Analysis
26 November 2020
Technology… and how it’s shaping the operating models of tomorrow
The pandemic has been a catalyst for digital transformation, but there are major challenges still to face
19 November 2020
IR at breaking point
Can the increased GP/LP communications that took place in response to the crisis continue indefinitely, and does it need to?
16 November 2020
No place like home: finding the right fund domicile
Predictability, reliability and quality are key components, according to our expert panel
12 November 2020
Culture shock: ESG, compliance and LPs
We caught up with representatives from PE houses across Europe to find out how ESG, compliance and investors have impacted culture
9 November 2020
Find & Seek: follow-on funding
CFOs seeking follow-on funding in order to preserve value have multiple options, but which is the winning strategy?
15 October 2020
Human traffic
We caught up with PER about the latest hiring trends and return to office activity across the UK and Germany
12 October 2020
Held to account: why is it so hard for PE to open bank accounts
GPs are waiting up to nine months to open SPV accounts, and its easy to see why
28 September 2020
Take back control
In a bid for more control, GPs have been asking fund administrators to work on their own systems, rather than the administrator's
14 September 2020
ESG: From checkbox to value creation
Private equity firms have been dutifully integrating ESG reporting, but few use it as a genuine driver of value
3 September 2020
The fixer
The chief of staff role is emerging in private equity but what does it actually do, and do you need one?
1 September 2020
Culture shock
Culture's intrinsic link to behaviour means private equity must think carefully about how it navigates the crisis
17 August 2020
Culture shock: Covid-19 and WFH
We asked representatives from PE houses across Europe how Covid-19 and working from home has impacted culture
31 July 2020
AIFMD evaluation: watch this space
The European Commission’s recent evaluation of the directive leaves the industry unsure as to what will happen next
27 July 2020
LIBOR limbo
While it might seem as though there’s plenty of time for managing the transition, if left too late, GPs will have to accept whatever replacement rate they’re given
23 July 2020
Steadying the ship
Can a solid operating platform provide much needed certainty in an increasingly uncertain world?
16 July 2020
Post Brexit rules come to light
The FCA announced replacement rules for investment firms, namely a new prudential regime that may hit PE houses
8 June 2020
Special sauce
The Drawdown caught up with some of the UK's leading special situations investors to find out how they've been reacting to the crisis
4 June 2020
It’s never too data
Data is the here and now. So how do you actually use it? What steps can you take today?
21 May 2020
PE under cyber attack
As cyber attacks become more frequent and more sophisticated, are private equity firms doing enough to protect themselves?
18 May 2020
ODD times
Later stage operational due diligence appears to be pushing through to legals, but more broadly, these exercises will likely be permanently impacted by the crisis
14 May 2020
Join us: CTOs & digital networks
Part three of our mini series: this instalment highlights the lack of available forums for CTOs & digital professionals, and what they could look like if they did exist
13 May 2020
Join us: HR networks
Part two of our mini series on networks in PE: this instalment explores HR networks and finds they've been especially supportive during the crisis
11 May 2020
Join us: CFOs & FD networks
Part one of our mini series on networks in PE: this instalment considers CFO & FD networks and finds they can be more hindrance than help
4 May 2020
The demo is in the detail
Sitting back and watching software demos might seem like a good idea right now, but in reality they require a lot of prep and careful consideration
30 April 2020
Upgrading tech talent
With more demands on PE firms to provide better quality data and reports, a number of GPs are upgrading their talent
27 April 2020
To B or not to B?
Is the B-Corp certification the answer to standardising ESG reporting?
16 April 2020
The Private Equity Editors’ Podcast 2
Hosted by Talya Misiri of Real Deals and Alice Murray of The Drawdown, these podcasts aim to provide insight into what we’re hearing, reading, discussing and discovering through our coverage of the private equity market.
15 April 2020
Going back to your roots
Inefficient reporting methods continue to vex LPs. It’s time to go back to the source
7 April 2020
Introducing the Private Equity Editor’s Podcast
Hosted by Talya Misiri of Real Deals and Alice Murray of The Drawdown, these podcasts aim to provide insight into what we’re hearing, reading, discussing and discovering through our coverage of the private equity market.
