7:57Lending relationships with sponsors and auctions - 12:00Opportunities in lapsed deals - 19:59Debt-for-equity swaps - 22:45Theme music: ©2012 Kick Up The Fire

Funds editor Harriet Matthews speaks to William Barrett, co-founder and managing partner at private capital adviser Reach Capital, about the changing private capital advisory market, how the firm is advising its private equity (PE) clients to navigate primary and secondary fundraises in the current market, and what’s next for the independent placement agent.Investment banks have been building up their private fund advisory capabilities in recent years via consolidation, with notable recent deals including Houlihan Lokey’s acquisition of Triago. They have also hired staff and even engaged in joint ventures with specialised firms to offer fundraising or secondaries advice to their clients.Against this backdrop, and as an independent private capital advisor, Barrett discusses how Reach Capital has continued to develop its service offering, including the addition of private wealth capabilities. He also shares insights into how Reach Capital approaches taking on primary and secondary capital raising mandates.Given the challenging fundraising market, there are certain steps that GPs can undertake to pave the way for a successful fundraise, according to Barrett. This includes knowing your client, including the context they are operating in and the other types of investment opportunities that might be on the table for them.Lastly, Barrett shares his outlook for the primary PE fundraising market and how this will develop in the coming months, and discusses how Reach Capital is planning to continue to grow its service offering and the technology and data that supports it.Introduction – 0:42Interview with William Barrett, Reach Capital – 2:19Current state and evolution of the private capital advisory market – 2:27Adapting to the needs of GP clients – 5:24Getting comfortable with taking on primary mandates – 10:00Taking on secondary mandates: comfort and transparency – 12:39Advice to GPs: speak to your clients, prepare, and tailor your LP pitches – 16:07The outlook for primary private equity fundraising – 22:07What’s next for Reach Capital? – 24:38You can listen to the podcast on your favourite podcasting platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.If you would like to hear more podcasts produced by ION Analytics, you can access the ION Analytics channel on Apple Podcasts.Theme music: ©2012 Kick Up The Fire

In this episode, funds editor Harriet Matthews and senior private equity reporter Rachel Lewis share insights from the Mergermarket Private Equity and M&A Forum Europe, exploring the outlook for private equity buyouts, exits and fundraising, as well as the outlook for specific markets, including the UK.The Forum, which took place on 21 May at the Landmark Hotel in London, brought together private equity and M&A market participants for a day of panel discussions and networking.In her keynote speech, JP Morgan’s global head of M&A Anu Aiyengar summarised the macro drivers for dealflow in 2024 across public and private markets, highlighting UK take-private activity in particular as a bright spot for dealmaking.Elsewhere at the conference, panellists discussed topics including the prevalence of preferred equity as a liquidity solution for GPs, how GPs are approaching fundraising in a liquidity constrained environment, and LP preferences and concerns in the current market.While much has been made of a potential uptick in dealmaking in 2H 2024, conference attendees were cautious when it came to making predictions. Positive indicators include strategic appetite for private equity-backed assets, with hope for interest rate cuts also expected to allow the cogs in the private equity machine to start whirring again.Mergermarket data round-up – 1:28Keynote speech takeaways – 3:51UK market sentiment – 5:20Fundraising outlook – 6:18Preferred equity and bridging the valuation gap – 7:20Returns and distributions – 10:50Large-cap exit options – 12:15You can listen to the podcast on your favourite podcasting platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.If you would like to hear more podcasts produced by ION Analytics, you can access the ION Analytics channel on Apple Podcasts.Theme music: ©2012 Kick Up The Fire

European funds editor Harriet Matthews hosts fellow funds editors Tim Burroughs (managing editor, AVCJ) and Tom Cane (North America) to discuss the insights they gleaned from the Mergermarket New York Private Equity Forum, comparing and contrasting this with PE activity in other regions, and considering what the themes that emerged mean for the outlook for the industry in the US.European funds editor Harriet Matthews hosts global funds editors Tim Burroughs (managing editor, AVCJ) and Tom Cane (North America) to discuss the insights they gleaned from the Mergermarket New York Private Equity Forum, comparing and contrasting this with PE activity in other regions, and considering what the themes that emerged mean for the outlook for the industry in the US.Attendees gathered at the Pierre Hotel in New York on 30 April to share insights on the US PE market, exploring topics including exits, value creation, valuation, GP-led secondaries, private credit and the appeal of various sectors.The Mergermarket team shares key takeaways from the day, summarising the perspectives of GPs and LPs. Cautious optimism was in the air, with an uptick in exit volume in 1Q 2024 bolstering hopes for a reopening of the exit market.Challenges remain in dealmaking and fundraising, however. Valuations have yet to be truly tested, with only the best assets typically trading over the past 12 months. Meanwhile, LPs are continuing to work out how to manage their liquidity, with distributions having fallen significantly from a high point in 2021.The team also provides insights on how the US outlook compares of that in Europe and Asia when it comes to secondaries and dealmaking, as well as the geopolitical climate.Introduction – 0:34Dealflow and valuations – 1:30The exit outlook – 4:17GP-led secondaries – 6:33The fundraising market – 9:48Further themes: value creation private credit – 12:53The US elections and the H2 outlook – 15:21You can listen to the podcast on your favourite podcasting platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.If you would like to hear more podcasts produced by ION Analytics, you can access the ION Analytics channel on Apple Podcasts.Theme music: ©2012 Kick Up The Fire

