Private equity deal news and insights from the London newsroom

Ardian Expansion’s Jerphagnon sees macro blocks to dealmaking; Inflexion’s Kassai ‘cautiously optimistic’

Morning all, Craig McGlashan here with the Europe Wire from the London newsroom.

A lot of dealmakers we’ve spoken to for our Outlook 2025 pieces expect an uptick in dealmaking next year, but this morning Ardian Expansion’s François Jerphagnon tells us that he doesn’t see “momentum picking up strongly.”

Inflexion’s Flor Kassai, however, is “cautiously optimistic” about the outlook for 2025.

We then finish with the latest on Cinven’s move for UK accounting company Grant Thornton UK, one of a string of private equity deals in the sector this year.

Slow going

Ardian Expansion expects uncertainty around macroeconomic figures to limit dealmaking momentum in 2025, François Jerphagnon, managing director, told PE Hub’s Nina Lindholm in the latest of our Outlook pieces.

Find out why in the premium version of the Wire.

Reasons to be cheerful

By contrast, Inflexion is “cautiously optimistic” about 2025, according to a note from Flor Kassai, managing partner and head of buyout at the London-headquartered mid-market private equity firm.

Read more in the premium version of the Wire.

Signed up

We looked at the boom in private equity investment in accounting companies in yesterday’s Europe Wire, including Cinven last month agreeing to buy a majority stake in Grant Thornton UK, a diversified professional services company providing audit, tax and advisory services in the UK and one of the biggest accounting companies in the country.

There's been an update on the deal, which you can read about in the premium version of the Wire.

That’s it from me today. Obey Martin Manayiti will bring you the US edition later today and I’ll be back with you on Europe duty tomorrow.

Cheers,

Craig

Read the full Wire commentary on PE Hub ...

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“Monetary policy is easing, but the effect will take some time. Purchasing power is still an issue across the board, but inflation has stabilized. I don’t expect anything particularly negative, but I don’t see the momentum picking up strongly.”

— François Jerphagnon, managing director, head of Ardian Expansion

Today's letter was prepared by Craig McGlashan

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