A new report highlights the need for private equity firms to diversify and differentiate their businesses in these times of uncertainty. The report fom PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) outlines the key challenges the industry must address in order to respond to today’s contracted markets.

The report reveals that larger funds are broadening their investment criteria and geographical horizons. The holding period for portfolio companies is extending and private equity managers are demonstrating active portfolio management with this in mind.

“The private equity industry is witnessing a dramatic downturn in deal activity and is suffering from a lack of leverage caused by the turmoil in the financial markets,” says Peter Dale, leader of the PwC Canada private equity practice. “This has a major impact on the ability to finance larger transactions but also creates a lack of buyers for existing portfolio companies. Private equity players will need to adapt to the longer term holding periods by looking at how they create value for portfolio companies.”

Furthermore, according to Dale, “Private equity managers are now looking at the diversification of their investment strategies and are seeking to differentiate their businesses during this time of change.”

“Investors, in the current climate of focus on quality, are seeking access to those alternative investment managers with strong brand recognition that are seizing the opportunities and delivering returns in a transparent way,” Dale says.

“We must not forget that uncertain times also bring great opportunities for the patient private equity investor and investments from this vintage are likely to generate high returns,” he adds.

The report highlights the need for sustainable growth and diversification and examines the growing pressure on fair value accounting and mounting tax risks. It also looks at the opportunities for private equity in the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) economies.

The report also showcases comprehensive global investment and fund-raising data for 2007. In total, some US$297 billion of private equity and venture capital was invested in the year, up 26% on the 2006 level of US$235 billion. Although the environment has changed dramatically in just a few short months, the historic data showed global buyout activity still growing in 2007, while expansion capital and high-technology activity had flattened. Similarly, while investment activity was growing in emerging markets and the United States, it was flat in Europe.