Best of LinkedIn: Private Equity Insights CW 38/ 39

The last two weeks underscored a pragmatic return to value creation, informed by data, enabled by AI, and pressure tested by liquidity constraints. Fundraising signals cooled at the top end while mid-market and sector-specific playbooks advanced. Partnerships, operating levers, and CFO excellence shaped the agenda across deals and portfolios.

Date

September 17, 2025

Private Equity Insights

Thomas Allgeyer

Methodology: Every two weeks we collect most relevant posts on LinkedIn for selected topics and create an overall summary only based on these posts. If you´re interested in the single posts behind, you can find them here: https://linktr.ee/thomasallgeyer. Have a great read!

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Value Creation and Operating Excellence

Execution mattered more than slideware, with clear guidance on turning Value Creation Plans into results through incentives, governance, and cadence
Sales engines faced missed targets and tougher markets, pushing sharpened focus on customer value, close rates, reengagement, and targeted outreach
Cost and cash discipline resurfaced, including IT vendor consolidation to protect margins while reinvesting in growth-enabling capabilities
Post-merger integration complexity increased, contrasting large-cap and small-cap realities, reporting burdens, AI use in integration, and cultural alignment risks
Brand versus EBITDA debates continued, with PE owners prioritizing measurable improvements while acknowledging longer-horizon brand value
Cybersecurity entered the operating toolkit in M&A, with virtual CISOs framed as practical accelerators for value and risk mitigation

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AI, Data, and Analytics in PE

A new AI resource launched to help PE treat AI as a revenue driver, positioning use cases that lift commercial performance rather than back-office cost alone
Portfolio playbooks emphasized data plus judgment, highlighting the limits of instinct-only decisions and the need for repeatable, evidence-based calls
Digital transformation guidance shifted to resilient value, stressing cost optimization first, then smart reinvestment into growth engines

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M&A, Exits, and Market Dynamics

Symposium insights pointed to tighter liquidity, more resilient processes, competitive auctions, and earlier exit planning to avoid trapped value
Consulting sector M&A remained active, with PE backing strategic rollups to build scaled platforms and capability depth
Market structure commentary flagged US leadership, noted EQT among non-US leaders, and framed resilient competition despite macro headwinds

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Fundraising, Liquidity, and Access

Megafund sizes plateaued or declined versus the prior cycle, reflecting slower exits, allocation constraints, and more selective LP deployment
European democratization moved forward through ELTIF 2.0, LTAF, and fintech platforms, with prudent warnings on risks and implementation path
Country and regional capital flows remained uneven, reinforcing the need for targeted investor narratives and differentiated value creation theses

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CFO and FP&A

PE CFO archetypes were cast as strategic operators, catalyst leaders, and forward-looking partners, not only financial stewards
FP&A roles shifted from reporting to insight generation, cash focus, and operating value creation embedded with line ownership

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Healthcare and MedTech

A European HealthTech and MedTech playbook outlined value pathways tailored to the sector’s regulatory and commercial dynamics
Founder-led healthcare rollups emphasized finance function strength as a prerequisite to institutionalize reporting, controls, and growth cadence
Alignment with founder vision remained a central success factor when partnering in specialized healthcare niches

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Tax, Legal, and Structuring

Tax surfaced as a proactive value lever, urging readiness and structuring foresight to avoid surprises and unlock incremental equity value

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New Products, Partnerships, and Notable Moves

Launch of an AI value creation resource aimed at revenue generation in PE-backed portfolios
Metal raised 5 million dollars led by Base10 Partners to build an AI operating system for Private Equity
An operating transformation blueprint was developed in partnership with Catalant, reinforcing hands-on execution in higher-rate environments

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