With “cautious optimism” the prevailing sentiment for the start 2024, the Mergermarket private equity (PE) reporting team takes stock of our 1Q 2024 European private equity data, providing insights into how this year could shape up for deal activity, exits and fundraising.2024 started off more strongly than 2023 in terms of private equity activity, with deal count up by 21% and disclosed deal volume more than doubling versus Q1 2023. Activity has dropped since Q4 2023, however, with deal count down by 6% and disclosed deal volume by 72%.Although a number of successful exits were announced in the past quarter, PE firms made 13% fewer exits in Q1 2024 versus Q1 2023, marking the worst quarter for exits since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.This episode begins with an overview of Mergermarket PE buyout, exit and fundraising data, highlighting the top sectors and geographies.With the PE industry is preparing for an uptick in activity over the course of the coming year, the Mergermarket team explores the current macro picture, deals to watch out for this year, and changes to deal structuring that GPs are pursuing to get deals done, including minority stake sales and equity syndication.Data overview: PE deal activity, exits and fundraising – 0:42The macro picture and the road ahead – 4:26The outlook for PE exits – 7:54Processes to look out for – 10:10The rise of deal-by-deal fundraising – 11:44Changes to deal structuring – 14:26Going back to exits – 17:00You can listen to the podcast on your favourite podcasting platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.If you would like to hear more podcasts produced by ION Analytics, you can access the ION Analytics channel on Apple Podcasts.Theme music: ©2012 Kick Up The Fire

With GP-led secondaries becoming a mainstay in the private equity exit toolbox, Mergermarket's funds editor Harriet Matthews and senior private equity reporter Rachel Lewis discuss the outlook for this growing part of the private equity market. In a guest interview, Elena Laleh, managing director at Kline Hill Partners, discusses the secondaries investor’s European and North American strategy, highlighting the sizeable opportunity to be found in GP-leds in the lower mid-market.With EUR 47.3bn raised across 16 secondaries funds active in Europe in 2023, versus EUR 30bn across 18 funds in 2022, LP demand for secondaries strategies shows no sign of slowing in the face of a tough fundraising market.While megacap fundraises of EUR 10bn-plus from the likes of Goldman Sachs, Glendower Capital and Lexington Partners typically bolster secondaries fundraising volume, with large-cap deals grabbing headlines, there is also ample opportunity in the lower mid-market, where GPs are also looking to continuation funds as an exit option, but investor capital is more scarce.Elena Laleh discusses Kline Hill’s focus on “trophy assets” in this market segment, which sees it engaging in deals of less than EUR 250m in size and deploying around two-thirds of its capital in the US and one third in Europe.She also shares her view on whether an anticipated exits uptick will affect GP-led secondaries dealflow, and discusses the importance of due diligence, returns and alignment.Following the interview, the Mergermarket team dissects the key takeaways, sharing data on PE exits in the lower mid-market and recent reporting on secondaries activity in this market segment.Introduction – 0:38Current state of the GP-leds market – 1:34Secondaries fundraising: data recap and LP appetite – 4:35Interview with Elena Laleh, Kline Hill Partners – 8:48Kline Hill’s GP-led strategy and lower mid-market focus – 9:56US versus European GP-led secondaries market dynamics – 11:41GP-led secondaries and exit environment optimism – 12:52Valuations in GP-led deals – 15:58Returns in the GP-led secondaries market – 18:24Capital supply in the secondaries market – 21:15Kline Hill’s view on alignment – 23:37Key takeaways – 25:16Lower mid-market PE exits – 26:15GP due diligence in secondaries deals – 29:06Mergermarket reporting on recent lower mid-market GP-leds – 31:03Adviser adaptation and market consolidation – 33:20You can listen to the podcast HERE, as well as your favourite podcasting platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.If you would like to hear more podcasts produced by ION Analytics, you can access the ION Analytics channel on Apple Podcasts.Theme music: ©2012 Kick Up The Fire

