
13 Mar 2024
Will private equity fundraising ignite?
Fund managers have faced extended fundraising timelines due to a recent M&A slowdown, leading to liquidity issues for Limited Partners (LPs). With many expecting longer fund closure times in 2024, will fundraising ignite? Kate Gribbon addresses this question.
Our Private Equity Trends 2024 report shows that 58% of respondents expect their next fund to take more than three months longer to close than its predecessor. General Partners (GPs) are proactively honing investment strategies and safeguarding reputations through cautious international dealings and succession planning to ensure the continuity of successful fundraising. Watch the video to find out more.
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Will private equity fundraising ignite?
In the past 12 months, many fund managers have struggled to fundraise, with timelines returning to normal when compared to the turbo-charged raising of recent years. The slowdown in M&A activity has largely driven this, creating a hurdle for GPs who can't return capital to their LPs.
As a result, Limited Partners (LPs) are generally more illiquid. Our latest Private Equity Trends report found that 58% of respondents expected their next fund to take at least three months longer to close than its predecessor.
And a further 27% expect it could take longer than six months. We don't expect the fundraising cycle to speed up anytime soon in 2024 but the situation could change if deal volumes accelerate during the second quarter onwards.
Of course, GPs aren't standing idly by. They're acting on multiple fronts to shift the fundraising pace up a gear. GPs are doubling down with thorough investment theses and meticulous diligence work. As soon as they make an investment, they're already thinking about the exit by warming up potential trade buyers.
However, when it comes to exploring new opportunities with existing portfolio assets, especially those in international markets they're taking a prudent approach. Much of this action is focused on protecting businesses' and their team's reputations, crucial to raising new funds. Safeguarding a hard-earned reputation is often linked to the question of succession planning. And that's why senior partners and those considering retirement need forward planning preparations in place to hand over a strong reputation for the next generation of GPs.
Contact us

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.

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.

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.
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.