Alternatives in 2021: Private Equity, Venture Capital & Private Debt in Focus - Americas - Recording & Slides

 

2020 highlighted the resilience and adaptability of private equity, venture capital, and private debt in challenging times. The year ahead is likely to bring further challenges. How might the market Americas evolve? 

To coincide with the launch of our 2021 Preqin Global Alternatives Reports, our webinar will draw on the latest Preqin data and the results of our recent investor and fund manager surveys to provide an exclusive insight into developments in fundraising, performance, and deals.

Fill out the form to access the webinar recording, slide deck, and other interesting content curate just for you!

 

'); // Wrap in a container $inputField.after('' + decodeURI('%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 20 20" class="search-icon">')) // Find the container (assuming it's the direct parent with the class) const $container = $inputField.closest('#formField--companyName'); // Demo display element const $idDisplaySpan = $('#selected-id-display span'); let $resultsContainer = null; let $resultsList = null; let valueWasSelected = false; // Flag to track if the current value is from selection let responseData = null; // Store the response data // --- Helper Functions --- function ensureResultsListExists() { if(!$resultsContainer || $resultsContainer.length === 0) { $resultsContainer = $container.find('.autocomplete-results'); if($resultsContainer.length === 0) { $resultsContainer = $('
').addClass('autocomplete-results').hide(); $resultsList = $('
    '); $resultsContainer.append($resultsList); $container.append($resultsContainer); } else { $resultsList = $resultsContainer.find('ul'); if($resultsList.length === 0) { $resultsList = $('
      '); $resultsContainer.append($resultsList); } } } $resultsList.empty(); return $resultsList; } function hideResults() { if($resultsContainer && $resultsContainer.length) { $resultsContainer.hide(); if($resultsList) { $resultsList.empty(); } } if(currentRequest) { currentRequest.abort(); currentRequest = null; } } // Function to clear the stored ID function clearSelectedId() { $hiddenFirmIdInput.val(''); valueWasSelected = false; $idDisplaySpan?.text('(None)'); // Update demo display // Clear company type field when ID is cleared $companyTypeField.val(''); // console.log("Hidden ID cleared"); } // Function to perform quick search API request function performQuickSearch(searchTerm, options = {}) { const { autoSelectFirst = false } = options; // Clear any existing timer and request clearTimeout(debounceTimer); if(currentRequest) { currentRequest.abort(); currentRequest = null; } const $currentResultsList = ensureResultsListExists(); $currentResultsList.html('
    • Searching...
      • '); $resultsContainer.show(); currentRequest = $.ajax({ url: `${apiUrl}?size=10&term=${encodeURIComponent(searchTerm)}`, method: 'GET', dataType: 'json', success: function(responsePayload) { $currentResultsList.empty(); responseData = []; let hasResults = false; if(responsePayload && Array.isArray(responsePayload) && responsePayload.length > 0) { responseData = responsePayload; $.each(responsePayload, function(index, item) { if(item && item.name && item.id) { $('
    • ') .text(item.name) .data('company-id', item.id) .data('company-data', item) .appendTo($currentResultsList); hasResults = true; } }); } if(hasResults) { $resultsContainer.show(); // Automatically select the first item if requested if (autoSelectFirst) { const $items = $resultsList.find('li:not(.autocomplete-message)'); if ($items.length > 0) { $items.first().addClass('active'); } } } else { $currentResultsList.html('
    • No matching companies found.
      • '); $resultsContainer.show(); } currentRequest = null; }, error: function(jqXHR, textStatus) { if(textStatus !== 'abort') { console.error('Autocomplete API Error:', textStatus, jqXHR); ensureResultsListExists().html('
    • Error fetching results.
      • '); $resultsContainer.show(); } currentRequest = null; } }); } // Function to match company type from API to dropdown option function setCompanyTypeFromAPI(apiCompanyType) { if (!apiCompanyType || !$companyTypeField.length) { return; } // First try exact match (most API types match dropdown options exactly) let matchedOption = $companyTypeField.find('option').filter(function() { return $(this).text().trim() === apiCompanyType; }); // If no exact match, check for specific mappings for the differences if (matchedOption.length === 0) { const specificMappings = { 'Non-sponsor backed': 'Other', // API type not in dropdown 'Professional Services': 'Other', // API type not in dropdown 'Infrastructure - Other': 'Infrastructure - Other', // Check if this exact match works 'Natural Resources - Other': 'Natural Resources - Other', // Check if this exact match works 'Real Estate - Other': 'Real Estate - Other' // Check if this exact match works }; if (specificMappings[apiCompanyType]) { const mappedType = specificMappings[apiCompanyType]; matchedOption = $companyTypeField.find('option').filter(function() { return $(this).text().trim() === mappedType; }); } } // Set the matched option or clear if no match found if (matchedOption.length > 0) { $companyTypeField.val(matchedOption.first().val()); } else { $companyTypeField.val(''); console.log(`No matching dropdown option found for API company type: "${apiCompanyType}"`); } } // Function to handle selection (from click or Enter key) function handleSelection($selectedItem) { if(!