Beyond the Macro: How Europe's Best Deals Get Done

European private equity doesn't move on macro headlines — it moves on value creation at the company level. David Atterbury of HarbourVest breaks down the three forces reshaping the European mid-market: sector specialisation, digitisation, and the professionalisation of founder-led businesses. He also makes the case for why small-cap and mid-market fundraising is at record levels, even as broader sentiment remains cautious.The conversation — hosted by Karen Guch of Baker McKenzie — covers the maturation of the secondary market as a genuine fourth exit route, the rise of continuation vehicles, and why healthcare infrastructure and B2B recurring revenue businesses are where serious capital is moving.