Author Archives: Victor De Pierrefeu

Summit to Plummet

Europe’s venture capital market has been in somewhat of a freefall this year, with deal value 60% lower than the first half of 2022 and 34% lower than the second half of 2022, according to Pitchbook’s Q2 2023 European Venture Report.Small deals, up to EUR1 million in size, have effectively entered a cryogenic chamber, signaling bad news for companies searching for seed and pre-seed capital, as VC managers focus more on supporting existing investee companies. This has contributed to a slower pace of dealmaking, as the teeth of a higher interest-rate economy begin to bite. Exits too have all but dropped off a cliff, totaling a mere EUR3.5 billion for the first six months of the year. It is enough to give VC managers and their investors a dose of the blues.

inspired by Silicon Canals

Out of credit

Deal-making might be about to get a little harder for PE firms using Citigroup, with news that it is curbing its subscription credit facilities.Not ideal for those who use credit lines to do deals to avoid issuing capital calls to LPs. The bank has decided that PE funds that are not taking advantage of its wider range of products and services will have the credit tap turned off. Could this become a wider trend as US banks assess the profitability of PE funds? It might be a stretch to call this a credit crunch, but it could place some GPs in an awkward position if they wake up to find that their subscription has been canceled.

inspired by Yahoo Finance Australia

PE-arl of the Orient

All roads are leading to Asia Pacific, as mid-market PE firms seek to expand their LP base.Fund-of-fund investors such as Asia Heritage are joining forces with GP stakes investors including Bonaccord Capital to help some of its mid-market managers develop new relationships with Asian LPs. Could this be a feast in the East, or just a flash in the pan? Asian investors including UHNW individuals are looking to tap in to alternative investments in the West. Given that the region is home to more than 67,000 of them, it could well present a kingdom of riches for US firms to tap in to over the coming years. US managers will doubtless be hoping that it becomes the PE-arl of the Orient, as they expand their fundraising efforts.

inspired by Pitchbook

Lean. Green. PE machine.

Private equity is the most useful investment vehicle to achieve meaningful impact.. According to research by Pensions for Purpose, sponsored by Columbia Threadneedle Investments, 43% of those surveyed were allocating to impact funds in the PE space but 60% of those who currently do not, believe it is the best way to achieve positive impact. As such, there would seem to be a lot of spare horsepower to fire the PE engine over the coming months and years. PE managers who are thinking about adding impact funds to the stable of vehicles should consider that investors do not wish to compromise on performance. A solid risk/return profile was the second most cited reason by survey respondents (25%), underscoring the fact that pension funds do not believe impact investing should necessarily mean hitting the brakes on performance.

inspired by Investment & Pensions Europe (IPE)

One for all and four for one

BMO Global Asset Management has tapped in to in its inner Musketeer and created a new “four for one” fund vehicle with Partners Group. . The single vehicle will give high net worth investors easy access to four asset classes spanning private equity, private credit, real estate and infrastructure. It is believed that around 20% of the fund will remain in cash in order to provide sufficient liquidity for redemptions. It is yet another sign of the growing democratization of private markets, as asset managers look to broaden their investor base. This new “access all areas” fund will be the first of three simplified private market funds at BMO. And the fact that there will be no capital calls and low minimum investments means that we might start to see more of these “four for one” specials hitting the marketplace, and lead to an even bigger influx of investor capital.

inspired by CNW Group