Private Markets

The role of the Chief Financial Officer in private equity is undergoing a significant transformation. Historically seen as financial overseers, private equity CFOs are now emerging as strategic leaders at the heart of decision-making processes. These executives are shifting from being just custodians of financial data to becoming integral partners in shaping business strategies...

Vercel, an artificial intelligence startup valued at $3.25 billion, has announced the addition of Steffan Tomlinson to its board of directors. Tomlinson, currently the CFO at Stripe, brings extensive experience in guiding developer-focused tech companies like Palo Alto Networks, Confluent, and Aruba Networks through their initial public offerings...

Private equity activity has seen a marked resurgence in 2024, with global deal value rising 36% and volume increasing by 18% year-to-date compared to the same period in 2023. In Q3 alone, 135 significant deals were announced, driven by narrowing valuation gaps and improved financing conditions. Leveraged buyout-related loan volumes in the U.S. surged 65% from Q2, with $59 billion in announced transactions, while European loan activity rose to $65.7 billion, triple the amount recorded last year...

BlackRock has announced a definitive agreement to acquire HPS Investment Partners, a leading global credit investment manager with approximately $148 billion in client assets, for $12 billion. The transaction, paid entirely in BlackRock equity through SubCo Units exchangeable into common stock, is set to close in mid-2025, subject to regulatory approvals...

Despite the uncertainties introduced by the recent U.S. election, tech companies are increasingly considering the M&A arena in light of alleviating inflation and advancements in AI, according to KPMG experts. The average contract size has experienced substantial growth this year, while the volume has grown modestly...

Private equity (PE) continues to demonstrate its potential for outperforming public markets, as evidenced by the Global PE Index surpassing the MSCI World Index by over 500 basis points annually over the past 25 years. This outperformance stems largely from private equity managers' active role in value creation and their long-term investment approach, which contrasts with the short-term focus of many public market investors...

The private credit market surpassed $1.5 trillion globally in early 2024 and is projected to grow to $2.8 trillion by 2028. This surge reflects its emergence as a vital financing alternative to traditional loans and bonds. Factors driving growth include stricter bank lending criteria, fewer disclosure requirements, and the appeal of flexibility for borrowers...

Global private equity (PE) mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity is showing signs of revival, pacing 12% ahead of estimates for the first half of 2024, according to a report by Alvarez & Marsal, citing Pitchbook data. However, the number of deals, at 4,210 worth $325.2 billion, still lags behind the first half of 2023 by 8% in volume and 17% in aggregate value...

High-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and family offices are increasingly exploring private markets for portfolio diversification and enhanced returns, traditionally a domain reserved for institutional investors. Shenal Kakad, Head of Private Markets at Barclays Private Bank, highlights the expanding access to private equity, venture capital, and infrastructure funds for private clients through new investment vehicles...

Global investment firm Permira has completed the acquisition of Squarespace, in a deal valued at approximately $7.2 billion. As a result, Squarespace has been delisted from the New York Stock Exchange and will now operate as a private company. Squarespace’s Founder and CEO, Anthony Casalena, retained a substantial portion of his equity and will continue leading the company alongside its current executive team...