6 April 2020
The operating committee
A number of large private equity houses are setting up operating committees in response to the major tasks now faced by non-deal team members
3 April 2020
Time to bring in the (remote) experts
With private equity firms moving to remote working set ups, now is the time to bring in experts adept at this way of working
2 April 2020
Tech is key to solving work-life imbalance
An eVestment study into private capital work-life balance points to dangerous stress levels and higher risk of burnout
30 March 2020
COVID-19: Economic substance adjustments
Could temporary measures drive global consensus on economic substance requirements?
30 March 2020
New powers
The proliferation of fund financing products opens an unexpected path for CFOs to operate in a strategic and value-add manner
27 March 2020
Hazard warning: valuations in the midst of volatility
Key considerations for valuing portfolio companies in current conditions
23 March 2020
Levelling the playing field
Highlights of recent developments by various bodies to regulate and standardise ESG
19 March 2020
For the sake of continuity
The secret to successful continuity planning lies in the nuances
16 March 2020
The increasingly public world of private equity
In late January, the IPEM conference in Cannes brought together almost 3,000 delegates, spanning all corners of the industry. The key takeaway was that private equity is an increasingly public affair
9 March 2020
A balanced breakfast
Highlights from our recent Breakfast Briefing event, which explored the work/life balance within private equity
2 March 2020
A life changing experience
As the CFO role undergoes major change, with its scope and responsibility spanning wider and wider, the backgrounds and experiences needed are also shifting
17 February 2020
Face value
A group of venture capital CFOs sat down with The Drawdown to discuss challenges of valuing pre-revenue companies and implications of the new IPEV guidelines
14 February 2020
The Ocado of private equity
AtomInvest’s recent white-labelling of its software could be the much needed investor onboarding remedy the industry is seeking
10 February 2020
Becoming superhuman
From life-coaching to hypnotherapy, we delve into the increasingly weird and wacky world of personnel development
6 February 2020
Are you being served?
Aggressive consolidation plays across the fund administration sector are prioritising revenue growth ahead of improving service levels.
27 January 2020
Video AGaMes
Private equity firms are turning to rich media as a way to spice up AGMs
20 January 2020
Upside down: an in-depth look at Antler’s model
Antler’s approach to investing turns the traditional VC model on its head, requiring an entirely different approach to operations.
17 January 2020
The view on Allvue Systems
The Drawdown speaks to newly-combined Allvue's CEO Rey Acosta to find out more about the deal and what it means
16 January 2020
Blurred lines
The private equity industry requires its high performing professionals to be on their best form and achieve those sought after returns for investors. But how much should a firm try to support its employees' mental health without overstepping personal boundaries?
15 January 2020
Lost in the clouds
The move to cloud computing comes with glorious benefits and efficiencies, but given the particular IT needs of private equity - mainly security - finding the right cloud set-up is proving tricky.
9 January 2020
Valuations what’s new, what’s not and what matters
A round-up of recent regulatory developments for private equity valuation practices
19 December 2019
Take the risk
The cultural shift towards robust risk management is finding its way to private equity, and with it, the potential to unravel entrenched structures.
16 December 2019
Craic on
Reforms to Ireland’s LP structure will likely be legislated in early 2020, however, after years of promises, what will actually be legislated and will PE care?
27 November 2019
The data journey waits for no one
Private equity’s data journey may only just be setting off, but like any expedition, packing the best equipment and selecting the right companions make reaching the final destination a lot more enjoyable
22 November 2019
AIFMD II: WTF? (What the fund, obvs)
Following a review of the AIFM Directive in 2017, where are we now, what has happened, will there be an AIFMD II?
18 November 2019
ESG Role Call
As LP demands on ESG continue to build, what types of skills and backgrounds should PE firms be looking for, and what does the role of ESG practitioner mean today?
15 November 2019
Views from the Summit
Highlights from two of the technical breakout sessions at this year's BVCA Summit in London
8 November 2019
Fund structures are so last season
As new waves of regulation continue to hit private equity, managers are quietly shifting to the peaceful waters of deal-by-deal investing
8 November 2019
Time to bite back
For too long operational leaders have been yes men, it's high time they became key men
9 August 2019
Leverage in secondaries: friend or foe?
The use of leverage in secondaries is on the rise, but does this little talked about feature of the market represent an important driver for growth and innovation, or a matter for concern?
2 August 2019
Standardisation: not the whole story
Aims to improve and create efficiencies for the reporting of fees and expenses are valiant but templates only tell part of the story