$selectedItem || $selectedItem.length === 0 || $selectedItem.hasClass('autocomplete-message')) { return; // Do nothing if no valid item or it's a message } const selectedText = $selectedItem.text(); const selectedId = $selectedItem.data('company-id'); // Retrieve stored ID const selectedCompanyData = $selectedItem.data('company-data'); // Retrieve complete company data if(selectedId) { $inputField.val(selectedText); // Update visible input $hiddenFirmIdInput.val(selectedId); // Update hidden input // Update company type field if type exists in company data if(selectedCompanyData && selectedCompanyData.typeRaw) { setCompanyTypeFromAPI(selectedCompanyData.typeRaw); } else { $companyTypeField.val(''); // Clear if no type available } valueWasSelected = true; // Mark that selection occurred $idDisplaySpan?.text(selectedId); // Update demo display // console.log("Selected:", selectedText, "ID:", selectedId); hideResults(); $inputField.trigger('change'); // Optional: Trigger change event for other listeners } else { console.warn('Selected item missing company ID data:', $selectedItem); hideResults(); // Hide results even if ID is missing } } // --- Event Handlers --- $inputField.on('input', function() { const currentInputValue = $(this).val(); const searchTerm = currentInputValue.trim(); // CRITICAL: If the user types anything, clear the previously selected ID // Only clear if the flag 'valueWasSelected' is true, meaning the last change // wasn't already a manual input modification. if(valueWasSelected) { clearSelectedId(); } // We always set valueWasSelected to false here, because *any* input // event means the current value is potentially manual, until a selection happens again. valueWasSelected = false; clearTimeout(debounceTimer); if(currentRequest) { currentRequest.abort(); currentRequest = null; } if(searchTerm.length === 0) { hideResults(); clearSelectedId(); // Also clear ID if input is emptied return; } debounceTimer = setTimeout(() => { performQuickSearch(searchTerm); }, debounceDelay); }); // Handle click on a suggestion item (delegated to container) $container.on('click', '.autocomplete-results li', function(e) { handleSelection($(this)); // Pass the clicked LI to the handler }); // Keyboard navigation and selection/dismissal $inputField.on('keydown', function(e) { // Handle arrow-down when results are not visible - trigger search if (e.key === 'ArrowDown' && (!$resultsContainer || !$resultsContainer.is(':visible'))) { e.preventDefault(); const searchTerm = $(this).val().trim(); // If there's text in the input, trigger a search if (searchTerm.length > 0) { performQuickSearch(searchTerm, { autoSelectFirst: true }); } return; } // Handle TAB key when results are not visible - allow normal focus movement if (e.key === 'Tab' && (!$resultsContainer || !$resultsContainer.is(':visible'))) { // Don't prevent default - allow normal tab navigation to next field return; } if(!$resultsContainer || !$resultsContainer.is(':visible')) { // If results not visible, ESC shouldn't do anything special here return; } const $items = $resultsList.find('li:not(.autocomplete-message)'); if(!$items.length && e.key !== 'Escape') { return; } // No items to navigate (but allow ESC) let $currentActive = $items.filter('.active'); let currentIndex = $items.index($currentActive); switch(e.key) { case 'ArrowDown': e.preventDefault(); currentIndex = ($currentActive.length === 0) ? 0: (currentIndex + 1) % $items.length; $items.removeClass('active'); $items.eq(currentIndex).addClass('active'); break; case 'ArrowUp': e.preventDefault(); currentIndex = ($currentActive.length === 0) ? $items.length - 1: (currentIndex - 1 + $items.length) % $items.length; $items.removeClass('active'); $items.eq(currentIndex).addClass('active'); break; case 'Enter': e.preventDefault(); // IMPORTANT: Prevent form submission if($currentActive.length) { handleSelection($currentActive); // Use the selection handler } else { // Optional: Hide results if Enter is pressed without a selection hideResults(); } break; case 'Escape': // ESC key dismisses e.preventDefault(); hideResults(); break; case 'Tab': // Tab key dismisses and allows normal focus movement hideResults(); // Don't prevent default - allow normal tab navigation to next field break; } }); // Hide results when clicking outside $(document).on('click', function(e) { // Check if the click is outside the input AND outside the results container if(!$inputField.is(e.target) && !$container.is(e.target) && $container.has(e.target).length === 0) { if($resultsContainer && $resultsContainer.is(':visible')) { hideResults(); } } }); // Initial state check (optional) if($hiddenFirmIdInput.val()) { $idDisplaySpan?.text($hiddenFirmIdInput.val()); valueWasSelected = true; // Assume pre-filled value was selected } });

