EQT Chair: US Market Offers Growth
Today, EQT held its first U.S. Capital Markets Day in New York. Chairman Conni Jonsson emphasized that the U.S. market offers significant growth potential for the private equity firm, but he also discussed major geopolitical risks.
At the event, Jonsson pointed out that geopolitical risks have now overtaken concerns about rising borrowing costs.
"The risks I am most concerned about are geopolitical," he said during a fireside chat with Bloomberg, explaining that disruptions to global trade and cooperation pose a larger threat to the private equity industry than the pandemic or higher interest rates.
During his talks with investors, Jonsson also said that the U.S. market presents one of the biggest opportunities for the firm to grow right now (Bloomberg).
EQT has made several key U.S. investments in recent years, including the acquisition of Perficient Inc. for around $3 billion and Zeus, a medical device component manufacturer, for $3.4 billion. The firm's U.S. portfolio also includes Voltera, a Palo Alto-based company specializing in electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Jonsson also addressed growing regulatory scrutiny, particularly in sectors where private equity firms act as consolidators, stressing the importance of using market power responsibly.
"Whenever we do these kinds of things, we should not misuse the power we have," he said, according to Bloomberg.
EQT, founded in 1994 and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, is one of the world’s largest private equity firms. It manages approximately $300 billion in private capital and real assets. The firm is backed by Investor AB, the investment company owned by Sweden's Wallenberg family.