The Private Equity Editors' Podcast
By The Drawdown
The Private Equity Editors' PodcastMay 04, 2020
Do we even need standardisation? Episode 2
Mike Dickey, head of product development MUFG Investor Services and Hamish Mair, managing director and head of the private equity team, BMO Global Asset Management (EMEA), examine the impact of initiatives such as the ILPA template on reporting, the ways in which information is disseminated, new technologies and what total standardisation would mean for LPs.
Do we even need standardisation? Episode 1
Mike Dickey, head of product development MUFG Investor Services and Hamish Mair, managing director and head of the private equity team, BMO Global Asset Management (EMEA), discuss the challenges of moving away from Excel and PDFs; the proliferation of side-letters and their impact on reporting and transparency, and ways in which technological solutions are helping.
InCloudCounsel's Pospisil on the future
Alice Murray talks to Troy Pospisil, founder and CEO of InCloudCounsel about the future - specifically how the regulatory landscape for private capital funds is evolving, how investor demands are changing and how InCloudCounsel’s offerings aim to support these developments.
InCloudCounsel's Pospisil on document abstraction
Alice Murray talks to Troy Pospisil, founder and CEO of InCloudCounsel about what it is, how it works and how it supports private equity legal teams, as well as the wider organization.
InCloudCounsel's Pospisil on private equity roots
Alice Murray talks to Troy Pospisil, founder and CEO of InCloudCounsel about the company's origins: what drove him to set up the firm and how it has developed over the past seven years.
MUFG’s Mike Dickey on ESG reporting - Part 2
Alice Murray talks to Mike Dickey, head of product at MUFG Investor Services, about the data flow of ESG information between GP and LP. While not a new topic for private equity, ESG has received more attention since the onset of the pandemic.
Dickey discusses the push and pull between GPs and their LPs when it comes to sharing ESG information. He observes the variances between some GPs resistant to providing more data that isn’t readily available, and others looking for ways to use ESG as a value driver.
He details the difficulties involved with reporting on ESG due to difficult to reach information and a lack of standardisation. But points out that the increasing popularity of impact funds will likely push for better guidelines.
MUFG’s Mike Dickey on steadying the partnership
Alice Murray talks to Mike Dickey, head of product at MUFG Investor Services, about how GPs are managing their third party relationships, focusing on increased oversight efforts
As we enter the sixth month of continued lockdown restrictions, the longer-lasting effects of the pandemic are starting to be felt.
One notable impact on private equity firms has been the acknowledgement of needing strong partners. Prior to the pandemic, there was a lingering sense of ambivalence around outsourcing: should everything be kept in house? What functions suit being outsourced? How much control or access should third parties have?
Now, sentiment has shifted rapidly, with PE firms needing to focus their time and attention on existing investments and on communicating effectively and consistently with LPs. Working with trusted partners when it comes to non-core functions is a no brainer.
So with the outsourcing debate seemingly slipping away, how can operational leaders make sure they’re getting the best out of their partners?
RFA’s George Ralph on data pt3
Our third and final instalment of The Drawdown’s conversation with RFA’s George Ralph looks as LP expectations when it comes to data management and ways to boost transparency.
According to Ralph, LPs are typically only focusing on a GP’s data and tech infrastructure during ODD exercises, and DD consultants are looking more closely at how the firm is set up.
While the ODD exercise only provides a snapshot of the GP’s tech infrastructure, firms developing and improving their systems and data applications are doing so in a more transparent manner, with increased capabilities for sharing development work with investors throughout the life of the fund.
Advances in technology mean there are a growing number of tools providing greater visibility of the underlying systems and data flows, which can then be shared among stakeholders.
PODCAST: RFA’s George Ralph on data management pt2
This second instalment discusses data warehousing, the infrastructure that sits around it, data governance, data ingestion, data analytics and how these components impact cybersecurity. According to Ralph, it’s more important than ever to understand these elements well. He places particular importance on the compliance part of data management, ensuring only the necessary people have access to the systems. Ralph shares his deep technical expertise on how to protect data management systems from cyber threats. He also discusses various configurations in terms of working with partners and third party providers.
PODCAST: RFA’s George Ralph on data, pt1
Data and the various ways in which private equity can apply it has become a hugely important topic in light of the recent disruption. While the industry is well aware of the advantages that data applications can bring about - across all functions (deal doing, portfolio monitoring, fundraising and operations) - the highly nuanced nature of private equity has meant that it's more challenging to apply generic software and technologies seen in adjacent industries. This first instalment explores the nuances of developing data strategies, depending on the firm’s size, focus and willingness to adopt new technologies. We also discuss mindsets needed and common cultural barriers to integrating data applications, as well as the importance of collaboration and selecting the right partners to work with.
If you only need a sentence for the description: use this: This first instalment explores the nuances of developing data strategies, depending on the firm’s size, focus and willingness to adopt new technologies.
Stick or twist? How to manage on-going tech upgrades
Private capital funds have been diligently upgrading and improving their data, digital and technological infrastructure in recent years. With these kinds of projects often requiring lengthy implementations, migrations and staff training - many GPs find themselves unsure as to how to progress with upgrades and changes previously planned, but likely put on hold due to Coronavirus.
Danny Trentacosta of MUFG Investor Services sits down with The Drawdown Editor Alice Murray to discuss why now is the perfect time for operational leaders to return to and reassess their upgrade plans.
Episode 4
Through our combined expertise of PE investments to operations - and everything in between - this snappy podcast neatly distils the need-to-know market developments of the last week.
Episode 3
Through our combined expertise of PE investments to operations - and everything in between - this snappy podcast neatly distils the need-to-know market developments of the last week.
Episode 2
In this episode, we discuss:
Key developments over the past week
Talya discusses the main overarching development that she has noticed over the last week and a half or so is the shift from short term contingency planning and business safeguarding to more of a long term view.
Alice discusses recent reports of security issues at video conferencing platform Zoom. Having discussed the matter with cyber security experts, the key message is to stop using the service.
What we’ve published
Alice looks at an article on LP defaults - or rather the lack of them. There had been some reports in PE media over recent weeks that there had been some investor defaults. But in reality, the picture is far more mundane.
Talya highlights recent coverage in the latest issue of Real Deals regarding first time funds and the compelling opportunity the crisis has thrown them.
Stat attack
Alice picks up on ILPA’s recently released report, based on an interactive meeting with its members, as well as further one on one conversations. It rounded up responses and, one of the most interesting findings was:
ILPA asked if LPs have experienced changes to capital calls related to subscription lines. The response was:
- Yes: 49%
- Yes, but no explanation from GPs: 13%
- No: 13%
Talya points to a key finding regarding carve-outs. According to a survey by TMF - a third of carve-outs have failed to go to plan. While carve-out activity is likely to continue to climb as businesses look to restructure following Covid-19 upheaval, a total of 34 per cent senior executives said their most recent cross-border carve-outs failed to meet expectations. A further 24 per cent said that costly overruns significantly impacted the deal.
Episode 1
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.