PE Alpha

With one week to go before 2026 and as we prepare for the new year, here are a few notes on Investment Outlook and how it will affect our PE industry and market dynamics. Generally, deal activity is likely to accelerate and the deal dam may be breaking in 2026…  Read More >

The AI bubble debate misses a fundamental point – bubbles are endemic to technological revolutions, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Consider electrification in the 1920s. Electric holding company stocks tripled, annualized returns exceeded 50% between 1925-1929, and capital poured into infrastructure at breakneck speed. The bubble burst, but…  Read More >

Designing the Modern Value Creation Team: Built for Profitable, Capital-Efficient Growth In buyouts, value creation now depends on one thing above all: driving profitable, capital-efficient revenue growth that translates directly into higher EBITDA and margin expansion. That mission defines how a private equity firm should design its Strategic Portfolio Ops…  Read More >

This is from discussions at Private Equity International 2025 – measuring the impact of a PE Operating Partner comes down to how they create tangible equity value creation across the portfolio. Their impact can be seen in three dimensions: advising portfolio management teams, enabling EBITDA growth, and directly creating EBITDA…  Read More >

Note: insights synthesized from KKR & Bain Mid-Year Reports, and PitchBook   Key Macro Implications for PE Rate Regime Reset: The “4% world” is here to stay—meaning higher baseline rates for Fed Funds, inflation, and bond yields. There’s no going back to ZIRP. As a result, capital has a real…  Read More >

Over the past two decades, operational improvements have become a well-trodden path. Many PE firms—especially in the upper middle market—have built internal teams to drive cost takeout, system upgrades, and operational rigor. While still important, this playbook is no longer differentiated. What remains rare, and increasingly valuable, is true go-to-market…  Read More >

PE Winning Formula is both: a) GTM Excellence + b) Operational Discipline To succeed, PE firms must now differentiate through genuine value creation, as they face intense competition, longer holding periods, and high-interest rates that limit leverage. Firms must focus on both GTM improvements and operational improvements within portfolio companies…  Read More >

Top PE firms that consistently deliver strong returns are disciplined, data-driven, and adaptable, but there is more to sustainable/durable success. Understanding what top investors prioritize can provide a competitive edge. Here are ten key insights that define their approach: 1. Firm Culture, Leadership Alignment, and Decision-Making Cultural fit and leadership…  Read More >

A few ideas for 2025 – to become the best in the industry, PE firms & teams have to the following approaches and insights from the sources: Focus on specific expertise and market segments Specialize: Hone in on specific areas like tech & be good at profitable revenue growth (aka…  Read More >