Perspectives
Beyond the core: how value-add strategies are taking center stage in real estate
Q&A with Mike Bryant, Head of Private Real Estate
11.09.2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In the last decade or so, core real estate investment lived a golden era. Low interest rates and cheap financing meant managers could buy assets in the core segment and secure an attractive return from rent collection. But with the emergence of a new macro regime many of those macro tailwinds have become headwinds. Going forward, double-digit IRR returns in real estate will increasingly depend on a hands-on approach to thematic sourcing and asset transformation. In this Q&A, Mike Bryant, Head of Private Real Estate at Partners Group, explains how investors are turning their attention to the ‘value-add’ segment of real estate. Through value-add strategies, we have the capacity to transform assets with a hands-on approach to meet evolving ESG requirements as well as the preferences of tenants in the corporate and consumer segments.
Blue River PetCare
A case study on building a platform of veterinary hospitals respecting clinical autonomy and delivering efficiencies at scale
30.08.2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Modern pet owners love their pets and treat them as genuine family members. When it comes to health, they seek out primary care of the highest quality from their local veterinary hospitals. Having been interested in the veterinary space for many years, Partners Group invested on behalf of its clients in Blue River PetCare, a leading operator of veterinary hospitals in the US, in 2019. Drawing from our experience with physician services companies, we saw potential to enhance Blue River's already well-structured network, while preserving its key value-add propositions, such as medical autonomy and entrepreneurship. Since then, the platform has grown from 90 to more than 180 hospitals spread across 35 states. Group revenues more than doubled, with the average earnings per hospital up 12% in just under three years. And the investment case remains strong, with a solid pipeline of acquisition targets, great organic growth prospects, and practice managers focused on improving services and creating new ways to serve their communities.
Quarterly Loan Market Commentary
25.07.2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In a replay of the last few quarters, the US leveraged loan market continued to limp along in Q2 2023. High interest rates, inflation and growing expectations of a US recession weighed heavily on both new loan issuance and the financial performance of many issuers. Refinancings and amend-and-extend transactions, while limited, were the only meaningful source of activity in the market. For loan investors, the secondary market was the focus of activity, while US CLO issuance dropped to the lowest quarterly level since Q2 2020. In Europe, new issue institutional volumes hit a ten-year low, with the Q3 new issue loan calendar appearing equally bleak. One positive development came from amend-and-extend transactions, with some stronger performing issuers able to extend loan maturities out to 2028 and beyond. In this edition, we also turn the spotlight on the potential impacts of the slowdown in CLO issuance on loan demand.
Quo Vadis, Helvetia?
Swiss Pension Funds and Private Markets
19.07.2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Amid increased volatility and asset class correlation in public markets, the average Swiss pension fund incurred high-single-digit losses in 2022. Conventional diversification strategies were proven ineffective, with stocks, bonds and listed real estate losing significant value. We believe it’s time for pension funds to rethink diversification. In this paper, Partners Group explains how allocations to private markets can enhance risk-return profiles and portfolio diversification. We go deep into each asset class – private equity and debt, real estate, and infrastructure – to show how private markets demonstrated resilience in 2022, outperforming public markets, while also experiencing lower volatility and drawdowns.
Second act: the role of secondaries in the evolution of private markets
Q&A with Andres Small, Managing Director, Private Equity Partnership Investments
17.07.2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The secondaries market has grown significantly in recent years, surpassing the USD 100 billion mark in transaction volume. Rather than just a by-product of relentless growth in investment activity, secondaries are now supporting the evolution of private markets into a more versatile and liquid asset class. In this Q&A, Andres Small, Managing Director at Partners Group, outlines the long-term factors underpinning this trajectory and explains how a thematic and integrated approach to the asset class – particularly in a period of market dislocation – makes secondaries an especially compelling strategy right now.
