Spotlight: A PEI Podcast

How covid halted strategic sophistication

Having paused, investors will once again begin expanding into more adventurous areas, says William Nicol of M&G.

Is action living up to the rhetoric on gender diversity?

Journalists across the PEI stable share their insights on an issue that has become top of mind for private fund managers and investors.

Is it finally time for asset recycling in the US?

We catch up with IFM Investors executive director Tom Osborne on the new bipartisan infra plan, how to implement asset recycling in the US, PPPs, the new IFA and much more.

True Ventures talks scouting diverse talent and what a ‘VP of culture’ does

Co-founder Phil Black describes how the VC firm tracks diversity metrics and works with founders to grow inclusive teams.

Where did all the distressed money go?

Large amounts of capital have been raised for distressed strategies in private debt and real estate, but thanks to government support schemes, finding a home for it is proving a challenge.

SPONSORED: The democratisation of private markets is under way

Regulators and fund managers are adapting to accommodate greater retail investor participation in private markets, say SEI's Ross Ellis and ANZU Research's Steve Unzicker. 

Why NextEnergy launched the world's first international solar fund

Founding partner and chief executive Michael Bonte-Friedheim explains why the UK-based firm created NextPower III, the only dedicated international solar fund.

Why the American Jobs Plan is an opportunity not to be missed

I Squared Capital founder Sadek Wahba discusses why the Biden administration’s infra plan is a crucial first step, and how a US version of the World Bank could play a key role in mobilising private capital.

What to do with all the excess retail?

Executives from Angelo Gordon, Nuveen Real Estate and Canada Life make the business case for their preferred alternative use for the property type.

Behind the latest PE and private debt fundraising numbers

PEI's editorial team takes a look at the record $180bn raised for private equity in Q1 2021 and how average fund sizes for private debt funds topped $1bn for the first time during the quarter.

How OMERS’ infrastructure portfolio bucked the trend in 2020

Philippe Busslinger, the Canadian pension’s head of infrastructure in Europe, explains what was behind its 8.6% return last year and how it plans to battle increased competition.

SPONSORED: How private equity can unlock value in technology

Ryan Lanpher at Permira says partnering with strong management teams is the best way to capture value during these unprecedented times.

Inside KKR’s employee ownership initiative

New Private Markets talks to Pete Stavros, partner and co-head of Americas private equity at KKR, about the firm’s approach to giving employees equity in their companies, and how it could catch on.

ESG-linked fund finance: Sustainability step-change or window-dressing?

Editors from across the PEI stable jump on Zoom to swap thoughts on a growing trend in private markets: linking the cost of fund-level credit facilities to ESG performance.

Why China’s policies are creating a funding gap

Government actions are generating opportunities in a range of sectors. Celia Yan of BlackRock tells us where to look.

What does the refinancing wave mean for me?

A level of repayments is coming that some investors are prepared for and others may not be. Eric Lloyd and Jonathan Bock of Barings discuss what happens when loans repay.

Real assets under Biden

Senior reporters and editors from PERE, Infrastructure Investor and Agri Investor dig into the changes most likely to impact their respective asset classes under the new president and Democrat-controlled Congress.

How a Democrat-controlled US government could impact private equity

Senior editors from across PEI Media’s titles discuss what they’ll have their eyes on in the coming months, from taxes and SEC oversight to the possibility of the industry being thrown into the public spotlight.

So you’re thinking of spinning out?

Carlo Pirzio-Biroli, managing partner of Glendower Capital, shares his top tips on how to set up your own fund.

What's ahead for Australian commercial real estate lending?

Some investors might shun commercial real estate debt because of the drastic changes that we have seen since the pandemic. Martin Lechner of Corecam and Wayne Lasky of Maxcap Group share their insights on the investing environment down under.

SPONSORED: Four auto trends ripe for PE investment

MiddleGround Capital partners John Stewart and Scot Duncan say major supply chain disruptions are opening up opportunities for private equity managers.

In depth with Carlyle and TPG’s diversity and inclusion heads

Kara Helander and Anna Edwin discuss how they are building diversity, equity and inclusion within their firms, and how the racial justice movement and pandemic have generated momentum for sustained action.

Why one man left private equity to fight for racial justice

Rendel Solomon discusses why he walked away from a successful career at a $1bn asset manager, and shares some frank thoughts on the state of diversity and inclusion in the industry.

In depth with Hamilton Lane's Mario Giannini

Hamilton Lane’s long-time CEO explains the role he thinks private markets can play in the post-coronavirus rebuild, and why we shouldn’t worry about the public markets rally.

How VCs connect with co-workers and portfolio companies during the pandemic

Sandeep Bhadra of Vertex Ventures US discusses how the firm has used White Claw drinks and cookies to maintain communications. He also says initial Zoom meetings will remain in a post-pandemic world.

Evercore's Nigel Dawn on the secondaries opportunities to come

We catch up with investment bank Evercore's private capital advisory head, who discusses single-asset transactions, secondaries deals in the era of covid-19 and what's in store for the market this year.

Find our analysis of Evercore's mid-year report here.

How to value assets during covid-19

Two valuation management firms share their strategies for assessing a property’s worth during a time of massive dislocation and uncertainty.

Rise of SPACs, demand for long holds and adjusting PE operations in the pandemic

We discuss the factors driving well-known executives to form special purpose acquisition vehicles and take a look at how private equity portfolio companies have adjusted to combat covid-19. 

