Friedrich Wallwitz

Private debt investors took defensive approach in 2024 13.12.2024 - Investoren Plattform News: Private Debt A challenging fundraising environment saw private debt investors adopt a more defensive approach in 2024, according to new Preqin research. Although private debt fundraising saw a substantial recovery after a slow first quarter in 2024, analysts found that it was not enough to make up the ground lost during the first three months of the […] und mehr als 10.100 weitere Artikel finden Sie unter: https://lnkd.in/eYzxGH5k

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Great news from Sunfire: The Lightrock portfolio company has secured a €200 million syndicated bonding line, enabling it to scale production, fulfill customer orders, and expand its hydrogen solutions across multiple projects without tying up its own funds as collateral. This financing, led by Commerzbank AG and backed by 80% public guarantees from the German Federal Government and the Free State of Saxony, signals Germany's commitment to the hydrogen market and the sustainable transformation of its industry. Congrats to CEO Nils Aldag and CFO Frank Posnanski for securing the financing. The combination of private and public support reflects the trust earned by Sunfire’s electrolysis technologies. Find a Hydrogen Tech World article about the funding in the comments. #GreenHydrogen #Decarbonization #Electrolysis #Sunfire

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More than two years ago, I started my journey at FLEX Capital with the intention of building a top-tier HR case in Germany's PE sector. Value Creation and HR as a subfunction have a low level of maturity in small and mid-cap PE, but I believe they have enormous potential in most PEs' toolboxes because it's much more than "just" recruiting! Therefore, I am happy to have a platform and an interview partner with Private Equity Observer (PEO) 's founder, Pascal Philipp Buck. In the interview, we explored the nuances between HR responsibilities in PE and non-PE environments. At FLEX Capital, we focus on strategic and operational HR work within the fund and our portfolio companies. Our investment focus on small—to medium-sized software enterprises in the DACH region allows us to create tailored playbooks addressing common challenges like attracting and retaining top talent, building stage-appropriate HR solutions, and increasing Leadership as overall maturity. We delved into the importance of pre-deal HR involvement, discussing how recognizing and addressing HR-related white spots can significantly impact the deal cycle. I shared insights from my experience and introduced the maturity model I've developed for strategic HR work, which is now being applied internally for HR, Finance, Tech & Commercial DD, and value creation. One highlight of our discussion was the concept of Workforce Planning versus traditional hiring approaches. At FLEX, we believe in "No hiring without a business case," emphasizing aligning business strategy with people strategy for optimal performance. I also touched upon the critical role of management audits in ensuring that exemplary Leadership is in place, particularly in succession planning scenarios. Our structured approach helps us find the best CEO fit for each unique organizational situation. Our People Strategy at FLEX Capital underscores the employee as a critical value driver. We aim for maximum synergies with minimal complexity during group and platform building. This strategy is crucial in maintaining our portfolio companies' cultural fit and operational efficiency. For HR professionals looking to venture into PE or VC, my advice is to deeply understand the financial-driven nature of these environments and embrace the value of making observations measurable. We covered some ground in HR Value Creation, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share our journey. As you never walk alone, a big shoutout to my incredible team, Lars Meyer, Christoph Oesterheld, Gregor Hemeyer, Alessa Schlegel & Le Suong Ho, and Peter Waleczek & Christoph Jost, who make all this possible by seeing more in HR than "just" recruiting! Watch the full interview for more insights! Let's connect if you are interested in HR Value Creation, organizational design, or Maturity in the PE context! #PrivateEquity #HRValueCreation #FlexCapital #HumanResources #PeopleStrategy 

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As Europe’s leading restructuring experts gathered last week at the GRR Live: Women in Restructuring Summit 2024, Moelis Managing Director Antje Gaensler joined a panel on Liability Management for a discussion on its use across the region. Below are her key takeaways. #restructuring #liabilitymanagement #GRRLive

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As Europe’s leading restructuring experts gathered last week at the GRR Live: Women in Restructuring Summit 2024, Moelis Managing Director Antje Gaensler joined a panel on Liability Management for a discussion on its use across the region. Below are her key takeaways. #restructuring #liabilitymanagement #GRRLive

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As Europe’s leading restructuring experts gathered last week at the GRR Live: Women in Restructuring Summit 2024, Moelis Managing Director Antje Gaensler joined a panel on Liability Management for a discussion on its use across the region. Below are her key takeaways. #restructuring #liabilitymanagement #GRRLive

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It was a pleasure to speak at the 22nd Corporate M&A Congress in Munich last week about the outlook for the German M&A market in 2025. As a result, I am confident that M&A activity will pick up speed despite the difficult macroeconomic conditions. 2025 will be a good vintage for private equity and M&A investment banks. I look forward to further nice deals with all of you... #MergersAndAcquisitions #InvestmentBanking #PrivateEquity

