Private Equity Spotlight

California Public Employees' Retirement System, the US's largest public pension, last year introduced to its board a radically different method of investing: the total portfolio approach. TPA has already been adopted by multiple sovereign investors around the world, including Australia's Future Fund and the New Zealand Superannuation Fund. In this episode, PEI Group Hong Kong bureau chief Alex Lynn sits down with Doug Bell, investment strategy director at NZ Super, to discuss the benefits and disadvantages of TPAs when constructing a private equity portfolio capable of delivering long-term results. NZ Super has NZ$80.4 billion ($46 billion; €44 billion) in assets under management and is now led by two new co-CIOs. It began the process of rebuilding its buyouts portfolio from scratch this year.

David Golub, President of Golub Capital, shares insights from his extensive experience in private credit investing. He explains the 'good boring' approach that has allowed Golub Capital to thrive through economic fluctuations. The discussion highlights the significance of building long-term relationships with sponsors and focusing on resilient sectors. Golub also reflects on navigating market challenges, showcasing how effective partnerships can transform companies. His strategic insights reveal how disciplined investment plays a key role in sustainable growth.

This episode is sponsored by Nuveen and Igneo Infrastructure Partners With the American electorate recently handing the White House back to Donald Trump, it seems like an opportune time to unpack what it could all mean for the infrastructure asset class – in particular, the US commitment to renewables and the energy transition. Trump is, after all, the man who previously removed the world’s largest economy from the Paris Climate Accord and has since sounded less than supportive of President Biden’s initiatives to stimulate the economy and create jobs through a series of infra-led federal legislation. So, is the Inflation Reduction Act in danger of being repealed? Does global capital have cause to be jittery? Or is the case for renewables infrastructure now simply too strong for even a sceptical Trump-led administration to deny. Helping us to address these questions and concerns are John Ma, a partner and co-head of Igneo Infrastructure Partners’ North America team, and Don Dimitrievich, the senior managing director and portfolio manager for energy infrastructure credit at Nuveen.

Please enjoy this crossover episode from Secondaries Investor's Second Thoughts podcast, which recently moved to its own channel. To continue getting new episodes, subscribe at secondariesinvestor.com/podcast or search for Secondaries Investor's Second Thoughts wherever you like to listen. It's common to peel back the onion on key events and trends seen across financial markets. As the secondaries market heads for what is predicted to be a record-setting year for volume, we decided to practice the phrase quite literally. Madeleine Farman, senior reporter and host of the Second Thoughts, and senior editor Adam Le are joined by Carlo Pirzio-Biroli, head of CVC Secondary Partners, and Ted Cardos, co-head of Kirkland & Ellis's European liquidity solutions team, with the group letting a basket of onions decide the talking points. Pirzio-Biroli and Cardos discuss key wins, disappointments and developments over the course of 2024 and what the next 12 months could bring for the secondaries market.

Jimmy Levin, Chief Investment Officer of Sculptor Capital, oversees over $20 billion in credit assets. He shares insights on the unique opportunities presented by recent market volatility and rising interest rates, reshaping traditional credit strategies. The conversation dives into the resurgence of asset-based finance and its implications, particularly in real estate. Levin also discusses the differences in opportunistic lending between the U.S. and Europe, emphasizing evolving frameworks. A forward-looking market outlook offers tantalizing prospects for credit investors.

Private markets are becoming more accessible to non-institutional investors, as the rise in semi-liquid vehicles this year demonstrates. At the same time, the industry is facing certain potential headwinds or tailwinds, depending on which region you're based in, as law firm Dechert's 2025 Global Private Equity Outlook survey has found. In this episode, partners Sabina Comis and Chris Field sit down with Private Equity International senior editor Adam Le to discuss the results of the law firm's latest survey, which examines these issues and more. In this podcast, Comis and Field also discuss: The expected impact of the US election on PE portfolios Regulatory scrutiny Fee structuring, including on co-investments Secondaries transaction activity and deal volume For more private markets insights, check out privateequityinternational.com

Australian superannuation fund Aware Super opened its first overseas office in London last year and has wasted little time deploying capital. The fund, which manages A$170 billion ($110 billion; €105 billion) on behalf of predominantly nurses and teachers in Australia, quickly set on a plan to invest £5 billion ($6.3 billion; €6 billion) in the UK. It is almost halfway through that plan and most recently invested $370 million to acquire a stake in renewable energy group Octopus Energy. In this episode, senior editor Adam Le sits down with Damien Webb, deputy chief investment officer and head of international, to discuss what the superfund looks for when it backs emerging managers (spoiler alert: it's more than just track record). Webb also discusses how the fund invests in both funds and directs, its outlook on UK investments and how it plans to deploy more capital into secondaries.

Explore how agile teams can outpace disruption and create true value through AI. Experts discuss aligning technology with business strategies tailored to real challenges. Discover the balance between short-term gains and long-term growth in private equity. Learn about empowering data science teams for effective decision-making and innovation in real estate. Tech implementation strategies highlight collaboration and measurable impacts, while fostering a culture of continuous change and resilience remains key to navigating disruption.

This episode is sponsored by Scientific Infra and Private Assets Abhishek Gupta and Tim Whittaker from Scientific Infra and Private Assets discuss the growing demand within private markets for accurate and robust data. They explore solutions that can address these needs, ultimately providing the private markets with comprehensive, high-quality valuations and reliable benchmarks.

Female founders continue to be underrepresented and underfunded. Women only accounted for 13.2 percent of all startups in 2023, according to data from software company Carta. This was down from 15.1 percent in 2022. So, it is safe to say progress has been slow. However, in private markets, there are positive signs that the number of women founding firms and raising capital is increasing, albeit it from a low base. According to Venture Capital Journal, funds in which at least half of the founding partners are women accounted for just over 3 percent of global venture fundraising in 2023, up from 1.9 percent the previous year. We decided to delve into this further, looking at what can be done to ensure the number of female founders continues to increase. Earlier this month, PEI Group revealed its annual Women of Influence in Private Markets list 2024, which this year celebrates 42 inspiring women working in alternatives. For the second episode in this two-part miniseries, we spoke to some of the women featured in the list – each of whom have built businesses from the ground up – to discuss the keys to their success. This episode includes Courtney Russell McCrea, co-founder and managing partner at Recast Capital; Eva Shang, CEO and co-founder at Legalist; and Rayenne Chen, partner at EQT and a founding member of the EQT Exeter team. They offer advice to women looking to start their own business. Catch the first episode of our Women of Influence podcast miniseries, which is all about mentoring, here.