Interview Daniel Meggle

Investment Manager Private Equity

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“‘A day is never exactly the same, it is very dynamic and I really enjoy this. Somedays you spend on the road visiting factories wearing boots and security glasses, other days you sit around the table with the management team wearing a suit.”

 

What do you like most about your job in Private Equity and more specifically about Egeria?
I really enjoy thinking as an investor in order to contribute to the growth and success of a portfolio company. It is fascinating to see how management teams improve or transform businesses, and how we can support them as a sparring partner and by working together to create value during our holding period. As we do not stick to strict sectors at Egeria, I get to learn about a wide range of industries and business models, which I find particularly exciting ánd which helps broadening my horizon.

Moreover, I really like working closely with various stakeholders, including entrepreneurs, business owners, management teams, advisors as well as my Egeria colleagues. The flat hierarchies at Egeria have provided me with significant exposure to C-level management early onwards. I thrive in the fast-paced, action-oriented environment, surrounded by intelligent people who really want to make an impact on the overall success of Egeria and its portfolio companies.

 

You have been promoted from Associate to Investment Manager; how do the tasks and responsibilities differ per role?

When I worked as an associate I supported in all aspects throughout the deal execution phase. As I gained more experience, I started more and more to take the lead on some of the key workstreams. During the holding period of a portfolio company, Associates usually get more involved with the management team and become their main point of contact for updates on regular matters like reporting, prioritization, new add-on opportunities, and so on. It was a very interesting period in which I have learned so much!

 

Transitioning to the role of Investment Manager (IM) involved more of a shift towards a holistic or more overall view on the deal setting. Typically, the IM will assume the role of the ‘deal captain’ during the execution phase, overseeing the end-to-end execution of all workstreams. This position also entails greater involvement in negotiation rounds with counterparties and in communication towards our internal stakeholders. Additionally, as an IM, you will increase your sourcing efforts to originate new platform and deal opportunities in the market. I experienced this transition to be very positive, as my new range of tasks are very motivating and help me to keep my learning curve steep and to grow within Egeria.

 

 

In your opinion, what are the most critical skills in order to succeed as an Associate or Investment Manager?

From my perspective, the essential skills as an Associate include technical skills, such as commercial understanding of various business models and proficiency in financial modeling. Equally important is the ability to articulate complex situations in a clear and structured manner. Moreover, I think it is beneficial to have good social capabilities that help you build effective relationships in the professional environment.

In addition, I believe that an Investment Manager needs the ability to oversee numerous ongoing matters and prioritize tasks effectively, even when dealing with a large number of ongoing topics. As interactions with both external and internal stakeholders continue to grow, interpersonal and communication skills also become increasingly vital.

 

Could you walk us through how a typical workday looks like for you?

Usually, my colleagues and I kick off the day with an informal catch-up over coffee in the office. Following that, we dive into team meetings, either online with our colleagues in Amsterdam or within the Munich office, to discuss deal opportunities and prioritize tasks for the day. We then dedicate a couple of hours to focused work, which involves preparing analyses, conducting market research, drafting investment memos or updating any necessary documents.

After lunch with my colleagues, the afternoon typically involves either meetings or calls with industry experts to explore new investment opportunities or face to face meetings with business owners regarding potential future partnerships and investment ideas.

Depending on our workload, we would either have dinner together and spend an extra hour or two on focused work or we might head to the gym together to wind down for the day.

A day is never exactly the same, it is very dynamic and I really enjoy this. Somedays you spend on the road visiting factories wearing boots and security glasses, other days you sit around the table with the management team wearing a suit.

 

 

You have been working for portfolio company ISOPLUS, amongst other things, can you share a bit about this journey and what steps have been made?

Over the past two years, significant transformations have taken place at ISOPLUS: the company has been transformed from a decentrally managed, family-owned business to the clear European market leader for district heating pipes. We have supported them during several complementary acquisitions in Finland and France as well as other M&A processes.

Working with ISOPLUS has been an incredible journey, giving me valuable industry insights and opportunities for firsthand experiences. Over the past two years, I’ve had the opportunity to visit WarmtelinQ, the largest district heating construction site in the Netherlands. I have joined the management team for M&A discussions in Finland, Italy, and France and conducted site visits and advisory board meetings at (production) sites in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Denmark, Romania, Serbia, and other locations.

Throughout this journey, I’ve really bonded with first and second-level management at Isoplus. We’ve had some real adventures together, like cruising down the roads of Finland, enjoying lively dinners with Bavarian folk music (we even had to try out the instruments), and even sledding down the Austrian Alps in a sledge after our board meetings. It’s been quite the ride!

 

What principles are important for you in work, and in your connection with entrepreneurs, stakeholders and your colleagues?

I would say people at Egeria generally value a familiar, non-hierarchical atmosphere, which fosters open and constructive communication. This enables everyone in the investment team – regardless of their rank – to freely contribute their own ideas and remarks on investment opportunities, which I really appreciate.

Secondly, Egeria’s core value is “True ownership”. We believe it is important to take initiative and work independently. This also suits me very well. I love to work in an environment where I can demonstrate ownership and accountability and where I am asked to make decisions and to address obstacles directly.

And last but not least, I embrace a hands-on pragmatic approach. And that is also encouraged within Egeria. All team members can actively participate in tasks and projects, inspiring younger colleagues to do the same, so from day one you are invited to play an active role. And we prioritize practical solutions whenever possible, aiming for tangible results, I really like this way of working!

    • Upload date
    • June 26, 2024