Debevoise Releases 2024 Private Equity Outlook Report

NEW YORK, Feb. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Debevoise & Plimpton LLP announced today the release of its 2024 Private Equity Outlook report. The year 2023 is now squarely in the rear-view mirror, with the private equity industry leaving behind it a year marked by high interest rates, challenging conditions in both fundraising and financing, and a muted M&A market around the globe. In this difficult environment, the industry found opportunity where it could with creative deal structures that limited the need to access the debt markets, bespoke financing solutions from an expanding pool of alternative capital providers and a rapidly evolving private funds transactions arena.

While by all accounts the industry has adjusted to this new normal, there are signs that the clouds are parting. Interest rates have peaked, inflation has receded, the "soft landing" seems to have been achieved, and there is increasing expectation that 2024 will see more robust M&A markets. 

However, regulations continue to generate new hurdles. The SEC's new Private Fund Adviser Rules introduce a regime that goes beyond anything contemplated since the 1940 Advisers Act, while the agency is taking a stringent approach to enforcing the Marketing Rule. New rules on everything from ESG to predictive data analytics are in the pipeline. In both the United States and the European Union, regulators are focusing more and more attention—if not outright hostility—on mergers, while in the U.S., noncompete agreements have come under sustained legislative attack.

The 2024 Private Equity Outlook summarizes how these developments—both favorable and less so—have unfolded to set the stage for the year ahead.

The full report is available here.

About the Debevoise Private Equity Group

Debevoise is a trusted partner and legal advisor to a majority of the world's largest private equity firms, and has been a market leader in the Private Equity industry for over 40 years. The firm's Private Equity Group brings together the diverse skills and capabilities of more than 400 lawyers around the world from a multitude of practice areas, working together to advise our clients across the entire private equity life cycle. The Group's strong track record, leading-edge insights, deep bench and commitment to unified, agile teams are why, year after year, clients quoted in Chambers Global, Chambers USA, The Legal 500 and PEI cite Debevoise for our close-knit partnership, breadth of resources and relentless focus on results.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a premier law firm with market-leading practices, a global perspective and strong New York roots. We deliver effective solutions to our clients' most important legal challenges, applying clear commercial judgment and a distinctively collaborative approach.

SOURCE Debevoise & Plimpton LLP