Private Markets Mythbusters Series: part I
This record isn’t broken: How private equity buyouts can continue to succeed in the new macro regime
13.07.2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
With financing costs on the rise and lower debt availability, the private equity buyout model is attracting deep scrutiny, with some market observers going as far as heralding its death. But we believe the complexity of the buyout model calls for a more thorough and detailed analysis. In this paper, Partners Group’s Portfolio Management team explains that while higher rates will certainly have an impact on buyouts and reduce the room for error on the execution front, investors will not be bidding farewell to this strategy any time soon. Instead, it is time to capitalize on lower entry valuations and refocus on operational value creation and disciplined underwriting.
Private Markets Outlook
03.07.2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The first half of 2023 has cemented the shift into a new macro regime. With the end of an era of global trade integration, cheap and abundant debt, we believe we’re entering a ‘brave new world’ of investing. Our latest Private Markets Outlook presents our views on the implications of this change for the economy and for private markets investments. The article is authored by Tina Jessop, Senior Economist; Stephan Schäli, Chief Investment Officer; and Nils Bartel, Global Head Capital Markets.
Quarterly Loan Market Commentary
26.04.2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Despite persistent macroeconomic headwinds and banking turmoil, the US liquid loan market had a surprisingly robust start to the year. Q1 new-issuance loan activity was marked by better performing issuers marketing a relatively high volume of refinancings, while in CLOs demand improved month by month reasserting the growing appeal of the asset class. In Europe, although some momentum was created by demand from loan and bond investors, buyers eventually stepped to the sidelines when the shocking news about Credit Suisse hit in March. Amid rising market expectations of a US recession, this latest issue of our Quarterly Loan Market Commentary also puts a spotlight on the discussion about whether US loan defaults could overwhelm portfolios over the next year.
White Paper
Private Markets: The New Traditional Asset Class
24.04.2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Private markets are overtaking public markets in financing the real economy and this role reversal is set to fundamentally reshape the private markets industry, argues Steffen Meister, our Executive Chairman, in a White Paper.
Macroeconomic Update: H1 2023
09.03.2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Market sentiment has improved markedly since September of last year, driven by surprisingly resilient economic activity in the US and Europe, China reopening, inflation peaking and outlooks on central bank tightening looking more market friendly.
So what do these developments mean for Partners Group’s core macro views and our private markets investment strategy?
Our Senior Economist, Tina Jessop, explains.
Read our Q&A for more.
Bespoke Solutions: The Fund and the Foundation
16.02.2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Private equity investment covers a multitude of asset types, risk and reward profiles, and investment horizons – it is a world of opportunities. But making the most of private equity requires extensive resources combined with deep sector knowledge.
Through our bespoke mandates, we can create a strategic partnership with clients and open up the full potential of private equity investing.
Read our case study for more.
Meet our D&I Network Members
14.02.2023
AYO AYODELE
In celebration of US Black History month, we recently sat down with one of the leaders of our Black Network, Ayo Ayodele, Senior Associate, Private Infrastructure, to discuss the great work the network is doing.
In this PG Perspectives Q&A, Ayo, who is based in our New York office, talked us through his dual role at Partners Group, both as an investment professional and a D&I leader.
Bespoke Solutions: The Insurance Group
02.02.2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Institutional investors face a variety of challenges today. It might be regulatory complexity, an urgent requirement to deploy significant cash balances, or perhaps they need rapid diversification into new asset classes. When all these challenges come together, investors need a partner that can offer a bespoke solution and do so at speed.
Partners Group helped one leading US insurance group achieve just that.
Read our case study for more.
Quarterly Loan Market Commentary
31.01.2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Despite a modest increase in loan issuance and some new found loan market stability in Q4, 2022 was a disappointing year for loan markets. It came as no surprise to most market participants that the numerous headwinds of high inflation, rising interest rates, a looming recession, lingering supply chain challenges and unprecedented geopolitical worries would chill both the US and European loan markets, which posted their slowest year of activity in at least a decade. In our latest Quarterly Loan Market Commentary, we look back on a challenging year for loan markets and shine a spotlight on what an increase in credit rating downgrades might mean for CLO portfolios.
