Middle Market Growth Conversations

Private credit has been on a rocket ride since the great financial crisis, and the direct lending space has recently become white hot with new entrants joining legacy firms. WhiteHorse Capital’s Chief Credit Officer Javier Casillas and Managing Director Samuel Goldworm join the podcast to discuss how WhiteHorse stays competitive in a crowded market and share their thoughts on the regulatory rumblings around private credit. This episode is brought to you by WhiteHorse Capital, the direct lending arm of H.I.G. Capital. To learn more about WhiteHorse, visit whitehorse.com. The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To hear more interviews with middle-market influencers, subscribe to the Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Soundcloud.

As we enter the second quarter of 2024, middle-market dealmakers are optimistic about the M&A environment despite continued higher capital costs. Pete Notter, a partner at TPG Twin Brook Capital Partners, joins the podcast to share his insights on the current environment for borrowers and lenders, how the market has shifted compared to 2023 and the outlook for the future. This episode is brought to you by TPG Twin Brook Capital Partners, a leading direct lending finance company focused on providing cash-flow based financing solutions for the middle market private equity community. To learn more about TPG Twin Brook, visit www.twincp.com. The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To hear more interviews with middle-market influencers, subscribe to the Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Soundcloud.

Renewable energy M&A has been a hot topic in recent years, with S&P Global Market Intelligence predicting that 2024 will be a banner year for private equity clean energy and renewables dealmaking. Kenny Boyce, CEO of Third Party Cyber Security, joins the podcast to talk about the surprising cybersecurity risks investors need to consider in the renewables space as well as other cyber vulnerabilities that private equity firms and dealmakers should be aware of. *** The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To hear more interviews with middle-market influencers, subscribe to the Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Soundcloud.

Sustainable fashion is a rapidly growing market, but conscious consumers struggle amidst the dominance of fast fashion and the ubiquity of greenwashing. Erin Houston, co-founder and CEO of Wearwell, joins the podcast to discuss how her company helps consumers make informed ethical purposes, their rapid growth trajectory and why investors should keep a close eye on the sustainable fashion sector. *** The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To hear more interviews with middle-market influencers, subscribe to the Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Soundcloud.

After the ups and downs of 2023, the M&A market has been widely predicted to see a return to normal in 2024—but not everyone agrees with that assessment. Stuart Aronson, executive managing director and CEO of WhiteHorse U.S., and Pankaj Gupta, president of WhiteHorse U.S. and global head of origination, join the podcast to share their predictions and insights on what’s next for inflation, underwriting standards, portfolio performance, and more. *** This episode is brought to you by WhiteHorse Capital, the direct lending arm of H.I.G. Capital. To learn more about WhiteHorse, visit whitehorse.com. The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To hear more interviews with middle-market influencers, subscribe to the Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Soundcloud.

Since 2020, private equity firms and accounting firms have experienced a mutual attraction with multiple deals making their way to the finish line, and experts say that trend is likely to continue. Allan Koltin, CEO of Koltin Consulting Group, joins the podcast to discuss why accounting firms are transforming, how acquirers can determine which accounting firms are attractive targets, and the opportunities emerging in the sector. *** The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To hear more interviews with middle-market influencers, subscribe to the Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Soundcloud.

From naval ship repair to commercial aircraft engine machinery, the aerospace and defense supply chain is ripe with strong acquisition targets for dealmakers. Michael Richter, managing director and global head of Lazard’s Aerospace & Defense investment banking group, joins the Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast to explore these M&A opportunities. *** The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To hear more interviews with middle-market influencers, subscribe to the Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Soundcloud.

As demand for electricity continues to rise, energy companies are facing growing pressure to mitigate wildfire risks associated with aging utility infrastructure. Managing vegetation around utility infrastructure plays an increasingly important role in both keeping the lights on and keeping fires snuffed. Kaitlyn Albertoli, CEO and co-founder of Buzz Solutions, joins the Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast to talk about how her company is using emerging technology to address these challenges and why investors should keep an eye on the utility vegetation management space. *** The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To hear more interviews with middle-market influencers, subscribe to the Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Soundcloud.

