The Takeaway

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Sandro Galfetti on the Rise of Continuation Vehicles in Europe

In this edition of The Takeaway, Sandro Galfetti, Managing Director in Houlihan Lokey’s Capital Solutions Group, shares his perspective on how continuation vehicles (CVs) have emerged as one of the most transformative innovations in private equity over the past decade. As Europe attracts more specialist secondary players and dedicated pools of capital, the opportunities for both GPs and investors are multiplying.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Joy Sioufi on the European Software Sector

In this edition of The Takeaway, Joy Sioufi, a Managing Director in Houlihan Lokey’s Technology Group, shares his perspective on the dynamics driving Europe’s software market. He highlights the factors driving sustained deal activity, the characteristics investors are prioritising in today’s environment, and how the buyer landscape is evolving.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Nana Kyei on the Education Technology and Services Sector

In this edition of the Takeaway, Nana Kyei, Managing Director in Houlihan Lokey’s Education Technology and Services practice, discusses key trends in the education technology sector, including streamlining operations through technology, upskilling and reskilling workforces, and CEOs’ focus on preparing the next generation via deeper technology learning, particularly in higher learning and professional development.  

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Eric Samuels on the Pet Consumables Sector

In this edition of the Takeaway, Eric Samuels, Director in Houlihan Lokey’s Consumer Group, discusses the challenges in the pet consumables operating environment, the attractive opportunities in certain pockets of the market, and continued interest from both sponsors and strategics for companies with the right characteristics.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Thomas Bailey on Human Capital Management

In this edition of The Takeaway, Thomas Bailey, Managing Director in Houlihan Lokey’s Business Services Group, discusses the latest happenings and trends within the human capital management sector and what to expect on the road ahead.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Khuram Maqsood on the Opportunity in Mid-Cap Private Equity for Middle Eastern LPs

This edition of The Takeaway features Khuram Maqsood, Managing Director in Houlihan Lokey’s Capital Solutions Group, who explores why Middle Eastern limited partners (LPs) are more likely than LPs in other regions to be under-allocated to mid-cap private equity, and makes the case for why regional investors should consider making this a larger portion of their portfolios. 

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Garyth Stone on the Rise of Vitamins, Minerals, and Supplements

In this edition of The Takeaway, Garyth Stone, Managing Director in Houlihan Lokey’s Consumer Group, explains how the vitamins, minerals, and supplements (VMS) sector is being transformed by a shift toward preventive wellness, creating resilient growth opportunities. With strong consumer loyalty and rising private equity interest, this market offers an attractive blend of structural growth and economic resilience.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Burke Smith on Time-Critical Logistics

In this edition of The Takeaway, Burke Smith, Managing Director in Houlihan Lokey’s Business Services Group, discusses the recent rise of interest within the time-critical logistics sector.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Disha Mehta on the Facilities and Residential Services Sector

In this edition of The Takeaway, Disha Mehta, Managing Director in Houlihan Lokey’s Business Services Group, discusses the current levels of M&A activity in the facilities and residential services sector, the sector’s attractive characteristics for investors, and what we can expect over the next few years as the space continues to grow and evolve. 

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Vieri Betti Guaraldi on the Growing Role of Private Credit in Italy’s Lending Market

In this edition of The Takeaway, Vieri Betti Guaraldi, Managing Director and Head of Debt Capital Solutions, Italy, discusses how the rise of private credit is transforming Italy’s lending landscape—bridging funding gaps, offering flexible capital solutions, and signalling a broader shift toward an evolving and increasingly diversified financing ecosystem.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Matthew Dodd and Daniel Klausner on the IPO Market in 2025

In this edition of The Takeaway, Matthew Dodd, Managing Director in Houlihan Lokey’s Accounting and Financial Reporting Advisory practice, and Daniel Klausner, Managing Director in Houlihan Lokey’s Capital Solutions Group, share their thoughts on the IPO landscape, the resurgence of dual-track processes, and key issues for companies considering a public listing in the current market. 