Bespoke Solutions: The Pension Fund
19.01.2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 2022, Partners Group's innovative bespoke client solutions were the largest contributor to fundraising at 70% of assets raised. Understanding our clients and their needs is at the heart of what we do. Within the scope of bespoke client solutions, creating mandates for large institutional investors, such as pension funds, allows them to achieve their long-term target allocations to private markets.
Pension funds are increasingly looking to private equity investments to provide diversification and asset security. We helped one US corporate pension plan gain diversification, reduce fees and benefit from consolidated reporting across all assets.
Read our case study for more.
Reinventing Supply Chains
11.01.2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Where there is disruption, there is opportunity. COVID brought the entire global value chain to a halt, with the scale and speed of the pandemic’s impact on global supply chains eclipsing anything that had been seen before.
In our 'Reinventing Supply Chains' paper, we discuss how private markets play a critical role in creating the resilient and sustainable supply chains of tomorrow across our four asset classes: Private Equity, Private Infrastructure, Private Real Estate and Private Debt.
Partners Group's Key Predictions for 2023
21.12.2022
What does 2023 hold in store for private markets?
We asked a cross-section of our industry experts to provide us with one key prediction each from their area of focus.
Meet our D&I Network Members
28.10.2022
VALERIA HEGNAUER
In this PG Perspectives post, we speak to Valeria Hegnauer, Lead Operator in our Private Equity Goods & Products team based in Zug. Valeria is a mother to two girls and heads up the Partners Group Parents Network, which offers working parents peer-to-peer coaching and practical support.
In this Q&A, Valeria gives her perspective on the realities of being a working parent, and the ways in which the Network strives to support all parents and their need for work-life balance.
Quarterly Loan Market Commentary
25.10.2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Faced with unrelenting economic headwinds led by rapidly rising interest rates and surging inflation, institutional US loan issuance volumes were effectively tabled in Q3, posting their worst new issuance quarter since the Global Financial Crisis. Despite this, investors were not all “risk-off”, with demand for secondary traded loans emanating from newly-issued CLOs in Q3. Meanwhile, weakening economic conditions across Europe continue to cast a long shadow over capital markets and loans are no exception, with loan market conditions only marginally improving in Q3 compared to Q2 levels.
Sustainability-linked loans: A new engagement channel in private debt
05.10.2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As ESG and sustainability continue to climb up debt investors’ agendas, so sustainability-linked loans are increasing in popularity both for limited partners seeking ESG-compliant investments and for company management teams looking to improve their ESG performance. From a standing start just a few years ago, the sustainability-linked loan market grew to USD 600 billion globally in 2021, 3.5 times its value in 2020, according to LSTA figures.
In this Q&A, Aurélie Madé and Gerald Tee explain Partners Group’s systematic approach to these loans and how the market is developing.
Creating stories that cross generations and continents
A case study of timeless toy figurines that appeal to children and parents everywhere
07.09.2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
When Partners Group first invested in Schleich in mid-2019, the company had already firmly established itself as a leading toymaker in Germany. However, we recognized that the timeless nature of its products also had a strong international appeal. Under our ownership, we have therefore focused on transforming Schleich into a truly global brand.
In this case study, we look at how Schleich's sales have grown at around 20% per year in the competitive US, UK and French markets since our investment, enabling Schleich to generate a majority of its toy sales outside of Germany for the first time in its history.
Meet our D&I Network Members
12.08.2022
NICHOLAS HEGARTY
In this PG Perspectives post, we speak to Nicholas Hegarty, who heads Client Solutions at Partners Group for the US East Coast and Canada. Nick is a founding member of our Boots & Rucks Network, which aims to provide an inclusive environment for veteran military and service personnel.
In this Q&A, Nick tells us how his time in the military has shaped his mindset to help identify and achieve impactful goals, in both his professional and personal life.
