AC Ventures’ Post

⛰️ Kairous in Event Tech CEOs & Entrepreneurs... How do you grow faster? How do you build for exits? What is the right price and When is the right time? These are all important questions that founders often come to us for our view. We have had private conversation like this many times, but this time, thanks to World Financial Symposiums, we are going to discuss some of these topics publicly. Come join us where our partner, Adrian Hia 颜贻杨 is going to be discussing all these with his fellow panels.

Venture deal count in Europe fell considerably in the first half of the year, but recovery in the public markets could signal a light at the end of the tunnel. Deal value is down 60.8% from H1 2022, and more attention has been focused on follow-on funding and restructuring portfolio companies' operations to extend cash reserves. Exit activity in Europe has also slowed to decade lows, with acquisitions remaining the most popular liquidity route despite a 93.2% decline in exit value from 2022.

Every investor requires consistent updates on their investment's performance to construct a viable exit strategy. Elevating the level of investment management is not just essential but also pivotal for the long-term sustainability of the entire ecosystem.

Only 2% of IT companies and startups in the world make it to IPO. Therefore, when I ask entrepreneurs where they see exit for themselves and investors, and I hear only about going public, I wonder what are other options there. As practice shows, in addition to IPOs, MBOs (buyout of shares by managers), buyout by a late-stage investor (secondary), or most often M&A (mergers and acquisitions) are more common. By the way, for our portfolio of the first MOST Ventures fund, I also foresee the majority of exits through M&A. And here I am talking about venture business models, when you invest in a company that is growing and is capable of growing to such a scale that there is a large buyer for it. That is, free money is invested in growth, and the main goal is to increase the capitalization of the company and its subsequent sale. In dividend models, the main goal of the founders and investors is to develop the company to the point where it starts to bring dividends. Investors invest in growth only to the extent that it helps increase dividend flow. These thoughts plus my opinion on the investment market were shared at a recent M&A community meeting organized by international audit network Baker Tilly Kazakhstan Olga Zagidullina, CFA and iDeals Anna Volfman Thank you for the invitation! I was also glad to hear insights from one of the strongest lawyers I know, my partner Vladimir Shuster By the way, recently on the initiative and with the support of Qazaqstan Investment Corporation and personally Ainur Kuatova, the M&A and Market Research Department of Baker Tilly Qazaqstan Advisory conducted a large-scale research of the private equity market in Kazakhstan. The link is in the first comment. Recommended to study. #MOST #mostecosystem #BakerTilly #iDeals

📢 Croatian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association is thrilled to announce our partnership with the 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠&𝗔 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺, scheduled to take place in 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟰, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯. This annual event is set to gather key regional investors and dealmakers, providing them with an ideal platform to identify and explore lucrative opportunities across various sectors. In addition to #renewable energy, the forum will also shed light on other promising sectors, including #FMCG, #TMT , and #ecommerce. It will also shed light on the rise of #sustainability in #mergersandacquisitions. These sectors have witnessed significant advancements and disruptions in recent years, making them highly attractive for investors looking for lucrative opportunities in the region. 📅 Save the date - 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟰, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 - and join us at this remarkable event to unlock new horizons and pave the way for success in the dynamic world of private equity and mergers and acquisitions. Find out more 👉 https://lnkd.in/eK4KgcJt 👉 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗩𝗖𝗔𝟮𝟬 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝟮𝟬% 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 #CVCA #venturexchange #southeasteurope #privateequity #forum

The tech industry has faced challenges over the past year, but now it's seeing a shift toward better conditions for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and growth. To take advantage of the changing market conditions, tech leaders should be aware of these top 6 private equity trends. ⬇️ #techaccounting #privateequitytrends #techindustry #techleaders

Wendel, a family-held investment company, completed the acquisition of an 82% stake in Scalian, a European consulting firm in digital transformation, project management and operational performance, for €557m ($613m). "Wendel will be an active partner for Scalian, contributing its recognized expertise in developing global leaders in business services, through both organic and external growth. We share the ambition of its leader, Yvan Chabanne, of unlocking the company’s full value creation potential in Europe and North America and making it an international leader in its field. Scalian's highly entrepreneurial culture and its recognized ESG performance are fully in line with Wendel's values. This majority investment by Wendel in an unlisted company will be fully in line with the strategic roadmap we announced a few weeks ago, including the ambition to invest two billion euros over the next twenty-four months," Laurent Mignon, Wendel Group CEO. Scalian (led by Yvan Chabanne, David Capdaspe Lagangue and Jean-Charles de Borda) was advised by Rothschild & Co and Linklaters (led by Florent Mazeron). Wendel (led by Laurent Mignon and Jérôme Michiels) was advised by Morgan Stanley, Hogan Lovells (led by Matthieu GROLLEMUND) and Kekst CNC (led by Todd Fogarty). #MergersAcquisitionsDivestitures #PrivateEquity #Technology

As we begin the near year, it's important to remember, the M&A landscape is constantly evolving, and predicting the future is a bit like reading tea leaves. However, understanding its growth potential will be key for entrepreneurs who are ready to take their businesses into new growth stages this year. When it comes to accessing talent and innovation, achieving operational synergies, or pursuing strategic expansion, M&A serves as a powerful catalyst for transformative change. Entrepreneurs who grasp its growth potential can strategically leverage these benefits, pushing their businesses to new heights. By navigating the landscape with foresight and adaptability, companies position themselves not only to thrive amidst evolving market dynamics but also to emerge as industry leaders in the upcoming year. https://lnkd.in/g8X3cvkk #entrepreneur #REAG #mergers #business #acquisitions #lowermiddlemarket #investmentbank