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Sameer Jindal on Why Global F&B Giants Are Focusing on India

In this edition of The Takeaway, Sameer Jindal, a Managing Director in Houlihan Lokey’s Corporate Finance business, shares insights on why global F&B giants are prioritizing India, making a compelling case for how demographic shifts, rising disposable incomes, and digital transformation are creating a perfect storm of opportunity.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With James Anderson on the Insurance and Wealth Management Sectors

In this edition of The Takeaway, James Anderson, Global Co-Head of Financial Services, discusses key trends in the insurance and wealth management sectors and the attractive investment characteristics that are driving continued M&A activity into 2025.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With J.P. Hanson on the State of Oil and Gas

In this edition of The Takeaway, J.P. Hanson, Global Head of Houlihan Lokey’s Oil & Gas Group, reflects on the key developments in the oil and gas market in 2024 and shares insights on what to expect in 2025.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Surbhi Gupta on Liability Management Exercises

In this edition of The Takeaway, Surbhi Gupta, Managing Director in Houlihan Lokey’s Financial Restructuring Group, sheds light on the world of liability management exercises (LMEs) and how this technology has evolved, as well as the increasing prevalence of cooperation agreements in LMEs.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With James Scallan on Consumer Trends and M&A Activity in the Snacking Segment

In this edition of The Takeaway, James Scallan, a Managing Director in the Consumer Group, examines why corporate buyers currently lead M&A activity in the snacking sector, driven by demand for healthier and more sustainable options.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Patrick Hughes on Private Equity’s Rising Interest in Accounting Firms

In this edition of The Takeaway, Patrick Hughes, Director in Houlihan Lokey’s Business Services Group, explores why private equity is taking a keen interest in accounting firms and what it means for the industry going forward.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Ashish Patel on the Rise of International Investment in U.K. Startups

This Takeaway Q&A features Ashish Patel, Managing Director in the firm’s Capital Markets Group, exploring the factors driving increased global investment in U.K. startups, highlighting the country’s vibrant ecosystem, sector-specific strengths, access to talent, and global connectivity.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Jeremy Hirsch on the Fitness Sector

In this edition of The Takeaway, Jeremy Hirsch, who co-leads health and fitness sector coverage in Houlihan Lokey’s Consumer Group, comments on the sector’s newest trends and outlook for 2025.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Eric Samuels on the Specialty Ingredients Sector

In this edition of The Takeaway, Eric Samuels, who co-leads the specialty ingredients sector at Houlihan Lokey, comments on the sector’s return to a healthy, normalized M&A environment, the elements of the sector that draw investor interest, and the numerous ways in which the sector is growing, all of which have created strong conditions for increased M&A activity.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Rainer Hepberger and Fabio Riva on the Occupational Health Market

This Takeaway Q&A features Rainer Hepberger, Managing Director and Fabio Riva, Vice President in the firm’s Healthcare Group, exploring the evolution of occupational health through regulatory changes, increased investment, technological advancements, and opportunities for international expansion and industry consolidation.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Matt Swain on Direct, Single-Asset Private Equity Investments

This Takeaway Q&A features Matt Swain, Managing Director and Head of Direct Placements and Secondaries, discussing the phenomenal growth of direct investments and why they have become so attractive to LP investors.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Neha Shah and Brent Shepherd on Healthcare Capital Markets

In this edition of The Takeaway, Neha Shah and Brent Shepherd, Co-Heads of Healthcare Capital Markets at Houlihan Lokey, shed light on the state of the private capital financing markets for healthcare clients.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Justin Abelow on Financial Sponsors M&A Activity

On the heels of the ACG DealMAX Conference, Justin Abelow shares his view on the mood among financial sponsors, the state of the financing markets, and key considerations for companies seeking to attract buyers as sponsors simultaneously tidy up their portfolios and hunt for outstanding additions.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Anthony Forshaw on Weighing Up the Right Credit Assessment in the Current Climate

