The move towards smaller and mid-cap vehicles also indicates a shift in market trends. In 2023, despite some signs of a slowdown in the first half of the year, the private equity industry has maintained its dynamism and is beginning to stabilize again. In an uncertain macroeconomic environment, private equity remains, however, a key player in financing business growth. Fundraising cycles continue to be lengthy. What are the main reasons for this and how does BDO France assist its clients in this process? Fundraising cycles in private equity tend to be lengthy due to several reasons. Private equity investments are typically medium to long-term. This long-term commitment requires in-depth due diligence and negotiation processes, which can extend the fundraising cycle. Furthermore, factors like unstable economic conditions, unprecedented levels of inflation, and rapidly increasing interest rates have the potential to decelerate the process of private equity transactions and extend the duration of investment periods. As investors become more sophisticated, conventional methods of raising funds may also no longer be adequate. BDO France has a team of experts in every discipline who assist their clients in every process of private equity transactions by providing legal, tax and financial advice, due diligence, negotiation support, and document preparation. Our teams combine extensive expertise to provide tailor-made solutions. The synergy between our skills and those of BDO financial experts creates a remarkable force to address the complex challenges our clients face. We also help our clients identify potential investors, 66 LAWYER MONTHLY FEBRUARY 2024 prepare presentation packages and structure transactions. Our team is dedicated to supporting a wide range of businesses, from SMEs to large corporations, including mid-sized enterprises, startups, and rapidly growing companies. With recent advances, milestones, and breakthroughs achieved in artificial intelligence (AI), technology and the digital sector, how has this impacted private equity investments, particularly in AI, and what conclusions can be drawn from private equity and AI? AI’s emergence has revolutionized standard investment methods and redefined how private equity experts navigate the financial field. Leveraging AI algorithms, PE firms gain swift access to comprehensive insights, streamlining investment selection and enhancing data-driven decision-making accuracy. At BDO, we are increasingly using AI in our activities. AI is a beneficial tool in terms of saving time and, therefore, improving our productivity and responsiveness to our clients. We are going to be expanding our use of AI in the near future to make it our ally in the service of our customers while keeping, at heart, compliance with data protection and cybersecurity standards, and of course, the legal security we offer them. The leveraged buyout (LBO) market in France has shown resilience in 2023, despite facing several challenges. What are your predictions for the future and why? After several dynamic years, marked by
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