“None of us smart enough to call the bottom in financials or any other industry,” says Gary W. Parr, vice chairman at independent investment bank Lazard. Noting the value to investors of structuring deals for a few years of protection before converting to common, Parr says he’s seen funds change their practices to keep up with the times.

“It tells you something about the sophistication of the funds changing very quickly – in a matter of months, from buying common to buying structured securities — and secondly it tells you something about time horizon — they don’t have to worry about performance quarter to quarter.”

Parr was on-hand to give a keynote talk entitled, “The rise of sovereign wealth funds,” and Parr took time for this podcast to speak with Jason Lopez about foreign investment in the U.S. and around the globe. (Parr points out that the largest investments by sovereign wealth funds are being made in Europe, not the U.S., although the sovereigns are, for some, cause for concern.)

The Deal’s Private Capital Symposium brought together private equity professionals, angel investors, buyout and venture investors, corporate acquisition professionals, M&A advisors and professional services providers. The event took place in New York’s Essex House, on May 14, 2008.

Tags: Gary W. Parr, Private Capital Symposium, The Deal
 
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