Quarterly Loan Market Commentary
26.07.2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
US economic conditions went from bad to worse in Q2, as the headwinds of the ongoing war in Ukraine, accelerating inflation, a potential recession, unresolved supply chain challenges, and new COVID-19 variants were joined by rapidly rising interest rates. As a result, loan issuance activity stalled, and secondary loan prices declined abruptly, causing new CLO formation to become more challenging. In Europe, macro volatility in Q2 proved to be almost too much to overcome, and European leveraged loan market new issuance came to a near halt, following an already quiet Q1 with the escalating conflict in Ukraine.
Health & Life: Supporting Better Patient Outcomes
Q&A with Todd Miller, Head of Private Equity Health & Life
19.07.2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Identifying transformative trends is key to our thematic investing journey, and one of the giga themes guiding our approach is digitization & automation. As the healthcare industry is 10-20 years behind the economy in adopting new technologies, investment opportunities in innovation are plentiful.
In this Q&A, Todd Miller, Head of Private Equity Health & Life, explains where Partners Group sees opportunity in the Health & Life vertical and how investment, combined with strong governance, can enhance patient care and improve the daily work life of clinicians.
Finding bright spots in private markets amid the economy's dark clouds
Private markets mid-year outlook
07.07.2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Halfway through 2022, it is clear the outlook for the global economy is far from rosy. Rising living costs and interest rates are weighing heavily on macroeconomic activity. However, Tina Jessop, our Senior Economist, and Stephan Schäli, Chief Investment Officer, argue there are bright spots to be found in private markets, even amid the economy's dark clouds.
Building Portfolios for the 21st Century
Finding relative value in private markets through active portfolio management
22.06.2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
When it comes to private markets, many investors prefer to stick to long-term allocations, but could a more flexible approach, deviating from pre-defined targets, bring additional return?
In the last paper in our series on Building Portfolios for the 21st Century, we argue that it can pay to be tactical with portfolio allocation and adaptive to market opportunities. Through active portfolio management, investors can put themselves in the best position to benefit from relative value over time.
Meet our D&I Network Members
17.06.2022
MARIA GETTO
In this PG Perspectives post, we speak to Maria Getto, one of our Pride Network members and recent addition to LGBT Great's Top 100 LGBT Gamechangers in financial services. Maria has been at Partners Group for over five years, starting as a Proposal Specialist and rising to Senior Proposal Manager, Client Solutions, in our Denver office. In this Q&A, Maria tells us how the Pride Network gives her the opportunity to feel seen and heard by peers, but also to push boundaries, and why we celebrate Pride Month.
A holistic approach to physical therapy in the US
A case study in delivering better, cheaper, and less invasive healthcare at Confluent Health
02.06.2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Our portfolio company Confluent Health, one of the largest occupational and physical therapy provider platforms in the US, is leading the next generation of physical therapy care with its clinician-led approach, delivering more sustainable and stronger outcomes for patients. Read the case study for more.
Building Portfolios for the 21st Century
Portfolio Diversification: No One-size-fits-all Approach
31.05.2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Portfolio diversification is a valuable investment tool, but finding the right balance requires thorough analysis, and a strong investment platform to execute on it. We often hear from clients who are working to achieve that balance – not too little and not too much.
In the third paper in our Building Portfolios for the 21st Century series, we argue that private markets portfolios should not be limited to rigid diversification guidelines but should instead remain flexible, spreading across vintages, investing across multiple assets, and focusing on direct investments.
Measuring and managing impact at PCI Pharma Services
An ESG engagement case study
20.05.2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
During our ownership of PCI Pharma Services, a global provider of outsourced supply chain solutions supporting biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, we worked with the company to enhance its approach to waste management and health & safety. Read the case study for more.
