The Private Equity Chair is the brainchild of Françoise Noël-Marquis, E80, Corporate Finance partner at Grant Thornton. Grant Thornton has convinced the two other sponsors to participate in the project. According to Jean-Luc Carpentier, CEO of Grant Thornton France, “Private Equity is a very real subject for analysis and one that involves everything from the nature and sophisticated setting up of business transactions through to the funds levied and subsequently invested.

Such issues require the participation of professionals specialised in Private Equity who can establish a connection between the reality of the sector and the world of education and research. Our aim is to share our knowledge and passion for the subject”.

The french firm of Grant Thornton has 900 partners and professional staff members working in 20 different French cities. It is currently ranked seventh among audit and business advisory firms and focuses on five business streams: Audit & Assurance, Business advisory services, Outsourcing, Financial advisory services, and Tax and Legal services. The member firms of Grant Thornton International form the 6th largest audit and financial advisory services network in the world. Each member of the network is independent from a financial, legal and managerial standpoint.

Our organisation allows us to be one of the majors actors in the Private Equity field. As such, we have experienced and dedicated teams in the following areas :

• Transaction Services. A department specialised in the acquisitions and disposals of companies in France and abroad (Valuation, Acquisition due diligence, Vendor due diligence, Transaction support and monitoring investments, Recovery and reorganisation).

• Corporate Finance. A department dedicated to M&A operations (Mergers and acquisitions, LBO's, Disposals, Fund raising (Venture and expansion, IPO).

• Recovery and reorganisation. A department dedicated to under-performing and turnaround companies (Restructuring services, Disposal of businesses as a going concern or via insolvency procedures, Assignments as expert witness in litigation procedures).

• Public-Private sector Partnerships. A wide range of services dedicated to operations between public sector and private firms (Option Reviews, consultancy and decision making advice, Public sector investment selection and guidance or contract terms).