A GP at a lower-middle market private equity firm and one of its LP backers discuss the attractions of the small-deal market, the ‘entrepreneurship through acquisition’ model of deal sourcing, the universal need for tech upgrades across the US business landscape, and the diversity of founders and CEOs at smaller companies.

The veteran private equity investor, who rose to prominence with the turnaround of Japan’s Shinsei Bank, discusses why he is bullish on wealth management, the “real” phenomenon of disintermediation, his analysis of the 2008 financial meltdown, why the next recession will not hit banks as hard, and why he is worried about China. Sponsored by Alter Domus.

Value-creation experts from Sun Capital and AlixPartners discuss the latest techniques for operational due diligence ahead of private equity investments. The experts also discuss the advantage that PE firms can get by having operating partners engage in due diligence as early as possible, the need for speed in ODD, and the limits in using benchmarking to assess company performance.

The veteran financial services private equity investor explains why he thinks Bitcoin as a method of payment is “laughable,” and why he has one bet on a crypto-related company.

Behind the creation of Novata, which aims to solve the “chaos” and “frustration” around ESG reporting. Two senior executives from Novata and Hamilton Lane (one of Novata’s backers) discuss the goals of the consortium, which also includes the Ford Foundation, Omidyar Network and S&P, and why GPs and LPs alike have been searching for a better way to track and quantify ESG data.

Part 2 of 2. A co-founder of private equity firm Ara Partners describes his firm’s investment in a plastics recycling platform called Circulus. Troy Thacker also discusses how to turn plastic waste into resins for many applications as well as the application of new technologies to sustainable business plans.

Three private equity value-creation experts discuss the rise of ESG in private equity and how it is increasingly being used by GPs for risk assessment and value-creation. The conversation includes an overview of Bregal Partners’ history as an ESG-centric investor, aligning with ESG-focused founders, measuring ESG impact on financial performance and setting carbon-neutral goals.

A founder of Ara Partners details the private equity firm’s strategy of helping portfolio companies win market share through lower carbon footprints and more environmentally friendly business practices. Troy Thacker also discusses the firm’s recently raised $1.1 billion fund, how to manage execution risk in ESG initiatives, how regulations and consumer preferences are driving sustainable business practices and the rise of carbon-capture technologies. Part 1 of a 2-part podcast.

Part 2 of 2. A senior partner at a major investment firm discusses how private equity can transform traditional businesses into future-facing, sustainable winners. Chris Sand of Ardian also discusses: the right KPIs for ESG, how to help companies improve their environmental impact, promoting gender diversity and how a bakery in the Ardian portfolio is leading the way towards ESG goals.

A managing director at private equity firm GI Partners describes the landscape for healthcare investment disrupted by technology, and with adoption propelled by the Covid crisis. Dave Kreter discusses VC deals as a leading indicator of trends to come, budget and regulatory pressures inherent to healthcare businesses, creating better outcomes for portfolio companies, the healthcare cyber security opportunity and how tech is helping skilled nursing.

Private equity value-creation experts from Permira and AlixPartners are turning the supply chain and logistics crisis into opportunity for operations improvements. Topics of discussion include reports from the front lines of portfolio companies that rely on the supply chain to fulfill orders, how the crisis is allowing companies to supply better service from shippers, the changing rules of inventory, and the disrupted interplay of rail and shipping. Based on a recent Privcap webinar.

A managing director at global investment firm Ardian discusses the increasing momentum for ESG in the US, the right KPIs to track ESG impact, and the benefits of controlling downside and non-financial risks.

The Deputy CIO for one of the largest investors in private credit shares his analysis on the current state of the market, how institutional investors have been gravitating toward the asset class, the Carlyle “house view” on inflation, the booming CLO market, and credit opportunities in the aviation market.

Veterans of the rapidly evolving media industry share analysis on the trends that are affecting the private equity opportunity in the space, including: Why content catalogs are so hot right now, the expanding use of music online, video games as the center of convergence and opportunities to use media-like strategies to enable e-commerce.

Part 2 of 2. A senior partner from global private investment firm Partners Group discusses major themes behind his firm’s infrastructure investment activities, including digitization, ‘new living,’ and decarbonization.

Part 3 of 3. The head of Trilantic North America, Charlie Ayres, details his private equity firm’s efforts to increase leadership roles for women in private equity, including an investment advisory council where nine out of 10 advisors are women. Also, a discussion of exit successes led by women and a new diversity initiative at Tuck School of Business.

Part 1 of 2. Todd Bright from Partners Group discusses the rise of data-centers and the need for infrastructure to house them. Topics include clean energy and water needs, the impact of disruptive technology on the sector, and the needs of ‘hyper-scalers.’ Sponsored by Alter Domus.

A co-founder of iCapital Network, which just raised $440 million at a $4 billion valuation, presents the case for alternative investments in the individual-investor portfolio, including the reduced population of public stocks, the typically longer ramp-up period to an IPO, and the role that technology is now playing in helping people participate in private investment funds alongside major institutional investors.

A conversation between Victoria Budson of Bain Capital and Karen Galivan of RSM. How can alternative investment firms put in place new hiring and promotion practices that broaden the diversity of the industry? How should women returning from maternity leave be given equal footing within an organization? Why do organizations with diverse employees perform better? What is intersectionality and why is it important? These and other important questions are discussed in a detailed, lively...

A veteran energy investor at White Deer Energy discusses the history of experimentation and innovation in the industry, how small changes can lead to big successes in the oil field, and the firm’s on recent investments in the energy value chain.

A playback of the popular Privcap webinar. Two value-creation experts discuss artificial intelligence applied to portfolio companies, “table-stakes” projects versus more advanced business functions, and where to begin. Also discussed – private equity’s ability to shape the digital future of a portfolio company, instilling a culture of experimentation, and how digital capabilities can increase exit valuations.

A veteran private equity investor surveys the energy landscape as it transitions from traditional oil and gas to renewables. Joe Bob Edwards of White Deer Energy argues that good opportunities are to be had across the broad energy supply chain, that nuclear and natural gas are clean and should not be neglected, and that the best way to reduce carbon emissions is to look for efficiencies in traditional sources of energy.

Part 2 of 3. Charlie Ayres, the Chairman of middle-market private equity firm Trilantic North America, discusses how GPs are clamoring for differentiation in today’s auction market, the costs of losing an auction, and the rise of ‘fireside chat’ sale kickoffs.

Three experts discuss how ESG has moved from a ‘why’ discussion to ‘how’ these principles should be implemented by a private equity firm. Topics include the rise of LP demand for diversity and inclusion and climate change data, portfolio-level versus company-level reporting, and the importance of viewing as a tool for value creation, not just as a screening tool for exercise to make the LPs happy.