Selling assets now to avoid higher capital gains taxes may make sense, but so does considering if previous exit plans were actually the best strategy, even if tax circumstances change. Tax reforms being discussed in Congress and the White House are already changing the behaviors of middle market firms, as well as private equity firms. Here’s what that could mean in the short-run and longer term.

What are the best places to source proprietary deals, when so much of business has left the office space and there are fewer informal, in-person spaces? Will new deal sourcing vehicles emerge, or will Independent Sponsors return to old models, as travel and in-person meetings return?

Environmental, social and governance causes are expected to play greater roles across all sectors in coming years. That said, how to incorporate ESG values in internal offices, when evaluating potential targets and in operational plans can be tricky in part because they can be difficult to quantify, and they provoke as many questions as answers. 

While many Independent Sponsors differentiate themselves by specializing by sector, the coronavirus pandemic has changed and sometimes simply accelerated market trends, meaning opportunities have changed. Which of these market trends are worth betting on for the long-term, and is it too late to adopt new sectors into established portfolios?