Meme - Long road ahead. Better ramp up those investment dollars…

My way is the Highway

Infrastructure fundraising hit a bump in the road last year, falling 50%. But a new report by Boston Consulting Group, Infrastructure Strategy 2024: Creating Value Through Operational Excellence, reveals that investor sentiment is proving resilient – much like the asset class itself. According to the report, LPs expect to boost their investments by more than $600 billion by 2027. This will be powered by an adjustment in transaction prices coupled with a need to return capital to long-standing investors, with plenty of dry powder waiting in the wings. However, as the report points out, there will be an emphasis on operational excellence with leading funds using well-constructed playbooks to drive value across the full investment cycle. The institutional dam might not be about to burst, necessarily, but anticipated capital inflows over the coming years show that infrastructure remains as solid as ever.

Inspired by PR Newswire

Meme - Anyone seen the aircraft

Airport control

US private equity giant Carlyle are to take control of Southend airport in the south of England. The deal involves LSE-listed aviation group Esken – owners of Southend – settling a debt of £193.75 million, after Carlyle claimed Esken had broken the terms of a £125 million loan. The turbulence has now subsided, with Southend set to operate under 82.5% control of the Carlyle Global Infrastructure Fund with Esken retaining a 17.5% stake. It certainly puts a new spin on ‘airport control’. Carlyle will be hoping that the sky’s the limit under its new ownership.

Inspired by the Guardian

Meme - Not every deal that glitters turns to gold…unless it’s the Springboks

Trophy Asset

South Africa Rugby is hoping to land a conversion of a different kind, as it prepares to sell part of its commercial rights – valued at $375 million – in a private equity deal. The deal in question will involve selling a 20% stake to Ackerley Sports Group, a Seattle-based private equity firm, who beat CVC Capital Partners to the try line in December. The investment is designed to help South African rugby double its sponsorship revenue by the next World Cup in 2027. The rough and tumble world of professional rugby has once again proved alluring to the polished boardrooms of private equity. Will the deal prove to be a winning strategy? And become a veritable Boks of Delights? We shall see. In the meantime, SA Rugby will be scrumming down and setting up a company to hold the commercial rights. With Spring just around the corner, the Boks will be hoping to celebrate once again…this time, off the field.

Inspired by Bloomberg

IPEM Press Release - IPEM GOES GLOBAL

PRESS RELEASE – IPEM GOES GLOBAL

POWERED BY THE BELIEF THAT PRIVATE CAPITAL IS DESTINED FOR FURTHER, IPEM WILL DELIVER 5 BEST-IN-CLASS EVENTS ON 3 CONTINENTS. IPEM is more committed than ever to creating new channels to support the ever-changing private markets industry and, therefore, announces the event schedule for 2024 and beyond, designed to foster regular connections within the private equity ecosystem.

GIF - Riding the Continuation Wave

To be continued…

GP-led or continuation funds are set to be the next area of focus for Sequoia Heritage, as it looks to invest in complex opportunities. This will be the private investment firm’s second foray into PE secondaries, having established Pinegrove Capital Partners last August with Brookfield to acquire stakes in VC funds. This new investment sees Sequoia Heritage continue its journey by pledging upwards of $200 million to Cody Kittle’s RenWave Kore, whose inaugural fund will invest in continuation fund deals; specifically complex situations where the assets are difficult to value, and which GPs feel have further value to unlock. This is just the latest of many more chapters, as the GP secondaries marketplace builds its heritage.

Inspired by the Wall Street Journal