       

Speakers

darren-thorpe
Nitin Gupta, Flexstone Partners
MANAGING PARTNER
Based in New York, he leads US investments, and is a member of the Global Advisory Investment Committee, and the US Investment Committee. Nitin joined Caspian Private Equity, a predecessor to Flexstone Partners, in 2008.
darren-thorpe
Gbenga Oladeji, Johnson & Johnson Inc.
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Gbenga Oladeji oversees Global Private Markets for Johnson & Johnson Benefits Investment team. He leads the Private Market team in shaping the strategic direction of the program, plays an active role in sourcing, monitoring of investments and serves on various underlying partnership advisory boards.s.
Image 14-1
Anne Philpott, Churchill Asset Management
PRINCIPAL, JUNIOR CAPITAL & PRIVATE EQUITY SOLUTIONS
Anne is a principal on the Junior Capital & Private Equity Solutions team at Churchill. Anne is actively involved in sourcing and executing investments in junior capital and equity co-investments, as well as investments in private equity funds.
Image 14-1
Alex Brooks, Capstone
PARTNER
Alex is a Partner at Capstone responsible for distribution and client origination in the Western US and Canada. Prior to Capstone, Alex was a Senior Vice President at Hourglass Capital Management, a mid and large cap equity growth manager, where he was a portfolio manager and director of marketing to institutional investors.
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Cameron Joyce, Preqin
VP, Research Insights
Cameron Joyce has 10 years of experience in the investment industry and is currently part of Preqin’s Research Insights team based in London. He is also a CFA Charterholder and an Economics graduate from the University of Manchester.
lynn-robinson
Grant Murgatroyd, Preqin
Senior Writer, Content
Grant joined Preqin as Senior Writer, EMEA in July 2020. He has worked on numerous projects, leading the Future of Alternatives 2025 digital series, the 2021 Private Equity & Venture Capital Global Report, the weekly Spotlight newsletter, and the launch of Insights+.