Quarterly Loan Market Commentary
26.04.2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In our latest Quarterly Loan Market commentary, we look at how, despite high expectations for the loan market at the start of 2022, things did not go as planned. The long-awaited transition from a LIBOR base rate to a term SOFR rate took center stage, and other lingering headwinds from 2021, such as inflation, Fed rate increases, supply-chain issues, and new COVID variants, remained. The news of Russia's invasion of Ukraine then shocked the market. New US leveraged loan issuance for Q1 2022 totaled USD 113.5 billion, lower than any quarter in 2021. European new institutional loan issue volumes ground to a halt in March. However, US and European new CLO issuance managed to hold firm.
Infrastructure Thematic Research
29.03.2022
THE NEXT GENERATION OF DECARBONIZATION INFRASTRUCTURE
Decarbonization is one of the giga themes driving Partners Group's thematic investing. With the increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters costing nearly USD 250 billion per year, combatting climate change has become one of the greatest humanitarian and economic imperatives of our time. But how can we truly achieve global decarbonization objectives and how much will it cost? In this thematic paper, Partners Group outlines its framework for analyzing and assessing decarbonization solutions across sectors, geographies, and technologies.
Creating value, one hole at a time
A case study on transforming the health & safety culture at USIC
22.02.2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In this case study, we outline the initiatives Partners Group has introduced at US portfolio company USIC, a market leader in underground utility locating services, in order to transform its approach to health & safety. These company-wide initiatives have led to a measurable improvement in technician safety, with field injuries and lost-time incident rates halving since our acquisition in 2017.
Building Portfolios for the 21st Century
Evergreen Funds: the Next Frontier for Private Markets Investors?
10.02.2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Since the dawn of investor interest in private equity, traditional closed-end funds have largely served investors well as a means to access private markets investments. But as private markets have evolved, different structures have emerged that can provide investors with new ways to access these markets. In this paper, we argue that open-ended or evergreen structures can help address some of the key structural and cyclical challenges of investing in private markets and should be considered a viable alternative – or complement – to traditional closed-end funds.
Quarterly Loan Market Commentary
31.01.2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In our latest Quarterly Loan Market Commentary, we look back on a record year for loan markets. New-issue volume in the US leveraged loan market topped USD 615 billion in 2021, smashing the previous record of USD 503 billion set in 2017. Desire to make up for lost time due to COVID, a sea of investable cash, and growing expectations of rising rates were unstoppable demand catalysts for loans. Not to be outdone, the European leveraged loan market also broke records of its own. The EUR 117.7 billion of new loan issuance posted in 2021 was the busiest year ever.
Building Portfolios for the 21st Century
Getting the Best out of Private Markets Portfolios
20.01.2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
With the number of public companies in the US having fallen by 50% in the last 25 years, it is becoming clear to many investors that the widest range of opportunities now lies in private, rather than public markets. However, with many investors still structurally underweight to private markets, are they making the most of their private markets allocations? In this paper, we argue that investors need to be more active in the management of their private markets portfolios in order to achieve their return objectives.
Private Markets Navigator 2022
Thematic investing is key to unlocking value
29.11.2021
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Coming out of the sharpest contraction since the Great Depression, the world continues to adjust to a new economic reality. While the initial recovery has been strong, we believe there are still clouds on the horizon, including inflationary pressures and more modest growth prospects. To navigate this environment, we maintain strong conviction in our transformational investing approach, which combines thematic sourcing with hands-on value creation.
Quarterly Loan Market Commentary
22.10.2021
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In our latest Quarterly Loan Market Commentary, we look at how the US leveraged loan market is poised to shatter all records, with issuance close to 2017 highs, and the appetite of loan buyers, who continue to look past uncertainties in the market. In Europe, the red-hot issuance market has pulled back but with Q3 new CLO issuance hitting record levels, additional CLO warehouses opening, and a healthy new loan issue pipeline slated for Q4, this pause should be short lived. Our spotlight topic looks at the rapid improvement in default rates over the past year and how, while the worst of the COVID crisis seems to have passed, not all pandemic-related issues have yet been resolved.
Quarterly Loan Market Commentary
22.07.2021
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In our latest Quarterly Loan Market Commentary, we look at how the US and European loan markets were very much open for business in Q2 2021, repeating a familiar theme of the last three quarters, with investors having shaken off most COVID-related concerns.
