ARTICLE
26 September 2024

The Fed's Recent Interest Rate Cut: A Step In The Right Direction For PE Sponsors

KG
K&L Gates LLP

Contributor

At K&L Gates, we foster an inclusive and collaborative environment across our fully integrated global platform that enables us to diligently combine the knowledge and expertise of our lawyers and policy professionals to create teams that provide exceptional client solutions. With offices spanning across five continents, we represent leading global corporations in every major industry, capital markets participants, and ambitious middle-market and emerging growth companies. Our lawyers also serve public sector entities, educational institutions, philanthropic organizations, and individuals. We are leaders in legal issues related to industries critical to the economies of both the developed and developing worlds—including technology, manufacturing, financial services, health care, energy, and more.
On 18 September 2024, the Federal Open Market Committee lowered the benchmark federal funds rate by 50 basis points to a target range of 4.75-5%.
United States Corporate/Commercial Law

On 18 September 2024, the Federal Open Market Committee lowered the benchmark federal funds rate by 50 basis points to a target range of 4.75-5%. While this is welcome news on many levels, we expect that in the coming months it will have a real and positive impact on private equity sponsors, and particularly mid-sized and smaller sponsors.

Lower interest rates will improve portfolio company cash flows through reduced borrowing and refinancing costs. A lower rate environment will also provide potential portfolio company buyers with lower-cost debt financing for acquisitions. These factors combined can be expected to create a favorable environment for exits, something that private equity sponsors and limited partners alike have been eagerly seeking. And once exits start to accelerate, sponsors can turn to raising their next fund, and investors will have additional capital from current fund realizations to deploy into those funds.

We expect lower interest rates to have the greatest positive impact on mid-sized and smaller private equity sponsors, where the impact of cost of capital and the importance for exits and follow-on funds is greater than with the largest private equity sponsors. While it will take several months for the impact of lower rates to be seen, sponsors now have a more favorable environment as they look ahead to 2025 and lay the groundwork with investors for new fund launches.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

Mondaq uses cookies on this website. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies as set out in our Privacy Policy.

Learn More