In this episode of The Takeaway, Anthony Forshaw, Managing Director and Head of Capital Markets Advisory, Europe, discusses why companies must assess their “real” cash flow when approaching their financing needs and avoid a quick fix.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Tom Goldrick and Michael Mulkerin on Tax Receivable Agreements

Tom Goldrick and Michael Mulkerin shed light on the market for tax receivable agreements, including hallmarks of a typical sales process, the evolution of the market, and the opportunity for investors as the TRA market grows alongside a rebounding IPO environment.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Sameer Shamsi on the GP-Led Secondary Market

Sameer Shamsi discusses the current drivers of activity in the GP-led secondary market, the endurance of single-asset continuation funds, and increased interest in credit secondaries.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Juan Guzman on the Title Insurance Sector

Juan Guzman discusses the current state of the title insurance sector and what to expect in 2024 and beyond as companies leverage technology to differentiate themselves and market conditions present attractive consolidation opportunities.

The Takeaway: Keeping Materials Spinning Around Is Key to the Rise of the Circular Economy

Sharing their thoughts for The Takeaway are Sigurd Solheim and Jules Wurlod, who lead Houlihan Lokey’s Circular Economy team in Europe, discussing the nature of circularity, which global sectors are embracing this new economy, and what investors want from this burgeoning opportunity.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Malte Abrams on the Drivers of Consolidation in the IT Services Sector

Being served in the latest edition of The Takeaway is Malte Abrams, Managing Director in the firm’s global Technology team, explaining why the IT services sector is undergoing a wave of consolidation.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With John Lambros on M&A and AI in the Digital Media Sector

Co-Head of U.S. Technology John Lambros discusses the digital media sector and the increasing impact of AI for acquirers and investors as well as creators.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Adrian Reed and James Grundy on Innovation and Automation in Global Payroll

Adrian Reed and James Grundy from the firm’s Global Technology team discuss the need for technological innovation in the global payroll industry.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Brent Ferrin and David Villa on Projections for the Specialty Finance Sector

Managing Directors Brent Ferrin and David Villa in Houlihan Lokey’s Financial Services Group provide their insights into the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the specialty finance sector.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Alexandra Lebenthal on Helping Female Entrepreneurs Navigate the Market

Alexandra Lebenthal, a Senior Advisor in Houlihan Lokey’s Financial Sponsors Group, offers her insights into the biggest challenges and opportunities female entrepreneurs face.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Nate Pund on the Outdoor and Active Lifestyle Landscape

Managing Director Nate Pund examines the challenges and opportunities facing the outdoor and active lifestyle sector, offering his insights on supply chain dynamics, customer retention, and strategies for sustained growth.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Daniel Klausner on the IPO Market

Our next item on the Takeaway menu is Daniel Klausner, Managing Director in the firm’s Capital Markets Group, discussing the current state of the IPO market and the various factors driving current and future IPO activity.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Milko Pavlov on Demand for Private Markets Valuations

On the Takeaway menu this time is Milko Pavlov, Managing Director in the firm’s Financial and Valuation Advisory business, discussing the increasing demand for private market valuations as private credit continues to replace bank lending.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Andy Lund on the Fundraising Landscape

This edition of The Takeaway features Andy Lund, Managing Director and Global Co-Head of Houlihan Lokey’s Private Funds Group, discussing the fundraising landscape and how GPs are navigating the current challenging environment.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Luiz Greca on Trends in Healthcare IT

Managing Director Luiz Greca discusses trends driving activity in the HCIT sector.

The Takeaway: A Q&A With Paul Tomasic on MedTech Outsourcing

Paul Tomasic, Head of EMEA Healthcare, discusses why medtech outsourcing is attracting particular attention in the current healthcare M&A environment.