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Are Axel Springer and Netflix a match? 🤔 Mathias Döpfner, CEO and Chairman of Axel Springer, serves on Netflix's board. Recent allegations against Döpfner, concerning his tolerance of abusive behavior at Axel Springer's largest media house, Bild, reminded us of the misconduct uncovered by the #MeToo movement. Astounded by the obvious mismatch - Netflix is a champion when it comes to representation, visibility, and empowerment for underrepresented groups in their productions (see findings of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative: https://lnkd.in/dNyWbzCW), we reached out to them. However, we received no response to our inquiries whether they plan to investigate the allegations. What to do as a small fintech startup based in Switzerland? File a shareholder resolution! How? Collaboration is key! We reached out to our Shareholders for Change network, got connected by Charlie of the Friends Provident Foundation to the renowned Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), who asked their members to support. We were happy to find a partner in Sister Susan and Sister Barbara of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica, who helped us tremendously in filing the proposal. Our findings? Netflix’s governance of diversity, equity, and inclusion, especially at the board level, lags behind its peers. The alleged conduct by Döpfner wasn’t even addressed by the Code of Ethics, raising serious governance concerns. And that’s why we ask for amendments to the code to then conduct a comprehensive compliance check of all board members. To the “ESG skeptics”: Considering Netflix's emphasis on diversity in its market strategy, this proposal isn’t “just another ESG issue” — it’s crucial for business success. For more details, check out the Netflix Proxy Statement (https://lnkd.in/d9JcJzCj, p 92) and our Investor Briefing below! Tillmann James Cristian

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Private Equity: Resilience in Times of Crisis – The Facts Speak for Themselves! 💡📊 An impressive 25-year analysis reveals how private equity has consistently proven its strength during global crises. Here are the standout stats from Schroders’ study: 🔹 5 major crises, including the 2008 financial meltdown, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the dot-com bubble, tested markets worldwide – yet private equity held firm. 🌍 🔹 Returns: Despite economic shocks, private equity funds delivered an average annual return of +14%, compared to just +8% in public markets. 📈 🔹 Drawdowns: Public markets saw drawdowns exceeding 45%, while private equity held up far better, with declines of only around 20%. 🔹 Cash distributions: Even in turbulent times, private equity funds returned an average of 70% of committed capital to investors – showcasing the industry’s strong liquidity. 💸 🔹 10 million jobs globally are supported by businesses backed by private equity – a significant driver of economic and social progress. 💡 The takeaway: Private equity demonstrates that long-term vision and active management pay off, even in the toughest times. 👉 Curious for more? Dive into the full study here: https://lnkd.in/dWWsTJAK #PrivateEquity #Innovation #Transformation #Economy #PrivateCapital #CrisisResilience #LongTermGrowth #StrongReturns #Investing #FactsMatter 🚀📊

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IPOX 2025 Outlook Building on 3 consecutive years of capital raise improvements, stabilizing interest rates & exceptional earnings from newly public companies, Josef Schuster believes that 2025 could see an #IPO revival. HT Dr. Lukas Muehlbauer https://lnkd.in/edP9eT5P

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Germany: Fund industry grows by 6 per cent ▪️ Equity funds with record assets ▪️ Bond funds with highest sales since 2012 ▪️ Balanced funds and property funds with outflows ▪️ Decline in new business for Spezialfonds The fund industry manages a record EUR 4,413 billion in assets for investors in Germany as at the end of September. This is an increase of over 6 per cent since the beginning of the year (EUR 4,149 billion). At EUR 2,183 billion, the majority is accounted for by open-ended Spezialfonds for institutional investors. These are primarily retirement pension schemes (EUR 768 billion) and insurers (EUR 536 billion). The fund companies manage EUR 1,524 billion in open-ended retail funds, EUR 645 billion in mandates and EUR 61 billion in closed-ended funds. In the first nine months of the year, the industry received net new money totalling EUR 21.3 billion. Open-ended retail funds accounted for EUR 20.6 billion of this, compared to EUR 14.0 billion in the same period last year. For further information, please see the press release: https://lnkd.in/eUKaYcPm Peggy Steffen Christiane Lang Frank Bock Volker Weber Magdalena Kuper Kai Schulze Yvonne Schulz Sebastian Oys Christian Anger Moritz Bartsch Rudolf Siebel Felix Ertl Daniel Mettlach Marius Seibert Jenny Seydel Marc Bubeck Sebastian Krämer- Bach Klaus Papenbrock Dr. Sinan York Temelli Cvetelina Todorova Jasmine Carolin Schimke