Those who remember the dark tone of the numbers from the second quarter may be happy to hear that there are signs that the M&A market is starting to revive as we closed the third quarter. Bob Dunn, the managing director of GF Data, an ACG company, joins Middle Market Growth Conversation podcast for the third installment in an ongoing series where we review timely data on mid-market, private equity-backed M&A. *** The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To hear more interviews with middle-market influencers, subscribe to the Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Soundcloud.

Cell and gene therapy technologies are ascendent, boosted by new developments in treatments for diseases like ovarian cancer and Parkinson’s disease, and by predictions of a meteoric rise in total market value in the next five years. Fabian Gerlinghaus, the co-founder and CEO of Cellares, a company that has developed a so-called “factory-in-a-box” for cell and gene therapy manufacturing, joins the podcast to share Cellares’ unique approach to developing successful cell therapies, the regulatory landscape and why investors should be watching this sector. *** The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To learn more about the organization and how to become a member, visit www.acg.org.

Middle-market businesses continue to feel the pressure of rising interest rates, inflation and other macroeconomic challenges. The ongoing strain on companies and the deal market has shined a light on the importance of having strong lender relationships. In this episode, Betsy Booth, a partner at Twin Brook Capital Partners, offers her perspective on the state of mid-market M&A and discusses how Twin Brook is evaluating new opportunities and working with existing borrowers in the current environment. Booth—who focuses on originating, evaluating and structuring new loan opportunities with private equity sponsors—explains Twin Brook’s partnership-focused approach and highlights how open lines of communication can help to identify and resolve potential issues early on. She also talks about assessing opportunities with businesses that are facing rising rates and inflation of this magnitude for the first time, the important role of covenants and revolvers in credit agreements, and her outlook for the mid-market. *** This episode is brought to you by Twin Brook Capital Partners, a leading direct lending finance company focused on providing cash-flow based financing solutions for the middle-market private equity community. To learn more about Twin Brook, visit www.twincp.com. The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To learn more about the organization and how to become a member, visit www.acg.org.

At the close of the second quarter of 2023, the numbers from private equity-sponsored middle market transactions showed that deal volume has cratered, and debt pricing has risen even higher despite renewed hopes for a soft landing economically. This is the second installment in an ongoing series where we review timely data with Bob Dunn, the managing director of GF Data, an ACG company. *** The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To learn more about the organization and how to become a member, visit www.acg.org.

A Conversation With Revive's Michael Alladawi by Middle Market Growth Magazine

In a complex and hard-to read economic environment, data can help us understand the dealmaking moment. In the first installment in an ongoing series, Bob Dunn of GF Data joins the podcast to share what the numbers say about middle-market M&A in the first quarter of 2023, including the decline in deal volume and the rising cost of capital.

Macroeconomic challenges and a choppy lending market have weighed on middle market M&A activity and impacted financing structures across industries in 2023, and healthcare is no exception. In this episode, Tim Wentink – a partner at Twin Brook Capital Partners – offers a lender's perspective on the state of the healthcare sector and how dealmaking is evolving in the current market environment. Wentink, who works on healthcare lending opportunities with private equity sponsors, discusses how PE firms and their portfolio companies are financing deals, the volume and types of transactions observed thus far in 2023, and his outlook for the rest of the year. He also talks about how inflation and other macro factors are affecting investment decisions within healthcare, which subsectors are experiencing an uptick in interest among buyers, and where noticeable shifts are occurring within this space. *** This episode is brought to you by Twin Brook Capital Partners, a leading direct lending finance company focused on providing cash-flow based financing solutions for the middle market private equity community. To learn more about Twin Brook, visit www.twincp.com. The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To learn more about the organization and how to become a member, visit www.acg.org.

***In the age of business websites, social media accounts and email marketing, almost every business publishes content, and with that content come media liability risks. Something as simple as having background music in a TikTok video or using a photo from the internet on their website could open a business to legal liability. QBE North America's Andrea Taylor, vice president of underwriting for media liability, and Evynne Grover, vice president and claims practice leader for media liability, discuss the new and complex risks of today's media landscape. From influencer marketing to generative artificial intelligence, a better understanding of today's risks can help companies prepare. For some, that could mean taking out a media liability insurance policy, which gives businesses access to specialized legal representation and expert knowledge of best practices for mitigating risks. To learn more about QBE North America, visit www.qbe.com/us/acg-members. The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To learn more about the organization and how to become a member, visit www.acg.org.

