Information from IPEM: Building Trust and Self-assurance

The International Private Equity Market (IPEM) returned to Paris this year, bringing together 5,500 participants from 55 countries for a three-day event. The theme of this year's gathering was 'Forging Confidence', a fitting sentiment given the current economic climate.

Despite the challenges posed by volatility, including sudden rises in interest rates and geopolitical tensions, private capital has shown remarkable resilience and growth across asset classes. This was a key takeaway from the event, with many speakers emphasising the ability of private equity to react, adjust, and lead.

Greégoire Langhade, Managing Director of Financial Sponsor Coverage, was among those sharing insights at IPEM. He highlighted the growing trend towards specialisation among Limited Partners (LPs), favouring sector specialists over generalist approaches. This shift is expected to spur investments as exits become more visible.

New strategies, including a normalisation of private debt and a greater focus on specialisation, are set to play a significant role in the private markets. The breadth and pace of technological transformation have altered the scope for investment, increasing demand for digital infrastructure such as data centres and fibre optic networks.

However, an increasingly complex regulatory backdrop means subsequent growth must honour requirements for both decarbonisation and digital infrastructure. In a high-interest rate market, understanding and acting on these opportunities will offer the most direct path to growth.

The outlook for these markets can change quickly due to the pace of technological change. Yet, coming away from IPEM, it is clear there will not be a shortage of opportunities in the year ahead. The next wave of innovation will be simultaneously domestic and global, opening new avenues for re-globalisation and re-shoring.

In 2023, over 6,000 decision-makers, investors, and general partners participated in IPEM, but specific lists of companies or institutions and the names of General Partners who gave presentations were not detailed in the available sources. Despite this, the event served as a valuable platform for knowledge sharing and networking.

320 speakers shared their insights at IPEM, with the event acting as a testament to the vibrant and dynamic nature of the private equity sector. As we move forward, it is clear that private markets will continue to play a crucial role in driving economic growth and innovation.