Bonfire of the sanities… Can private markets tackle ESG?

Climate change has long been an incendiary issue, but as fires rage across Europe, private markets have an opportunity to step in and ignite new investment. ESG is a hot topic that can ignite fierce debate among fund managers. Still, with over $3 trillion in dry powder, the industry has plenty of firepower to tackle climate change, especially in areas such as green energy and climate technology. As things heat up – literally – this is the time to strike while the iron is hot and make a real difference to the planet. No sweat!

inspired by PitchBook

Volatility gets all the credit

Private credit markets are facing the spectre of recession, with the combined effects of rate hikes, inflation and volatility providing more stopping power than ceramic brakes on a Ferrari.If, as a recent Leveraged Finance Survey suggests, the US enters recession over the next 12 months, credit availability could start to contract and make it harder to get deals over the finish line. Buyside firms will be hoping that there aren’t too many potholes ahead but for the short-term, credit markets look set to be on a collision course with a streetcar named Recession.

inspired by PitchBook

PE Tips

Acquiring tea producers and huge plantations are not going to be everyone’s cup of tea within private equity, despite CVC Capital’s $5 billion deal with Unilever last year. With investors more ready than ever to ask tough questions around work conditions and corporate ethics, PE firms will be expected to read the leaves to avoid potential stewardship challenges. Tea companies are fertile investment territory but PE firms will have to hope things remain sweet, not bitter…

inspired by The Financial Times

Low latency, High demand…

Private equity groups have a surging interest in datacentres, funding more than 90% of M&A deals through the first half of the year. New data published by Synergy Research Group shows that GPs are clambering over the racks of servers and routers to get deals done and plug in to future global data demand. They may only house soulless rows of computer networks but these facilities are proving to be quite the centre of attention…it’s enough to make the machines blush.

inspired by ComputerWeekly