PE Trends
Our annual Private Equity Trends report is based on a survey of senior private equity professionals in the UK and Europe. The findings provide insight into industry sentiment as well as expectations for the future.

PE Trends 2025
Our 14th report comes at a crucial time for the industry, as GPs get back to the business of selling portfolio companies and raising new funds.
2024 was a tough year for private equity and the overriding view from our survey of 253 general partners (GPs) is that 2025 will be different.
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Jonathan Harvey
Fund Solutions
Jonathan is one of the original members of the Fund Solution team and has been involved directly in its strategic development since inception. During this time, Jonathan has been responsible for setting up the European Fund Solution business and developing the Capital Call product. Jonathan currently heads up the relationship management function within the Fund Solution’s team, with responsibility for providing the full Fund Solutions product set to the existing client base.
Jonathan has been with Investec since 2007 and has experience working in the Structured Property Finance, Specialised Lending and the Fund Solutions business.
Jonathan Harvey
Fund Solutions
Jonathan is one of the original members of the Fund Solution team and has been involved directly in its strategic development since inception. During this time, Jonathan has been responsible for setting up the European Fund Solution business and developing the Capital Call product. Jonathan currently heads up the relationship management function within the Fund Solution’s team, with responsibility for providing the full Fund Solutions product set to the existing client base.
Jonathan has been with Investec since 2007 and has experience working in the Structured Property Finance, Specialised Lending and the Fund Solutions business.

Helen Lucas
Co Head of UK Direct Lending Origination
With over 16 years’ experience within the leveraged finance, restructuring and credit markets, Helen is responsible for sponsor coverage, origination and structuring of bespoke financing solutions for UK lower mid-market corporates and PE, with a particular focus on supporting sponsors with primary buy outs and buy and build opportunities. She also leads the sustainability initiative within our Private Equity group.
Helen now Co Heads the UK Direct lending origination business having joined Investec in 2014 from the Debt Finance team in Barclays where she worked as a Vice President of Origination. She joined Barclays in 2007 and undertook a variety of restructuring and lending roles across all size businesses, having graduated from Loughborough University with a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree and completed a Graduate Programme with Total UK.
Helen Lucas
Co Head of UK Direct Lending Origination
With over 16 years’ experience within the leveraged finance, restructuring and credit markets, Helen is responsible for sponsor coverage, origination and structuring of bespoke financing solutions for UK lower mid-market corporates and PE, with a particular focus on supporting sponsors with primary buy outs and buy and build opportunities. She also leads the sustainability initiative within our Private Equity group.
Helen now Co Heads the UK Direct lending origination business having joined Investec in 2014 from the Debt Finance team in Barclays where she worked as a Vice President of Origination. She joined Barclays in 2007 and undertook a variety of restructuring and lending roles across all size businesses, having graduated from Loughborough University with a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree and completed a Graduate Programme with Total UK.

Kate Gribbon
Head of Financial Sponsor Coverage & Origination
Kate is Head of Financial Sponsor Coverage & Origination team in London, advising ambitious fast-growing companies seeking growth capital, with a focus on the technology and consumer sectors. She typically works with established businesses who have reached £10m+ revenue, seeking £10m+ in funding, offering them access and connections to the right private capital (debt and equity). She offers a focused process, targeting specific and appropriate potential investors ranging from family offices, to VCs, private equity through to larger institutional funds. Kate enjoys building long-standing client relationships and positioning entrepreneurial businesses to achieve maximum value at their eventual exit point. Kate has had previous roles at Deloitte and finnCap Cavendish with a particular focus on sell-side M&A deals in the consumer sector. She has also spent many years on deal origination, building earlier stage long-term relationships with owners of private companies, intermediaries and investors.
Kate Gribbon
Head of Financial Sponsor Coverage & Origination
Kate is Head of Financial Sponsor Coverage & Origination team in London, advising ambitious fast-growing companies seeking growth capital, with a focus on the technology and consumer sectors. She typically works with established businesses who have reached £10m+ revenue, seeking £10m+ in funding, offering them access and connections to the right private capital (debt and equity). She offers a focused process, targeting specific and appropriate potential investors ranging from family offices, to VCs, private equity through to larger institutional funds. Kate enjoys building long-standing client relationships and positioning entrepreneurial businesses to achieve maximum value at their eventual exit point. Kate has had previous roles at Deloitte and finnCap Cavendish with a particular focus on sell-side M&A deals in the consumer sector. She has also spent many years on deal origination, building earlier stage long-term relationships with owners of private companies, intermediaries and investors.