Mergermarket’s funds editor Harriet Matthews speaks to Pierre-Antoine de Selancy, managing partner and co-founder of net asset value (NAV) lender 17Capital, about the evolution of NAV financing and its use cases in the current market, as well as wider industry reservations about the use of this type of leverage. The use of and interest in NAV financing has been growing in recent years. In times of restricted liquidity and a tough fundraising market, GPs can use this tool for situations including refinancing a group of portfolio companies to take advantage of M&A opportunities.De Selancy addresses some of the questions that LPs have around NAV financing, arguing that using leverage is a core skill of private equity professionals in creating value for investors, and the use of NAV financing is part of this process. “If limited partners are worried about GPs putting in place debt, they should not be investing in private equity,” he said. 90% of the money used in NAV financing goes into portfolio companies, whereas 10% is used to make distributions, he said, playing down concerns around “fake DPI”. “It’s not a competitive world – it’s an ultra-competitive world,” he said, noting that LPs now have more choice than ever and are applying increasing scrutiny to how GPs are creating value and balancing this with risk. It is important that GPs “do the right thing” for their LPs, he said, emphasizing the importance of communication.Lastly, de Selancy discusses the future of NAV financing as a “new niche” and “the fastest growing market in private credit”, features which are likely to drive the growth of 17Capital itself.0:39 – Introduction2:54 – Interview with Pierre-Antoine de Selancy3:26 – 17Capital’s strategy4:49 – Current use cases for NAV financing7:13 – NAV financing versus continuation funds11:27 – Cost of capital dynamics14:42 – NAV financing and LP sentiment25:49 – What’s next for the NAV lending industry?28:20 – 17Capital’s future growthYou can listen to the podcast on your favourite podcasting platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.If you would like to hear more podcasts produced by ION Analytics, you can access the ION Analytics channel on Apple Podcasts.Theme music: ©2012 Kick Up The Fire

In this week’s episode, Mergermarket's funds editor Harriet Matthews and senior private equity reporter Rachel Lewis explore how private equity (PE) firms are turning to various options in an effort to secure succession between generations of management, with a guest interview from Jon Harvey, Head of Relationship Management at Investec Fund Solutions.As the PE industry matures and grows, with GPs growing from single-strategy firms to multi-strategy asset managers, the themes of succession and the value within private equity firms have grown in prominence.The team kicks off the episode by discussing some recent examples of succession, including the reported search for a chairman at Bridgepoint [LON:BPT], and Cinven’s recent managing partner shake-up.Investec’s Harvey starts off by discussing the rise in prominence of the theme of succession, some of the routes available to GPs (including GP stake sales, IPOs, and management company financing). Harvey discusses how the theme of succession is linked to wider pressure within the PE market, including exits, fundraising, and securing a GP commitment for their next fund. He also shares his insights on what GPs should consider to shore up culture and create alignment within their teams when managing succession.Lastly, the Mergermarket team discusses key takeaways from the interview, and also discusses some situations where succession has not been so smooth, as well as the importance of succession and monetisation for growth, and the issue of team retention.Introduction – 0:38Recent examples of succession plans – 2:14Interview with Jon Harvey, Head of Relationship Management at Investec Fund Solutions – 4:40Triggers for succession – 5:17Pros and cons of different succession paths – 8:59LP alignment and GP commitments – 13:04How to use permanent capital – 17:31When succession goes wrong – 23:40Monetisation for growth – 25:00Retention in PE – 29:25You can listen to the podcast on your favourite podcasting platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.If you would like to hear more podcasts produced by ION Analytics, you can access the ION Analytics channel on Apple Podcasts.Theme music: ©2012 Kick Up The Fire

Joerg Zirener, a partner at One Equity Partners (OEP), speaks to Mergermarket’s funds editor Harriet Matthews about the firm’s mid-market strategy and his outlook for 2024, covering topics including buyer and seller valuation expectations, mid-market value creation levers, and where OEP sees opportunities for dealmaking.Founded in 2001 and with operations in Europe and the US, OEP’s team has made more than 120 platform investments and more than 300 add-on acquisitions. “We look for what we want to buy, instead of what’s for sale,” says Zirener of the firm’s largely proprietary origination process.Zirener is “cautiously optimistic” for 2024 as the sponsor continues to find ways to deploy equity and support its portfolio companies. “We are specifically continuing to look at opportunities to support companies to add to their capabilities, build scale, enter new markets, enhance their competitive position in their respective markets, so all around transformative combinations,” he says.Areas of focus for OEP in 2024 include digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as the industrials sector. It is also continuing to focus on buy-and-build, allowing its companies to gain scale in a range of ways, including geographically.Based in Frankfurt, and having joined OEP in 2006, Zirener has operated in the private equity industry across a number of different dealmaking climates. Rounding off the interview, he shares his perspective on how the current market compares to that of the time when he first entered the industry.Introduction – 0:30OEP’s strategy – 2:42Sourcing deals with a European and US presence – 5:01The appeal of the mid-market – 7:52Exits and investment pace – 12:04Value creation levers – 17:35Overcoming dealmaking challenges in 2024 – 20:00Perspective on the current market – 25:22If you would like to hear more podcasts produced by ION Analytics, you can access the ION Analytics channel on Apple Podcasts.Theme music: ©2012 Kick Up The Fire