Private Equity and M&A Forum Europe round-up

In this episode, funds editor Harriet Matthews and senior private
equity reporter Rachel Lewis share insights from the Mergermarket
Private Equity and M&A Forum Europe, exploring the outlook
for private equity buyouts, exits and fundraising, as well as the
outlook for specific markets, including the UK.


The Forum, which took place on 21 May at the Landmark Hotel in
London, brought together private equity and M&A market
participants for a day of panel discussions and networking.


In her keynote speech, JP Morgan’s global head of M&A Anu
Aiyengar summarised the macro drivers for dealflow in 2024 across
public and private markets, highlighting UK take-private activity
in particular as a bright spot for dealmaking.


Elsewhere at the conference, panellists discussed topics
including the prevalence of preferred equity as a liquidity
solution for GPs, how GPs are approaching fundraising in a
liquidity constrained environment, and LP preferences and
concerns in the current market.


While much has been made of a potential uptick in dealmaking in
2H 2024, conference attendees were cautious when it came to
making predictions. Positive indicators include strategic
appetite for private equity-backed assets, with hope for interest
rate cuts also expected to allow the cogs in the private equity
machine to start whirring again.


Mergermarket data round-up – 1:28


Keynote speech takeaways – 3:51


UK market sentiment – 5:20


Fundraising outlook – 6:18


Preferred equity and bridging the valuation gap – 7:20


Returns and distributions – 10:50


Large-cap exit options – 12:15


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Theme music: 2012 Kick Up The Fire