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🇪🇺 Reflecting on a Milestone Discussion on the Future of European AI 🇪🇺 Yesterday, I had the distinct honor of moderating a transformative roundtable discussion initiated by President Emmanuel Macron and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier Bundespräsidialamt. This gathering brought together influential French and German business leaders, distinguished scientists, and key policymakers. Our focus? Charting the path for Europe’s leadership in artificial intelligence and technology. The dialogue was rich and insightful, addressing pivotal questions: What does Europe need to excel in AI competitiveness? How can we attract and retain top talent? How can we strengthen European resilience and competitiveness This was more than a conversation; it was a reaffirmation of the deep friendship between Germany and France, a testament to our shared commitment to strengthening our liberal democracies and bolstering our competitive edge through cooperation. We explored the potential of creating a pan-European AI initiative, discussing the essential ingredients needed for such a venture, including governmental support in research and talent mobility. The outcome is clear: Europe faces real challenges, but also unprecedented opportunities. By uniting our efforts, we can shape a resilient continent that thrives on unique, cutting-edge technology. That way, Europe can become a pioneer of digital transformation. Thank you to President Macron and Federal President Steinmeier for championing this cause and to all participants for their valuable contributions, Michael Backes, Katharina Hölzle, Christian Müller, Cedrik Neike, Bastian Nominacher, Dr. Gundbert Scherf, Susanne Wiegand. Together, we are paving the way for a brighter, tech-driven future for Europe.

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Germany’s Investor Drop – Why Climate Tech is Bucking the Trend A recent article by Nadine Schimroszik in Handelsblatt today mentioned that the number of active investors in Germany has dropped by 40% this year. Based on PitchBook data, the conclusion is that venture capital in Germany has become significantly more challenging, particularly in early-stage and growth-stage investments. However, for Climate Tech, the story is different. Despite the overall decline in venture capital, the sector continues to attract attention, with a 16.2% increase in pre-seed and seed investments. Indeed, we have seen some positive developments recently: 1. Growing Commitment to Addressing the Climate Crisis 🌱 2. Long-term Investment Horizon ⏳ 3. Robust Capital Availability for Scalable Solutions 💰 Big thanks to Nadine Schimroszik for raising awareness on this important issue. As investors, how can we ensure we're not just reacting to trends, but actively driving the transformation needed for a sustainable future? 🌍🔋 #ClimateTech #SustainableInvestment #VentureCapital  

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14.08.2024 - Investoren Plattform News: Private Equity The Private Funds Rule Is Dead. Now, Stakeholders Must Pick Up Where Regulators Left Off. Managers and investors must now collaborate closely — and seriously — if they want to improve their ecosystem, argues SBAI’s Thomas Deinet. Institutional investors have long called for better transparency and disclosure regarding fees, expenses, pass-through costs, and conflicts of interest. The Securities and Exchange Commission’s private fund adviser rule sought to resolve some of […] und mehr als 8.700 weitere Artikel finden Sie unter: https://lnkd.in/e7C_eC-8

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"The last 18 months have been brutal. Many startups that received high valuations during the 2021 boom are now struggling to survive." says Gina Domanig, Managing Partner at Emerald Technology Ventures in this Forbes Austria article. Yes, 2024 has been a tough year for many fledgling companies. But I am encouraged by some of the startups scaling disruptive technology and business models in service of accelerating the energy transition in India and across the Asia Pacific and Middle East. They will survive and thrive - with the support of a growing investor community who have come to appreciate that the global south possess truly innovative solutions. One of the highlights for me this year was the first Asia Climate Tech Venture Fair, held in Singapore in October. The brainchild of Gina and her team, it brought together a critical set of VCs, CVCs and PE firms to share insights and leads on startups in the region. Looking forward to more conversations in 2025. Read now: https://lnkd.in/dhEtFTbV #Cleantech #Venturecapital #Innovation #Startups #energytransition #Corporates #Climatetech #Entrepreneurship #Sustainability #Futureoftech #Cleantechventures #Startupgrowth #Corporatecollaboration #Techinvestment

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KfW bank issues digital bonds on Blockchain. A first big step on the part of a conventional bank that I heard of. "The issue was carried out by Clearstream on Deutsche Börse’s D7 digital post-trade platform. The transaction involves a bond with a volume of EUR 20 million, a term of two years and a coupon of 2.381%. Deutsche Bank acted as lead manager for this transaction, and Hengeler Mueller as legal advisor." https://lnkd.in/dj6kj6jZ What are your thoughts on the future of on-chain assets within the conventional banking system?

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Webinar: What’s Next for Private Credit? 02.11.2024 - Investoren Plattform News: Private Debt Join us on Thursday, November 21st to explore the latest insights into private credit markets. Private credit has been on the rise in an environment of higher-for-longer interest rates. And as increasingly sophisticated institutional investors seek greater diversification, they are looking to private credit for attractive returns. But how are analysts viewing current market conditions, […] und mehr als 9.700 weitere Artikel finden Sie unter: https://lnkd.in/eYzxGH5k

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