Why Is Mid-Market Investing Back? Find Out with Maria Sanz Garcia, YIELCO Investments
Maria Sanz Garcia of YIELCO Investments explained why mid‑market private equity is experiencing a resurgence at Super Return International. After two decades of large‑cap focus, YIELCO shifted to the lower‑mid market, attracted by cheaper valuations, cheaper leverage and the ability to create value through operational improvements rather than relying on market timing. Garcia highlighted that today’s environment—rising interest rates, geopolitical uncertainty, and AI‑related risk—makes buying high and selling higher unrealistic. Instead, YIELCO seeks companies that can be bought at 4‑times EBITDA and sold at around 8‑times, emphasizing cost‑side initiatives, hands‑on operational teams, and managers who embed themselves in day‑to‑day roles such as interim CFOs. The firm concentrates on “old‑economy” sectors—industrial, business services, and consumer—where competition for deals is softer than in software or high‑growth tech. Geographically, the U.S. offers a large, dynamic pool of targets, while Europe’s fragmented market yields outsized returns for specialist, regional managers. Garcia also stressed that limited‑partner relationships must be transparent and candid, with LPs expecting active dialogue and rigorous oversight. For investors, the mid‑market presents a compelling blend of attractive pricing, operational upside, and lower deal‑flow competition, suggesting a return to the fundamentals of private‑equity 1.0. Success will hinge on partnering with managers who can execute deep operational turnarounds and maintain open communication with their LP base.
The State of Global Private Equity in 10 Minutes with David Rubenstein, Carlyle
David Rubenstein, co‑chair of Carlyle, outlined the current state of global private equity, noting a paradox of ongoing geopolitical tensions—war in Iran, the Russia‑Ukraine conflict, and rising China‑Taiwan frictions—while the U.S. economy and IPO market remain robust. He emphasized that artificial...
Venture Further Together: SuperReturN Venture Celebrates10 Years of Greatness in Berlin
Super Return Venture celebrated its tenth anniversary in Berlin, gathering the global venture‑capital community for a showcase of the past decade’s evolution. The event highlighted how capital has increasingly crossed borders, enabling startups to scale internationally and accelerating innovation cycles...
$4.5B Savings, Scaling Value, and Operating Model Change: Jacqueline Varela, IBM, on AI in PE
Jacqueline Varela, IBM’s AI lead, explained how private‑equity firms can capture massive value by treating AI as a core operating capability rather than a peripheral tool. She highlighted IBM’s own transformation—acting as “client zero”—which generated $4.5 billion of annualized cost savings...
Why Are Pension Funds Are Doubling Down on Private Credit? With Caroline Hedges, Railpen
The video features Caroline Hedges of Railpen explaining why pension funds are increasingly allocating to private credit. She notes that the long‑term liability profile of pension schemes aligns with the illiquid, higher‑yield nature of private‑credit assets, especially as annuity demand...
Why Are Hedge Funds Returning as a Key Portfolio Diversifier in Private Markets?
At Super Return North America, Ryan explained why hedge funds are re‑emerging as a core diversifier for private‑market investors. Rather than a vague allocation, limited partners now define a specific hedge‑fund role that sits between highly liquid equities and...
Why Done Partners Sponsors SuperReturn Private Credit Europe
The video outlines a supply‑chain finance platform that partners with small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) in Eastern Europe, purchasing their orders from Chinese manufacturers and managing every logistical step to Europe. By legally owning the goods throughout the process, the...
Private Credit Is Resilient - but Asset Selection Matters More than Ever
The video underscores that private credit continues to be a resilient financing pillar, especially for mid‑market buyouts, but its success now hinges more than ever on disciplined asset selection. Speakers note that the market has solidified its role as the...
Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins, on Leadership, Teamwork, and Winning Off the Field
Dan Marino joined Super Return North America to discuss how leadership, teamwork, and winning translate from the football field to the boardroom and philanthropy. He emphasized that true leadership begins with leading by example, staying genuine, and delivering high‑performance results...
Execution-First Pricing: How Can PE-Backed Companies Drive Value Faster?
The discussion centers on Michael’s firm, which was founded to bridge the gap between polished strategy decks and real‑world execution for private‑equity‑backed companies. He argues that many PE portfolios suffer from weak pricing discipline, relying on ad‑hoc test‑and‑learn approaches that...
Think Like a Dragon: Deborah Meaden’s Do's and Don'ts for Founders & Investors
Deborah Meaden stresses that economic headwinds do not erase opportunities; investors must constantly scan for businesses that fit the current climate while staying open to sectors poised for growth. She highlights AI, health, and wellness as the most compelling arenas,...
How Is Saudi Private Capital Adopting AI: Insights From Jada Fund of Funds Fund Manager Report
The Jada Fund of Funds released a report detailing how Saudi private capital is integrating artificial intelligence into its investment workflows. Backed by visionary leadership and a national AI strategy, the study surveyed over 45 general partners (GPs) and incorporated...
Accelerate Your Strategy with Top Tier Insights at SuperReturn North America 2026!
The video promotes SuperReturn North America 2026 as the premier forum for navigating today’s macro‑economic turbulence. With investors wrestling over interest‑rate trajectories, inflation trends, and potential policy shifts from Washington, the conference promises answers from a cross‑section of asset‑class experts. Speakers...
How Are Saudi Family Offices Becoming More Disciplined Investors?
The video discusses how Saudi family offices are evolving from opportunistic investors into more disciplined capital allocators, aligning their strategies with institutional standards. Speakers note a transition from pure return chasing to deliberate pacing of capital, robust liquidity management, and downside...
On the Road to Mature Markets: Tariq Al-Sudairy, Jadwa Investment, on the Evolution of Saudi Arabia
Tariq Al‑Sudairy of Jadwa Investment outlines how Saudi Arabia’s private‑equity and venture‑capital markets are moving along a maturity curve, shifting from ad‑hoc, deal‑by‑deal investing to structured blind‑pool funds while a nascent private‑credit segment begins to take shape. He argues that the...