1. DIGEST 87
SEE WHAT’S NEW AND NOTEWORTHY IN PRIVATE EQUITY THIS WEEK /// ISSUE 87
1 Why PE Industry Needs Data
Standardization
2 Life Technologies Rumored to
Interest Buyout Group
IPO Entering Seasonal High: US
Market
Global M&A Revival
3 Private Equity Confidence in Latin
America
Quote of the Week: Clean Energy
Growth
March 15, 2013
2. WHY PE INDUSTRY NEEDS DATA
STANDARDIZATION
Image source: E&Y
An article in Investment Europe makes the call for data format standardization between GPs and LPs. It
is a report that reflects a growing awareness that PE needs to make a shift to a more mature information
management model for data exchange. Ernst & Young said as much in its recent report entitled PE
Evolution of the Operating Model (See Infographic). The flow of information between GPs and LPs could
be improved considerably if such a move was made, say both sources. Nevertheless, the industry has
come a long way from suffering from a sheer lack of information being provided by GPs to LPs and
intransparency. In recent years, there has been recommendations and guidance from industry bodies
such as the Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA). One result of which is that large GPs may
be producing 20‐30 investor‐specific packs of information every quarter. For the LPs it means that, if
they have 2 to 300 fund positions, they are getting the data in 2 to 300 different formats. Many firms are
using PDF and Xcel formats to deliver information, but the data is not standardized. If it was
standardized, there could be a freer flow of information electronically, which would save everyone time
and money. The IE article points out that the situation facing private equity is in sharp contrast to other
areas of financial services.
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3. LIFE TECHNOLOGIES RUMORED TO
INTEREST BUYOUT GROUP
Bloomberg reports that DNA sequencing equipment company Life Technologies has attracted interest
from a buyout group comprising Blackstone Group, Carlyle Group, TPG Capital and Temasek Holdings Pte.
At a USD 10 billion price tag, this would make it the deal of the week, and actually one of the biggest take
private buyouts in some time.
IPO ENTERING SEASONAL HIGH: US
MARKET
News in Reuters this week about a large sized IPO for CDW, which is a PE backed IPO, highlights a trend
reported in Forbes, which says that the IPO market is reviving after a dismal period from 2007 to early
2010. Even industrial companies have gotten a warm reception from investors, it said. In 2012
technology companies dominated the IPO market, accounting for 24% of deals. But according to
investment boutique Renaissance Capital, the IPOs in the pipeline span many sectors.
GLOBAL M&A REVIVAL
Financial Times reports that abundance of cheap debt is helping to
“resuscitate” the world of M&A. It is helped by a rise in business
confidence, with rallying equity markets, is combining with the re‐
emergence of interest in M&A by companies and boards. The total value
of global M&A reached USD 492.7 billion by the end of February, up 24
per cent on the first two months of 2012, according to data provider
Image source: FT.com
Dealogic. Persistent talk of a wide range of large‐sized or blockbuster deals has some advisers believing
that the revival this year will be more long‐lived than a similar revival in early 2011. Activism from
investors has emerged as a big driver of deals. According to bankers, of the 40 biggest deals of 2012, 20
of them had an activist shareholder on the register before the transaction.
M&A deals in the US are up 94 per cent on the same period last year, while European deal making is up
just 1 per cent, although at its highest level year‐to‐date since 2008, according to Dealogic. Reaching
emerging markets is another driver for more deal making, particularly with consumer‐oriented
companies. The article notes that the strength of the debt markets is not only serving to fund larger
deals, it is also increasing sellers’ price expectations, which may ultimately put a damper on PE buyout
activity.
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4. PRIVATE EQUITY CONFIDENCE IN
LATIN AMERICA
Image source: Prequin
Preqin’s latest research reveals that 43% of private equity investors active in Latin America will look to
increase their allocations to the region over the longer term. Furthermore, of 28% of investors with
existing exposure to or an interest in investing in Latin America will be increasing their private equity
allocations to the region over the next 12 months, and 61% will be maintaining their current allocations
in 2013.
Other Key Findings:
• 38% of investors stated that they will be committing to a Latin America‐focused fund in 2013, and 7%
will look to make a commitment in 2014.
• 59% of Latin America investors view Brazil as presenting the best investment opportunities within Latin
America. However, investors are increasingly looking to diversify their investments, with 52% of
investors stating that Colombia presented the best investment opportunities, followed by Mexico (41%)
and Peru (17%).
• Venture capital deal flow in Latin America increased significantly in 2012, with a 70% increase in the
number and a 143% increase in the aggregate value of venture capital deals compared to 2011.
However, the number of buyout deals completed in Latin America remained at 59 for both 2011 and
2012, and the aggregate value of buyout deals decreased slightly from USD3.1bn to USD3bn over the
same time period.
• Deal flow in Latin America may increase in the next 12 months as December 2012 saw the amount of
uncalled capital available for investment (dry powder) reach an all‐time high of USD35bn for Latin
America‐focused funds.
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6. The Dealmarket Digest empowers members of Dealmarket by providing
up‐to‐date and high‐quality content. Each week our in‐house editor sifts
through scores of industry and academic sources to find the most
noteworthy news items, scoping trends and currents events in the global
private equity sector. The links to the sources are provided, as well as an
editorialized abstract that discusses the significance of the articles
selected. It is a free service that embodies the values of the Dealmarket
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To receive the weekly digest by email register on www.dealmarket.com.
Editor: Valerie Thompson, Zurich
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