In the US, the post-COVID "re-opening trade" remained center stage, boosting appetite for both new-issue and secondary-traded loans across all sectors. Meanwhile in Europe, private equity firms launched numerous buyouts, tapping both the loan and bond markets at levels not seen since before the Global Financial Crisis.
ESG engagement case study
Measuring and managing impact at Grassroots
07.06.2021
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In this case study, we outline the ESG initiatives Partners Group has introduced at Australian renewable energy platform Grassroots to help reduce the environmental impact of its wind farms and protect local flora and fauna species. In addition, Partners Group has also established community benefit funds for each of the company's wind farms which will contribute to local organisations and projects.
ESG engagement case study
Protecting health & safety at Ammega
27.05.2021
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In this case study, we outline the ESG initiatives Partners Group has introduced at portfolio company Ammega in order to enhance its approach to health & safety and reduce the risk of serious incidents. These initiatives have led to a measurable improvement across key metrics, including Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate, and resulted in Ammega becoming a health & safety best practice example in our portfolio.
Partners Group Q&A
Transforming tech
03.05.2021
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Why does technology adoption and integration vary so much across different sectors? How can private equity firms transform fast-growing technology businesses? What are the biggest future trends in the technology sector?
Fresh from Partners Group's recent exit of US digital engineering services business GlobalLogic, at a valuation of USD 9.5 billion, our Head of Private Equity Technology Bilge Ogut looks to address these questions and more in this new Q&A.
Bilge also discusses the outlook for the technology sector in the post-COVID era and how Partners Group's thematic investing approach is helping it identify opportunities.
Quarterly Loan Market Commentary
30.04.2021
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In the latest issue of our Quarterly Loan Market Commentary, we analyze the red hot conditions in the US loan market, which saw the highest quarterly volume of new institutional loan issuance on record. Investors quickly jumped out of the gates at the start of the year, as growing cash balances, attractive CLO issuance conditions and a growing optimism over a post-COVID economic recovery fueled investor demand. The European loan market also experienced one of its busiest quarters on record. However, despite attractive headline numbers, investor demand was left unsatiated, as new money loans only made up a small portion of total loan issuance, meaning investors had to turn to the secondary loan market or the bond market to satisfy their demand.
We also shine a spotlight on inflation, which has resurfaced as a popular topic in financial markets following the fiscal stimulus measures taken in response to the pandemic, and reflect on its potential impact on debt markets.
Partners Group Podcast
TRANSFORMATIVE TRENDS | Power Reliability and Flexibility
26.02.2021
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The conversation around enhanced power stability is more pertinent today than ever as we continue to witness the increasing impact of climate change. As we work to transform assets that support the energy transition, securing our power supply remains a critical issue.
In the latest episode of Partners Group's 'Transformative Trends' podcast series, Julien Bedin, Lead Infrastructure Investment Researcher, discusses Power Reliability and Flexibility, highlighting the role natural gas can play in supporting the energy transition, and why power stability will be an attractive opportunity for infrastructure investors for many years to come.
Infrastructure Thematic Research
26.02.2021
POWER RELIABILITY AND FLEXIBILITY
The global shift to net zero carbon is one of the key sector themes driving our sourcing strategy across the infrastructure asset class. By 2050, more than 60% of global power production will come from renewable sources, where this is less than 20% today, increasing the need for a resilient and flexible grid.
We are pleased to share Partners Group's latest Thematic Research paper on investing in power reliability and flexibility infrastructure, discussing the six power reliability and flexibility solutions that we believe offer the most compelling risk/reward.
Quarterly Loan Market Commentary
01.02.2021
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In the latest issue of Partners Group's Quarterly Loan Market Commentary, we look back on a momentous year for loan markets. For many loan investors, 2020 returns were largely driven by whether they sold in the market trough, thereby locking in deep losses, or held on.
