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How EY can help
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Value creation is at the core of every transaction investment thesis. Our team supports private equity firms throughout the investment lifecycle from origination to exit. We bring deep sector, operational and functional experience to identify investment risks and opportunities focused on cash and profit levers to make an investment successful.
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Consumer, financial services, and health were other active spaces. In consumer, investors found opportunities in low-risk, moderate-yield businesses across the food and agribusinesses value chain, such as sustainable farming, combined agriculture, and timber.
In health, the enterprise imaging space, voice-based diagnostics and other med-tech platforms with innovative products and service offerings have seen growing attention from PE.
Overall, firms expect a more active 2024 for transactions – 63% of survey respondents expect an increase in activity over the next six months; just 17% expect a decline. Notably, 20% of respondents expect a marked increase in activity of 25% or more; this was up seven percentage points from when the same question was posed three months ago.
Exits continue their slow recovery
In aggregate, PE firms announced 298 exits valued at US$355b over the course of the year, a decline of 28% by volume versus the year prior. In contrast to the buyside, exit activity in Q4 was constrained versus the second and third quarters, which were marginally more active.