Direct Equity Investments:

Global platform targeting the SMID market

Historically we’ve seen attractive deal opportunities and the greatest private markets outperformance of the public markets during uncertain market environments. Our direct equity investment strategy leverages the benefits of the Hamilton Lane platform and market access, aiming to execute high-quality direct equity investments and construct portfolios positioned to deliver compelling returns for our investors throughout any market environment.

Discover our latest private equity insights

Understanding the trends, challenges and opportunities in today’s environment is a key component of building a well-diversified private markets portfolio. Our annual report offers a holistic and differentiated perspective on the private equity investment landscape, leveraging our firm’s industry expertise, research capabilities and expansive database to help navigate what may lie ahead for the asset class.

828

Opportunities Reviewed in 2024*

$17.6B

Direct Equity AUM**

For firms like ours with strong investment capabilities and a large primary platform, we believe the co-investment landscape – particularly within the middle market – is ripe with opportunity. Our talented, experienced team seeks to execute on our differentiated strategy, leveraging our strengthened presence and expertise across the direct equity landscape globally to deliver compelling returns for our investors.
Ken Binick
Co-Head of Direct Equity Investments

Deal Spotlights

Cosette Pharmaceuticals

Who they are

A U.S.-based, fully integrated pharmaceuticals platform focused on women’s health, cardiology, and dermatology therapeutic areas.

Why it matters

Cosette’s diversified portfolio of branded products, along with innovative, patent-protected drugs, position the business to capitalize on future organic growth opportunities, supplemented by its M&A strategy and R&D focus.

Managing Director Jay Rosenberger dives deeper into the HL advantage in this deal spotlight video.

Bishop Street Underwriters

Who they are

A newly formed HoldCo consisting of recently acquired Managing General Agent (“MGA”) assets to create an insurance platform focused on providing terms and conditions in niche areas of expertise.

Why it matters

Bishop Street represents an opportunity to build a diversified MGA platform supported by an experienced GP. The company is positioned for substantial growth and expansion through strategic partnerships, proprietary deal sourcing and sector tailwinds in the specialty insurance market.

The HL advantage

This was a unique opportunity in which Redbird Capital showed us the initial opportunity in January 2024, which we declined due to the execution risk of identifying and acquiring the first assets on the platform. In September 2024, Redbird came back having completed several acquisitions and significantly derisking the deal. Redbird was also employing a similar playbook used for its investment in a previous buy and build strategy in the MGA space. We had exposure to this deal in a prior portfolio and it was successfully realized. We received our full allocation ask due to our long-standing relationship with Redbird and are the largest co-investor. This deal is also showing positive performance momentum with an early write-up expected.

CLEAResult

Who they are

A provider of energy efficiency, demand-side management and sustainability programs to utility and commercial customers as well as state energy offices.

Why it matters

Increasing electricity demand driven by tailwinds including data center build out and electric vehicle adoption is expected to materially widen the gap between electricity supply and demand. CLEAResult provides a critical value proposition to its customers and energy consumers by administering and implementing energy efficiency programs to reduce consumption and drive cost savings.

The HL advantage

We invested alongside Kohlberg & Co., a sponsor that has developed an entire investment strategy around the U.S. energy transition and infrastructure services. Our co-investment team has completed several successful infrastructure services deals alongside the sponsor, giving us conviction in Kohlberg's repeatable value creation playbook. Given our long-standing, multi-decade relationship with Kohlberg across all investment verticals, we were their first call for co-investment capital. Not only did we come in early to co-underwrite the deal, but we also received the largest co-investment allocation.

Download the Report

Our annual report offers a holistic and differentiated perspective on the private equity investment landscape, leveraging our firm’s industry expertise, research capabilities and expansive database to help navigate what may lie ahead for the asset class.



About Hamilton Lane

Our purpose is simple: To provide enhanced financial well-being for those who depend on us. We do that by seeking to deliver tailored, solutions-oriented private markets exposure and industry-leading client service. We’re an organization built on over three decades of client-centricity, candor and authenticity and powered by intellectual rigor and data-driven insight. 

Our commitment to serving those who depend on us has remained steadfast, while our focus on growth and transformation has only strengthened. Today, we serve institutional and private wealth investors around the world, helping them tap into the opportunities afforded by this maturing asset class.

hamilton lane

*As of 12/31/2024

**Discretionary Assets Under Management ("AUM") includes all investments managed by Hamilton Lane for which Hamilton Lane retains a level of discretion for the investment decisions as of 12/31/2024. AUM equals assets under management for active accounts. AUM is equal to market value plus unfunded. AUM calculation does not include authorized to invest amounts (ANI). ANI can only be attributed to commingled fund-of-funds and separate accounts and cannot be attributed to underlying investments. Direct Equity AUM includes direct equity investments and does not include direct credit investments.