This episode is brought to you by QBE North America, a global insurance leader focused on helping customers solve unique risks to enable a more resilient future. ***As healthcare costs rise, how can employers gain better control of their health plan expenses? QBE North America Vice President, Accident & Health Specialty Markets Matthew Drakeley explains the opportunity for companies to self-fund their health insurance plan and support it with medical stop loss coverage in a captive insurance company. QBE’s 2022 Mid-Sized Company Risk Report found that out of almost 100 risks measured, company executives ranked medical cost inflation and increasing employee benefit costs as among the most concerning. In recent years, the cost of hospital labor, drugs and medical supplies has risen significantly, and hospitals are likely to pass those costs on to health insurers—who will, in turn, pass the bill to employers. Drakeley has effective strategies to gain better visibility, flexibility and control over these rising costs. First, companies can self-fund their health insurance plans and use medical stop loss coverage to guard against an unexpected spike in expenses. Second, companies can place their medical stop loss insurance in a captive to gain even more control over costs. Companies can form their own captive or join one owned by multiple companies, called a group captive, to achieve critical mass for operating efficiency and negotiating power with providers. To learn more about QBE North America, visit www.qbe.com/us/acg-members.*** The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To learn more about the organization and how to become a member, visit www.acg.org.

This episode is brought to you by QBE North America, a global insurance leader focused on helping customers solve unique risks to enable a more resilient future. *** Insurance coverage is the most basic form of risk transfer and protects businesses from risks under their direct management and control. However, a business can gain additional layers of protection through contractual risk transfer, in which the business shifts liability for loss to another party. QBE North America’s Tom Lysaught, senior vice president, head of property and casualty claims, and Bobby Steinsdoerfer, senior vice president, retail property and casualty underwriting, join the podcast to discuss the benefits of an effective contractual risk transfer strategy. They detail the varying levels of contractual risk transfer and how to implement an effective contractual risk transfer program. From poorly written contracts to inadequate contract management or handshake agreements, Lysaught and Steinsdoerfer share examples and detail common mistakes that can prevent a business from transferring risk appropriately—potentially resulting in lawsuits, reputational damage, rising insurance premiums and other financial repercussions. They also discuss the importance of securing qualified legal counsel and utilizing resources available through an insurance carrier. To learn more about QBE North America, visit www.qbe.com/us/acg-members. *** The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To learn more about the organization and how to become a member, visit www.acg.org.

This episode is brought to you by QBE North America, a global insurance leader focused on helping customers solve unique risks to enable a more resilient future. *** Companies today face a complex and evolving set of employment practices liability risks. Legal and regulatory changes, along with shifting social norms, remote work and rules that vary state by state, have increased the risk of litigation for businesses of all sizes. Midmarket companies are particularly vulnerable to the growing risk of employment practices liability, say QBE North America's Eden Stark, vice president, claims leader for employment practices liability, and Mary Anne Mullin, senior vice president, fiduciary and employment practices liability product leader. Stark and Mullin join the podcast to discuss how they've seen employment practices liability risk increase over the years and share proactive steps that business leaders can take to protect their organizations. They also offer insight into insurance coverage and how a close partnership with an insurance carrier can help a company avoid common employment practices pitfalls or, in the case of legal action, resolve a lawsuit efficiently and cost-effectively. To learn more about QBE North America, visit https://www.qbe.com/us/acg-members. *** The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To learn more about the organization and how to become a member, visit www.acg.org.

This episode is brought to you by Twin Brook Capital Partners, a direct lending finance company focused on providing cash-flow based financing solutions for the middle market private equity community. *** Chris Martin, a partner at Twin Brook Capital Partners, joins the podcast to discuss the state of the mid-market. In the interview, Martin reviews transaction activity through the first half of 2022 and explains how market conditions have evolved since the start of the year. He talks about the impact of macroeconomic issues—such as the tight labor market, supply chain disruption, and inflation—on mid-market businesses, and how Twin Brook is working with private equity sponsors and borrowers to navigate the evolving macroeconomic environment. At the end of the conversation, Martin discusses his outlook for the remainder of 2022 and the types of assets and industries he believes are likely to draw PE sponsors' interest over the coming months. To learn more about Twin Brook, visit www.twincp.com. **** The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To learn more about the organization and how to become a member, visit www.acg.org.