Who will be the winners and losers in mid-market lending?

Andrew Lockhart of Metrics Credit Partners and Kelly Morton of Skye Capital Advisory discuss what's happened to portfolio companies and deal pipelines since the March meltdown, and what the implications are of public relief funds for mid-market lenders.

Why this crisis is different than the last for private credit

Is opportunistic credit the next big thing to watch in the asset class? What are others in the markets doing now? Bruce Tomlinson of Sunsuper and Bev Durston of EdgeHaven answer these key questions.

Women and secondaries – a match made in heaven?

We speak with three prominent female secondaries professionals – Kate Ashton, Martha Heitmann and Johanna Lottmann – and chair of industry body Level 20 George Anson to discuss the barriers to promoting women in secondaries, and how to break them down.

Is coronavirus a blip on the agriculture forecast sheet?

As the pandemic heightens food security anxieties, and just-in-time supply chains suffer, we discuss how the outbreak will impact the asset class’s growth trajectory. We're joined by Fiera Comox partner for agriculture Matthew Corbett and Benjamin Subei, principal at the Boston Consulting Group.

The big hitters thinking of jumping ship

Some experienced investment professionals are seeing their funds take a hit from the pandemic and are considering moving to new pastures. This is one trend identified by Will Invine of Stem7 in a discussion of key issues in alternative assets recruitment.

Three months of lockdown – how are LPs and GPs adapting?

Our senior editors discuss the findings of our latest surveys looking at how private equity investors and their managers are doing business during the covid-19 crisis.

Also be sure to check out our Investor outlook on 2020 in light of covid-19 presentation at www.privateequityinternational.com to see more results from the LP survey.

What you need to know about the fundraising pioneers of 2020

What are 'dislocation' funds all about and what are the implications for LPs? Tavneet Bakshi of FirstAvenue, Trevor Castledine of bfinance and Jessica O’Mary of Ropes & Gray discuss the key issues.

How sunny is the outlook for renewables amid covid-19?

The long-term health of the sector is positive if it can navigate its short-term challenges, according to industry experts Richard Nourse of Greencoat Capital and Jeffrey Altman of Finnadvice.

Why the future of private real estate is digital

Digital Bridge CEO Marc Ganzi and National Real Estate Advisors CEO Jeff Kanne discuss the evolution of private investment in data centers and why the covid-19 pandemic could be a net-positive for the sector.

Which private asset classes are experiencing a boom in dealflow?

Distressed debt and special sits, food production, healthcare and certain VC strategies have received growing attention as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

What midstream risks are you not taking?

As low demand and commodity price volatility roils the energy sector, BlackRock's Mark Florian talks with Infrastructure Investor's Jordan Stutts about how an oil production agreement and other market trends are impacting midstream infrastructure assets.

LP defaults, force majeure and over-collateralisation amid covid-19

Our senior editorial teams covering PE, private debt, infrastructure, real estate and secondaries discuss the latest in how private markets are responding to the coronavirus pandemic. Plus: ways firms are helping people out in the crisis.

Pulled deals, chaotic fundraisings, skittish LPs: The corona effect

Across the private equity industry, the impacts of the pandemic-spurred economic downturn are being felt in dealmaking, which has slowed or paused fundraising processes while LPs work to understand the status of their portfolios.

How covid-19 is hitting private markets

Are private asset classes better positioned to weather the crisis? Our senior editorial teams covering PE, private debt, infrastructure, real estate and secondaries provide insight.

When and how to build an in-house IR team

Executive recruiters Mary Gay Townsend and Simon Nixon discuss the pros and cons of having your own investor relations team – and whether it's worth it.

Why real estate investors do not love today's low interest rates

Institutional capital is worried about the long-term impacts of 'a global stage that we've never seen before.' Anthony Breault of Oregon State Treasury, Greg MacKinnon of Pension Real Estate Association and Brant Bryan of Cresa tell us what a 'lower-for-longer' interest rate environment means for private real estate.

How the secondaries sellside is dealing with a generational crisis

Executive recruiters Mary Gay Townsend and Simon Nixon, who've helped place some of the biggest names in secondaries over the years, discuss the top issue facing the industry.

Operating partners share their horror stories

Executives from EQT, Permira, The Riverside Company and NewQuest Capital Partners share some of the lessons they've learned, as well as what operating partners can do to help create value and ensure alignment at the pre-deal stage, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.

Why your next deal sourcing avenue may not have funds

Independent sponsors, once known as fundless sponsors, have proliferated in recent years as they shed a reputation for inability to deliver, and have appealed to LPs wanting to commit capital to individual deals.

Fiduciary duty has 'been going in the wrong direction'

ILPA senior policy counsel Chris Hayes discusses the organization's new model limited partnership agreement, including how it seeks to restore fiduciary duty to the LP-GP relationship.

CalSTRS on becoming 'the partner of choice'

California State Teachers' Retirement System deputy CIO Scott Chan and head of real estate Mike DiRe dive into the pension’s new investment strategy: the collaborative model, which prioritizes joint ventures, separate accounts and direct acquisitions.

How to tackle your cybersecurity issues

Agio founder and CEO Bart McDonough discusses strengthening the GP-LP bond, beginning cybersecurity integration at the C-suite, and the need for firms to adopt tailored solutions.