Stefano Manna
Head of GP Advisory
Stefano leads the GP Advisory team at Investec and provides strategic advice to financial sponsors, offering a comprehensive range of private capital raising and liquidity solutions.
Stefano has over 12 years of experience in the private equity industry. Before joining Investec, he was a Director in the GP Advisory group at Eaton Partners, where he was responsible for the sourcing, structuring, and execution of the secondary transaction mandates in the EMEA region. Previously, Stefano was at Cebile Capital (now part of Raymond James) and Greenhill, specialising in private market secondary advisory. Before that, Stefano was on the buy side at Advanced Capital SGR, a leading alternative asset and fund-of-funds manager, now part of Capital Dynamics. Stefano also has M&A experience from previous experiences at PFH and Rabobank.
Stefano Manna
Head of GP Advisory
Stefano leads the GP Advisory team at Investec and provides strategic advice to financial sponsors, offering a comprehensive range of private capital raising and liquidity solutions.
Stefano has over 12 years of experience in the private equity industry. Before joining Investec, he was a Director in the GP Advisory group at Eaton Partners, where he was responsible for the sourcing, structuring, and execution of the secondary transaction mandates in the EMEA region. Previously, Stefano was at Cebile Capital (now part of Raymond James) and Greenhill, specialising in private market secondary advisory. Before that, Stefano was on the buy side at Advanced Capital SGR, a leading alternative asset and fund-of-funds manager, now part of Capital Dynamics. Stefano also has M&A experience from previous experiences at PFH and Rabobank.

Jonathan Harvey
Fund Solutions
Jonathan is one of the original members of the Fund Solution team and has been involved directly in its strategic development since inception. During this time, Jonathan has been responsible for setting up the European Fund Solution business and developing the Capital Call product. Jonathan currently heads up the relationship management function within the Fund Solution’s team, with responsibility for providing the full Fund Solutions product set to the existing client base.
Jonathan has been with Investec since 2007 and has experience working in the Structured Property Finance, Specialised Lending and the Fund Solutions business.
Jonathan Harvey
Fund Solutions
Jonathan is one of the original members of the Fund Solution team and has been involved directly in its strategic development since inception. During this time, Jonathan has been responsible for setting up the European Fund Solution business and developing the Capital Call product. Jonathan currently heads up the relationship management function within the Fund Solution’s team, with responsibility for providing the full Fund Solutions product set to the existing client base.
Jonathan has been with Investec since 2007 and has experience working in the Structured Property Finance, Specialised Lending and the Fund Solutions business.

Helen Lucas
Co Head of UK Direct Lending Origination
With over 16 years’ experience within the leveraged finance, restructuring and credit markets, Helen is responsible for sponsor coverage, origination and structuring of bespoke financing solutions for UK lower mid-market corporates and PE, with a particular focus on supporting sponsors with primary buy outs and buy and build opportunities. She also leads the sustainability initiative within our Private Equity group.
Helen now Co Heads the UK Direct lending origination business having joined Investec in 2014 from the Debt Finance team in Barclays where she worked as a Vice President of Origination. She joined Barclays in 2007 and undertook a variety of restructuring and lending roles across all size businesses, having graduated from Loughborough University with a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree and completed a Graduate Programme with Total UK.
Helen Lucas
Co Head of UK Direct Lending Origination
With over 16 years’ experience within the leveraged finance, restructuring and credit markets, Helen is responsible for sponsor coverage, origination and structuring of bespoke financing solutions for UK lower mid-market corporates and PE, with a particular focus on supporting sponsors with primary buy outs and buy and build opportunities. She also leads the sustainability initiative within our Private Equity group.
Helen now Co Heads the UK Direct lending origination business having joined Investec in 2014 from the Debt Finance team in Barclays where she worked as a Vice President of Origination. She joined Barclays in 2007 and undertook a variety of restructuring and lending roles across all size businesses, having graduated from Loughborough University with a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree and completed a Graduate Programme with Total UK.

Kate Gribbon
Head of Financial Sponsor Coverage & Origination
Kate is Head of Financial Sponsor Coverage & Origination team in London, advising ambitious fast-growing companies seeking growth capital, with a focus on the technology and consumer sectors. She typically works with established businesses who have reached £10m+ revenue, seeking £10m+ in funding, offering them access and connections to the right private capital (debt and equity). She offers a focused process, targeting specific and appropriate potential investors ranging from family offices, to VCs, private equity through to larger institutional funds. Kate enjoys building long-standing client relationships and positioning entrepreneurial businesses to achieve maximum value at their eventual exit point. Kate has had previous roles at Deloitte and finnCap Cavendish with a particular focus on sell-side M&A deals in the consumer sector. She has also spent many years on deal origination, building earlier stage long-term relationships with owners of private companies, intermediaries and investors.
Kate Gribbon
Head of Financial Sponsor Coverage & Origination
Kate is Head of Financial Sponsor Coverage & Origination team in London, advising ambitious fast-growing companies seeking growth capital, with a focus on the technology and consumer sectors. She typically works with established businesses who have reached £10m+ revenue, seeking £10m+ in funding, offering them access and connections to the right private capital (debt and equity). She offers a focused process, targeting specific and appropriate potential investors ranging from family offices, to VCs, private equity through to larger institutional funds. Kate enjoys building long-standing client relationships and positioning entrepreneurial businesses to achieve maximum value at their eventual exit point. Kate has had previous roles at Deloitte and finnCap Cavendish with a particular focus on sell-side M&A deals in the consumer sector. She has also spent many years on deal origination, building earlier stage long-term relationships with owners of private companies, intermediaries and investors.

