David Haarmeyer

Private debt has been one of the fastest-growing private markets strategies and today stands at $1.5 trillion in assets under management, or just above 10 percent of the total across all strategies, according to Preqin. Private debt funds use a closed-end, commingled fund structure to raise long-term capital that is directly lent generally to below-investment-grade lower-and middle-market companies. It has been a beneficiary of tightening regulation of banking loans, growing demand for… Show more

Private debt has been one of the fastest-growing private markets strategies and today stands at $1.5 trillion in assets under management, or just above 10 percent of the total across all strategies, according to Preqin. Private debt funds use a closed-end, commingled fund structure to raise long-term capital that is directly lent generally to below-investment-grade lower-and middle-market companies. It has been a beneficiary of tightening regulation of banking loans, growing demand for financing buyouts, and a decade of (until recently) ultra-low interest rates that spurred investors to search for a higher-yielding, fixed income replacement. Like private equity, private debt is illiquid, locked-in capital but is less risky, given seniority of repayment, attractive contractual and floating rate yields, and active downside protection by fund managers. Show less

Private markets offer a distinct advantage over public markets in tapping the technology supercycle underway across the globe. With their own capital at risk and aligned with their investors' interests, private equity fund managers tend to be more informed, focused, and engaged than public fund managers. This also translates into more discipline and resilience during market downturns.

Impact investing is hitting its stride as a growing number of wealthy and institutional investors look for products that earn market-rate returns and make a positive impact on society. Large alternative asset players and global private equity groups are well placed to accelerate the growth of impact investing by leveraging their platforms that offer investment capabilities, reporting, and compliance infrastructure, along with access to operational and financial resources.

Summary of exit panel speakers from NewSpring Capital, Raymond James, Founder of Ecount and Relay Network, and Grant Thornton and supplementary market insights on the nuances of exiting a private company in today's crowded and complex market.

At over $5 trillion in assets under management, SWFs are increasingly important players in the global financial marketplace and standout as the ultimate long-term investors. Their success will turn on the quality of their governance structure in ensuring transparency of operations and independence from government interference.

The rise in the number of wealthy individuals, the weakened brands of larger established wealth managers, and the desire by new generation of high net worth individuals to gain more control over their investments are contributing to the expansion of single and multi-family offices

A look at European middle market GPs (Bridgepoint, HgCapital, MCH Private Equity, Norvestor, Clessidra, IK Investment Partners, Riverside Co., Quadriga Capital, Value4Capital), views on macroeconomic environment, debt market, state of deal market, fundraising, regulation, and other issues.

The benefits of relying more on long-term investor capital instead of taxpayer funding are fourfold: more productive infrastructure; real, long-lasting stimulus and jobs; savings for taxpayers; and stable returns for retirees and other institutional capital providers.

A look at how private equity groups grow businesses and create value for investors through add-on transactions—insights from Audax Private Equity, Summit Partners, and Sterling Partners.

A trans-Atlantic look at the deal market, fundraising, co-investment, secondaries, performance metrics, and regulation by representatives from Hamilton Lane, Hermes GPE, HarbourVest Partners, DuPont Capital, and ILPA.

Discusses the growing institutional investor interest (and allocation) to this new asset class and how it is likely to have important implications on infrastructure investment and operations.

A look at global deal making, exit, and fundraising statistics, including views of The Riverside Co's executive team on the role of culture, processes, and management in creating a successful global lower middle market private equity firm.

The report looks at the key ingredients that have enabled the region’s private equity market to grow and flourish, and become today the home of a number of globally recognized fund managers and an emerging secondary market.