March 2017 Issue

The private equity game changer award went to Robert Smith, the founder of Vista Equity Partners, which is about to close the largest-ever technology fund.

The biggest deals and the most successful firms in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.  

From Canada to South America, the biggest and best firms and deals.

From large-cap firms to frontier dealmakers, the companies that stood out from the pack.

Britain’s referendum on EU membership dominated discussion in Europe this year.

Despite high valuations and record amounts of dry powder, the US remains the ‘preferred destination’ to make solid returns.

A second decline in annual deal volume in 2016 meant secondaries professionals were forced to innovate and widen their focus, write Adam Le and Annabelle Ju.

North Asian private equity firms spent 2016 shopping abroad as Chinese outbound deals hit record levels.

In a year that started with the ‘Panama Papers’ the pace of regulatory change has accelerated.

Two surprise electoral victories created uncertainty about the global outlook. By Graeme Kerr, Claire Wilson and Victoria Robson.

CPPIB is positioning itself as a provider of more than just LP capital. PEI talks to the pension’s head of secondaries and co-investments, Michael Woolhouse, to find out more.

China and Turkey were the standout fundraisers in the emerging markets in 2016, but total levels dipped slightly from 2015, according to EMPEA data.  

It's time for team players, says Guy Hands.

As the global political landscape shifts in unpredictable ways, our European mid-market roundtable participants are keeping a cool head and staying on the lookout for good deals.

Does Stephen Schwarzman's big birthday bash mark a return to the brash days of 2007?

First Round applauds Adveq's sponsorship of a prestigious ballet competition.

It seemed a match made in heaven: European private equity focus from SJ Berwin with the Asian expertise of King & Wood Mallesons. How did it all go wrong?

Advent International and Bain Capital have teamed up for the eighth time. Is the club deal back?

Alternative asset managers with big ambitions have realised having balance sheet capital is profoundly useful.

Trump’s immigration policy could affect current employees and future recruitment in private equity and venture capital.

Scrapping the Fiduciary Rule could be all the encouragement firms need to launch funds targeting commitments from individual investors.

Funds of funds can pave the way for new strategies in an already diverse market.

Separately managed accounts give investors and GPs the ability to respond to circumstances - and they are in high demand.

Larry Thuet, managing director and co-founder of secondaries advisor Park Hill, tells us whether the market is changing and whether securitisations will increase.

Many in US private equity are desperately hoping for far-reaching regulatory relief under President Trump, but only mildly optimistic it will happen.

The former Federal Reserve chairman on some of the most pressing economic issues facing the world.

Altus Capital Partners expanded Rocla's freight capabilities to make it a leading rail infrastructure company.

The lack of private equity in defined contribution plans is the reason they are underperforming against defined benefit schemes.

The former Abraaj Group MENA chief investment officer - and its first female partner - has become CIO at Savola Group, one of Saudi Arabia’s largest listed companies.

Whether through subscription lines of credit or preferred equity, general partners are actively increasing their use of corporate finance at the fund level.

PEI talks to an anonymous LP about the pros and cons of fund finance.

The last decade has seen big changes to the leveraged loan market, with borrowers gaining more freedom to act as they like.

Financial sponsors are increasingly turning to private debt funds, a trend that will be encouraged if European regulators get their way.

GPs are reporting benign credit conditions and stiff competition for deals, says a survey by investment consultant Caplantic.

US law firm Debevoise & Plimpton’s London-based partners Alan Davies and Pierre Maugüé discuss transatlantic financing trends, including the long-awaited European leveraged lending guidance.

Funding against investor commitments can both reduce the bureaucratic burden and boost returns, says Peter Brown, head of funds at RBS International.