Stefano Manna
Head of GP Advisory
Stefano leads the GP Advisory team at Investec and provides strategic advice to financial sponsors, offering a comprehensive range of private capital raising and liquidity solutions.
Stefano has over 12 years of experience in the private equity industry. Before joining Investec, he was a Director in the GP Advisory group at Eaton Partners, where he was responsible for the sourcing, structuring, and execution of the secondary transaction mandates in the EMEA region. Previously, Stefano was at Cebile Capital (now part of Raymond James) and Greenhill, specialising in private market secondary advisory. Before that, Stefano was on the buy side at Advanced Capital SGR, a leading alternative asset and fund-of-funds manager, now part of Capital Dynamics. Stefano also has M&A experience from previous experiences at PFH and Rabobank.
Stefano Manna
Head of GP Advisory
Stefano leads the GP Advisory team at Investec and provides strategic advice to financial sponsors, offering a comprehensive range of private capital raising and liquidity solutions.
Stefano has over 12 years of experience in the private equity industry. Before joining Investec, he was a Director in the GP Advisory group at Eaton Partners, where he was responsible for the sourcing, structuring, and execution of the secondary transaction mandates in the EMEA region. Previously, Stefano was at Cebile Capital (now part of Raymond James) and Greenhill, specialising in private market secondary advisory. Before that, Stefano was on the buy side at Advanced Capital SGR, a leading alternative asset and fund-of-funds manager, now part of Capital Dynamics. Stefano also has M&A experience from previous experiences at PFH and Rabobank.
Jonathan Harvey
Fund Solutions
Jonathan is one of the original members of the Fund Solution team and has been involved directly in its strategic development since inception. During this time, Jonathan has been responsible for setting up the European Fund Solution business and developing the Capital Call product. Jonathan currently heads up the relationship management function within the Fund Solution’s team, with responsibility for providing the full Fund Solutions product set to the existing client base.
Jonathan has been with Investec since 2007 and has experience working in the Structured Property Finance, Specialised Lending and the Fund Solutions business.
Helen Lucas
Co Head of UK Direct Lending Origination
With over 16 years’ experience within the leveraged finance, restructuring and credit markets, Helen is responsible for sponsor coverage, origination and structuring of bespoke financing solutions for UK lower mid-market corporates and PE, with a particular focus on supporting sponsors with primary buy outs and buy and build opportunities. She also leads the sustainability initiative within our Private Equity group.
Helen now Co Heads the UK Direct lending origination business having joined Investec in 2014 from the Debt Finance team in Barclays where she worked as a Vice President of Origination. She joined Barclays in 2007 and undertook a variety of restructuring and lending roles across all size businesses, having graduated from Loughborough University with a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree and completed a Graduate Programme with Total UK.
Kate Gribbon
Head of Financial Sponsor Coverage & Origination
Kate is Head of Financial Sponsor Coverage & Origination team in London, advising ambitious fast-growing companies seeking growth capital, with a focus on the technology and consumer sectors. She typically works with established businesses who have reached £10m+ revenue, seeking £10m+ in funding, offering them access and connections to the right private capital (debt and equity). She offers a focused process, targeting specific and appropriate potential investors ranging from family offices, to VCs, private equity through to larger institutional funds. Kate enjoys building long-standing client relationships and positioning entrepreneurial businesses to achieve maximum value at their eventual exit point. Kate has had previous roles at Deloitte and finnCap Cavendish with a particular focus on sell-side M&A deals in the consumer sector. She has also spent many years on deal origination, building earlier stage long-term relationships with owners of private companies, intermediaries and investors.
Stefano Manna
Head of GP Advisory
Stefano leads the GP Advisory team at Investec and provides strategic advice to financial sponsors, offering a comprehensive range of private capital raising and liquidity solutions.
Stefano has over 12 years of experience in the private equity industry. Before joining Investec, he was a Director in the GP Advisory group at Eaton Partners, where he was responsible for the sourcing, structuring, and execution of the secondary transaction mandates in the EMEA region. Previously, Stefano was at Cebile Capital (now part of Raymond James) and Greenhill, specialising in private market secondary advisory. Before that, Stefano was on the buy side at Advanced Capital SGR, a leading alternative asset and fund-of-funds manager, now part of Capital Dynamics. Stefano also has M&A experience from previous experiences at PFH and Rabobank.
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