Partners Group Podcast
THE INDUSTRY VIEW | Entrepreneurial Governance
17.12.2020
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In this episode of the Partners Group Podcast, we get "The Industry View" from one of our Lead Operating Directors, Luisa Delgado, Chair of Partners Group portfolio company Schleich, one of Germany's largest toy manufacturers. Luisa talks to our Global Head of Communications Jenny Blinch about the impact of business on society, leadership through difficult times, and how working with Partners Group changed her mind about private equity.
Partners Group Podcast
TRANSFORMATIVE TRENDS | Thematic Sourcing
10.12.2020
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Our first episode of the Partners Group Podcast's "Transformative Trends" series features Christina Han, our Head of Investment Research, who explains her work on Thematic Sourcing at the firm. As Christina says, Thematic Sourcing is the fundamental process behind how Partners Group identifies the assets we want to invest in – beyond those already available on the market. Honing this strategy is more important than ever as competition for good assets becomes increasingly fierce.
Partners Group Q&A
The Industry View
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In this interview, Luisa Delgado, an entrepreneur with extensive board experience and Chair of Partners Group portfolio company Schleich – one of Germany’s largest toy manufacturers – discusses ESG and sustainability at Schleich, the growing consumer attention on the environmental and societal impact of businesses, and what it has been like working with private equity to build resilience and create value for the long term.
Private Markets Navigator 2021
Offense remains the best defense
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The uncertainty we see today creates challenges, but also opportunities, for companies and their investors. In this climate, we firmly believe that offense remains the best defense. Our thematic investment strategy, which targets transformative trends, combined with hands-on value creation at asset level, is guiding our investment efforts and helping us to steer our portfolios through these choppy waters.
Quarterly Loan Market Commentary
October 2020
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In this issue of the Quarterly Loan Market Commentary, we discuss how the US capital markets wrestled with the many challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic throughout the summer of 2020. However, US leveraged loans remarkably stabilized further in Q3, with institutional loan investors again returning in force with a "risk-on" mentality. In Europe, the loan market also remained reasonably constructive in Q3, despite the typically quiet vacation month of August. Spurred by demand from new CLO formation, institutional loan issuance in Europe was only slightly below Q2 levels.
Partners Group Q&A
Creating the office of the future
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The pandemic has been a massive global experiment in remote working and the shift to virtual communication has been more successful than many business leaders anticipated. Indeed, many now expect flexible working to become the norm. But what does this mean for the management of office space? In this Q&A, Head of Private Real Estate Asset Management Jessica Wichser explains how Partners Group has continued to create value in the office sector through the crisis and how the pandemic may shape the office of the future.
Partners Group Q&A
The great Australian renewables opportunity
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Following Partners Group's investment in Murra Warra II Wind Farm in July 2020, our Private Infrastructure Asia team discusses the advantages of wind farm platform strategies, the rigors of transacting in the midst of a global pandemic, and the next generation of energy transition investments across Asia Pacific.
Partners Group Blog
The debate on including PE in 401(k) plans
BY DAVID LAYTON, CO-CEO
In this blog, David Layton, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Partners Group, says it has been largely overlooked that American businesses stand to become a principal beneficiary of the Department of Labor's guidance in June that defined contribution plans can prudently include private equity strategies in their investment options.
Partners Group Q&A
The secondary approach: maintaining discipline during a crisis
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As investors absorb the impact of the COVID-19 global health crisis, many perceive secondaries investments to be a rare bright spot in an uncertain market. Anthony Shontz, Managing Director and Co-Head Private Equity Integrated Investments Americas at global private markets investment manager Partners Group, explains how discipline, creativity and flexibility are key to successfully navigating a global private equity secondaries platform through today's unprecedented environment.
