Moonshot Attends Private Equity Insights Conference 2024

The annual Private Equity Insights conference was held in Madrid, Spain on April 11. Established in 2010, the conference has evolved into the premier networking platform for the global private equity community, attracting over 255,000 investment professionals. With its hallmark blend of insightful discussions, thought-provoking keynotes, actionable insights, and unparalleled networking opportunities, the conference promises an enriching experience for all attendees.

The gathering was joined by two members of the Moonshot Investor Relations team, Charles Fleury and Alessandro Decarli, who shared insights on their key takeaways.

Shift toward a process-oriented approach

One key prediction made at the conference is that the private equity industry will shift toward a more process-oriented approach. Rather than focusing on results, investors increasingly want to see evidence of due diligence, strategic planning, and operational efficiency on the part of the private equity firm. In particular, a company’s ability to evidence processes that create additional value for investors is key.

Integrating investor-friendly systems

A recurring theme throughout the day was the critical importance of cultivating strong and mutually beneficial relationships between investors and companies. Furthermore, it was emphasized that providing individual investors with equitable opportunities, compared to institutional investors, is essential. It was reiterated by the speakers and participants that trends and regulatory frameworks are shaping the future of PE fundraising towards individual investors. At Moonshot, we recognized these trends early on and integrated them as a fundamental idea within our community, which is created for and by its members.

Leveraging processes that enhance ESG

A clear narrative emerged at the recent panel discussion on ESG practices: ESG is changing from a compliance checkbox into a critical part of corporate value creation at an ever-increasing speed.

As Persefoni Noulika, a senior investment professional at BlackRock, emphasized, ESG issues involve more than compliance with a rising tide of regulation; they should be the essential thread in an organization's operations and strategies to ensure sustainability and long-term growth.

The panel underscored the pivotal role of investors in guiding companies toward meaningful ESG integration. The discussion highlighted a shift towards a more active investor role with governance structures that ensure real accountability and integration of ESG. This requires clear accountability at every organizational level, assigning specific responsibilities within departments to ensure transparency and achieving sustainability goals. By doing this, companies can mitigate the risk of greenwashing and foster genuine progress toward sustainability goals. It’s a dynamic, bottom-up approach that demands ongoing vigilance and innovation.

Ms. Ana Rivero provided actionable insights on aligning ESG metrics with stakeholder value creation. This pragmatic approach is directed at the identification of stakeholders, selection of priority metrics, and assurance that these metrics are linked to company operations in a strategic way for the management of social and environmental impact and competitive advantage.

The discussions brought to light a shared awareness that ESG principles are not only ethically necessary but also strategically important for sustaining shareholder value and societal impact. Businesses that make ESG a cornerstone of their company strategy and embark on a new era of corporate sustainability and responsibility are at the forefront of this field.

Want to discover more insights?

Secure your place at our next Lift-Off event in Zurich by registering via the following link, and get a deeper look from the Private Equity Insights conference. Not in Zurich but still want to know more? Visit our online presentations and dive into these more private market insights, as well as all the current and prospective Moonshot offerings.