| Good morning dealmakers, thank goodness it’s Friday. It’s Obey Martin Manayiti here with the newsletter, the very final dispatch for the year before we head out for the holidays. It’s also a good time for us to revisit the top PE-backed sports deals for the year. Private equity firms are increasingly identifying opportunities in sports streaming services, women’s sports, student athletics as well as top soccer clubs in Europe, among others. I also have details of the investment bank Houlihan Lokey agreeing to acquire Triago, a private equity placement agent and advisor, this week. Finally, and for your reading pleasure during the holidays, I have a lineup of interviews with PE thought-leaders that we recently published. The MVPs of private equity As we approach the end of 2023, it’s a good time to reflect on the hustle and bustle of PE activity we’ve seen in the sports sector throughout the year, writes my colleague Rafael Canton. Sports are attractive to PE firms because of factors like consumers’ discretionary spending, which has been very resilient despite shaky economic conditions. Rafael rounded up six top sports deals that PE Hub and PE Hub Europe covered this year. Please upgrade to the premium version to read more on these deals. Deepening services Investment bank Houlihan Lokey has agreed to acquire Triago, a private equity placement agent and advisor. Premium subscribers have access to more detail on this transaction. In case you missed it PE Hub has been conducting a series of interviews with private equity thought-leaders on a wide range of topics. As an added treat for the holidays, I have the list of interviews that you may want to go through again. • Cambridge Associates’ Andrea Auerbach: Rate cuts in 2024 may break the transaction logjam and spur activity • EQT’s Alex Darden: Private capital has a huge role to play in the transition to net zero • Vista’s Patrick Severson: Promising enterprise software sectors in 2024 include cybersecurity, energy transition, healthcare IT • Blackstone CTO John Stecher: ‘Generative AI can enhance private equity dealmaking’ • NYSE’s Michael Harris: Optimistic about IPOs in 2024 • HarbourView’s Sherrese Clarke Soares: Big buying opportunity plays music to her ears • Blackstone’s Verdun Perry: ‘GPs are choosing to hold on to their best quality assets longer’ • Accenture’s Jay Scanlan: Deal partners request more ideas, increased support from operating pros That’s it for this year. MK will be back with the newsletter on Tuesday, January 2. Have a nice holiday, Obey Read the full wire commentary on PE Hub ... | 