Partners Group Q&A
Steering the Global Investment Committee through rough seas
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As Chairman of Partners Group's Global Investment Committee, René Biner not only evaluates hundreds of new investment opportunities every year, but also keeps a close eye on the firm's existing portfolio of companies and assets spanning multiple sectors and geographies. With the COVID-19 global health crisis affecting almost every segment of the economy, neither of these tasks has been easy. However, while René believes social distancing may be around for longer than we might wish for, he has reason to be optimistic about the future of private markets investments.
Partners Group Q&A
How to stay cyber safe during a global pandemic
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
One of the side-effects of the COVID-19 global health crisis has been a large spike in online criminal activity. Cyber attackers are using every conceivable strategy to take advantage of the crisis, from fake Coronavirus cures and ransomware attacks on vaccine test centers to attacks on the World Health Organization itself. In our latest Q&A, we speak to Patrik Bless, Chief Information Security Officer at Partners Group, to understand what the risks are and how businesses and private individuals can continue to protect themselves against them.
Quarterly Loan Market Commentary
April 2020
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In this issue, we report the impact of the COVID-19 global health crisis on US and European loan markets. While the first quarter of 2020 began with strong new loan issuance volumes, the outbreak of the pandemic brought the market to an abrupt halt in both regions. With no reliable timetable as to when commercial activity will normalize, we believe it is critical for investors to focus on debt issuers' abilities to prudently manage cash and financial resources, maintain adequate liquidity and service debt obligations until economies can move into recovery mode.
Quarterly Loan Market Commentary
January 2020
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In the latest issue of our Quarterly Loan Market Commentary, we highlight leveraged loan investors' increasing focus on US loan default rates as fears of the next recession linger. But as long as default rates remain range bound and well spread across multiple industries, could the US expansion have further to run?
Private Markets Navigator 2020
Offense is the new defense
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Against a challenging backdrop of low growth and geopolitical uncertainty, we believe “offense is the new defense” in private markets investing. We seek opportunities to build resilience instead of buying it by focusing on assets with value creation potential in sub-sectors with above-average growth rates.
Quarterly Loan Market Commentary
October 2019
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In our Quarterly Loan Market Commentary, we highlight the rising trend for loan market investors to adopt a bifurcated approach to credit risk across their portfolio. In search of both higher yield and reduced credit risk, many investors are supplementing higher yielding, lower rated loans with lower yielding, higher rated loans. Could the bifurcated approach be a prudent way to prepare for the next credit downturn?
Partners Group Q&A
How to build an effective board
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As former CEOs and current portfolio company board members, Christoph Rubeli and Christian Unger know a thing or two about corporate governance. Today, they lead the Operating Directors & Entrepreneurial Governance business unit at Partners Group, which has been tasked with unlocking the full potential of private markets governance across the firm’s portfolio. In a Q&A, they share with us their insights into what makes an effective board and how and why you should evaluate board performance.
White Paper March 2019
The current state of the leveraged loan market
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In this White Paper, Partners Group analyzes the growth in the leveraged loan market and looks at how credit conditions have changed in recent years. Our conclusion is that while growth has been rapid in the leveraged loan market and certain credit metrics have weakened, there is no resemblance to the 2008 subprime market, as some commentators have suggested. Moreover, we see recent market volatility as more of a welcome correction – one that may generate attractive private debt investment opportunities – than a threat.
Private Markets Navigator 2019
Entrepreneurial ownership holds the key to private markets outperformance
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
While our base case economic outlook projects a period of continued modest growth, we are aware that the ride may become bumpier as multiple challenges emerge. In this environment, we believe entrepreneurial ownership and strong value creation skills are the only way to generate outperformance.
White Paper 2018
The Rise of "Governance Correctness"
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This paper provides a practitioner’s perspective on the increasing divergence between the corporate governance regimes of public and private markets and the resulting impact on value creation for investors.
Private Markets Navigator 2018
Leveraging the winds of change
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As the chances of a deviation from our base case macroeconomic outlook of low but steady growth continue to rise, we are focusing on sectors benefiting from the global megatrends that we believe will continue to generate attractive investment opportunities in the long term. These include digital transformation, new generation living and consumption, and the energy revolution.