14. About the report
Argentum
Argentum Asset Management is one of the leading fund investors in Europe, with an investment portfolio that comprises more than 200 private equity funds and more than 1,300 companies. The core field of expertise is the evaluation and selection of private equity funds and fund managers. In addition to investing in newly established private equity funds, the operations include investments in private equity funds through the secondary market and co-investments with private equity funds in Argentum’s portfolio.
Argentum Asset Management manages Argentum Fondsinvesteringer, the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund for private equity fund investments, as well as capital for private investors, primarily through the Argentum vintage funds, which raise capital annually.
Read more on our website.
Definitions
Venture and growth versus buyout
This report operates with two segments of the private equity market. We differentiate between venture capital and growth investments on the one hand, and buyout investments on the other hand. The venture and growth segment covers investing in early-stage companies with the potential for disruption and exponential growth, with higher risk. On the other hand, the buyout segment involves taking established companies to the next level of efficiency and profitability through strategic, operational, and financial improvements, using a combination of equity and debt.
Industry classification
In this report, we use an industry classification that roughly relies on the Global Industry Classification Sector (GICS).
| Industry | Description |
|---|---|
| Energy | The Energy Sector comprises companies engaged in exploration & production, refining & marketing, and storage & transportation of oil & gas and coal & consumable fuels. It also includes companies that offer oil & gas equipment and services. |
| Industrials | The Industrials Sector includes manufacturers and distributors of capital goods such as aerospace & defense, building products, electrical equipment and machinery and companies that offer construction & engineering services. It also includes providers of commercial & professional services including printing, environmental and facilities services, office services & supplies, security & alarm services, human resource & employment services, research & consulting services. It also includes companies that provide transportation services. |
| Consumer | Includes both consumer discreationary and consumer staples. The Consumer Discretionary Sector encompasses those businesses that tend to be the most sensitive to economic cycles. Its manufacturing segment includes automobiles & components, household durable goods, leisure products and textiles & apparel. The services segment includes hotels, restaurants, and other leisure facilities. It also includes distributors and retailers of consumer discretionary products. The Consumer Staples Sector comprises companies whose businesses are less sensitive to economic cycles. It includes manufacturers and distributors of food, beverages and tobacco and producers of non-durable household goods and personal products. It also includes distributors and retailers of consumer staples products including food & drug retailing companies. |
| Health Care | The Health Care Sector includes health care providers & services, companies that manufacture and distribute health care equipment & supplies, and health care technology companies. It also includes companies involved in the research, development, production and marketing of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology products. |
| Financials | The Financials Sector contains companies engaged in banking, financial services, consumer finance, capital markets and insurance activities. It also includes Financial Exchanges & Data and Mortgage REITs. |
| ICT | The Information Technology Sector comprises companies that offer software and information technology services, manufacturers and distributors of technology hardware & equipment such as communications equipment, cellular phones, computers & peripherals, electronic equipment and related instruments, and semiconductors and related equipment & materials. |
| Utilities | The Utilities Sector comprises utility companies such as electric, gas and water utilities. It also includes independent power producers & energy traders and companies that engage in generation and distribution of electricity using renewable sources. |
| Other | Includes Real Estate, Materials |