Private Equity Talks

This second instalment discusses data warehousing, the infrastructure that sits around it, data governance, data ingestion, data analytics and how these components impact cybersecurity. According to Ralph, it’s more important than ever to understand these elements well. He places particular importance on the compliance part of data management, ensuring only the necessary people have access to the systems. Ralph shares his deep technical expertise on how to protect data management systems from cyber threats. He also discusses various configurations in terms of working with partners and third party providers.

Data and the various ways in which private equity can apply it has become a hugely important topic in light of the recent disruption. While the industry is well aware of the advantages that data applications can bring about - across all functions (deal doing, portfolio monitoring, fundraising and operations) - the highly nuanced nature of private equity has meant that it's more challenging to apply generic software and technologies seen in adjacent industries. This first instalment explores the nuances of developing data strategies, depending on the firm’s size, focus and willingness to adopt new technologies. We also discuss mindsets needed and common cultural barriers to integrating data applications, as well as the importance of collaboration and selecting the right partners to work with.

If you only need a sentence for the description: use this: This first instalment explores the nuances of developing data strategies, depending on the firm’s size, focus and willingness to adopt new technologies.

Private capital funds have been diligently upgrading and improving their data, digital and technological infrastructure in recent years. With these kinds of projects often requiring lengthy implementations, migrations and staff training - many GPs find themselves unsure as to how to progress with upgrades and changes previously planned, but likely put on hold due to Coronavirus.

Danny Trentacosta of MUFG Investor Services sits down with The Drawdown Editor Alice Murray to discuss why now is the perfect time for operational leaders to return to and reassess their upgrade plans.

Private capital funds have been diligently upgrading and improving their data, digital and technological infrastructure in recent years. With these kinds of projects often requiring lengthy implementations, migrations and staff training - many GPs find themselves unsure as to how to progress with upgrades and changes previously planned, but likely put on hold due to Coronavirus.

Danny Trentacosta of MUFG Investor Services sits down with The Drawdown Editor Alice Murray to discuss why now is the perfect time for operational leaders to return to and reassess their upgrade plans.

ESG factors have taken a central role in business decisions. Its influence extends to where investors are directing capital, how businesses interact with counterparties, and how consumers spend.

In today's podcast, we sit down with Marie Fitzpatrick of JTC Group and Alison Hampton of Alma Verde Advisors to explore and present some ideas for how to manage this constantly evolving and increasingly important subject

In today's podcast, we sit down with Mounir Guen [Moose] CEO of MVision and Johanna Barr, MD & Global Co-Head of Limited Partner Services  from Advent International to discuss the state of the fundraising market, how to gain traction with LPs and how long the fundraising bull  run can keep going.

On today's programme we will delve into the world of asset-based lending (ABL).

Before the financial crisis, ABL was a debt product on the fringes, the place to go when trouble loomed and mainstream lenders had shut their doors. Although still seen as a niche product by many, especially in the private equity community, a thriving community of independent providers have worked hard to change perceptions and show sponsors what they can do.

It hasn’t always been easy. Debt is plentiful and direct lenders have swooped in and rapidly grown market share. But ABL has been making inroads. According to UK Finance, the number of businesses using ABL facilities now stands at 40,000 and the number of larger companies with a turnover of £10m or more

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Today we will be discussing how the emergence of unitranche has transformed acquisition finance markets over the last five to ten years; and what its popularity means for the future.

Over less than a decade, unitranche has grown from a quirky debt offering provided by a few new market entrants into the financing structure of choice for the majority of mid-market deals.

Unitranche lenders ripped up the acquisition finance rule book, shedding the need for amortisation and certain covenants and simplifying capital structures through the provision of one piece of debt at a single price point. It has helped direct lenders to hoover up market share from the once dominant High Street banks and opened up the market for a new generation of debt funds and challenger banks

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At first glance taking on debt may seem like an odd thing for start-ups that are cash flow negative to consider, but the creation of a venture debt community has been identified as a crucial cornerstone of any thriving start-up ecosystem.

Indeed, in her eponymous and landmark study on that state of the UK start-up scene, serial entrepreneur Sherry Coutu listed the creation of a thriving venture debt market as a key enabler of rapid company growth. The numbers tell the story. In the thriving and established US venture market, around a fifth of US companies take on venture debt. In the UK the figure is less than 10%.

This podcast will help understand how venture debt supports companies in scale-up mode, and dig into why sponsors and entrepreneurs should seriously consider taking it on. 

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