Friedman Fleischer & Lowe

Neuberger Berman Private Equity operates within a diversified investment management platform managing $563 billion in assets as of December 31, 2025. Founded in 1939, the firm maintains a private, independent, employee-owned structure and deploys capital across equity, fixed income, quantitative strategies, private equity, real estate, and hedge funds. The firm's ownership model aligns employee incentives with long-term client outcomes, a structural advantage in an industry where principal-agent conflicts frequently erode returns. With over 2,600 professionals distributed across 26 countries, Neuberger Berman serves institutional investors, financial advisors, and individual clients through a multi-strategy approach that provides cross-platform deal sourcing and operational support capabilities. The private equity function benefits from the broader platform's research infrastructure, sector expertise, and capital markets relationships developed across public and private investment strategies. The firm has earned PRI Leader designation for ESG integration, a recognition achieved by fewer than 1% of investment managers, reflecting systematic incorporation of environmental, social, and governance factors into investment processes and portfolio company operations. This positioning addresses the growing institutional mandate requirements around responsible investing that increasingly influence allocator capital deployment decisions. Neuberger Berman's employee retention metrics, evidenced by ranking first or second in the Pensions & Investments Best Places to Work survey for eight consecutive years among firms with 1,000+ employees, indicate organizational stability that supports deal execution continuity and institutional knowledge preservation. The firm's technical infrastructure includes Bloomberg, FactSet, Aladdin, and Barra for portfolio analytics and risk management, alongside Python and SQL capabilities for quantitative analysis. The combination of proprietary deal flow, analytical resources, and talent stability provides operational advantages in competitive transaction processes and portfolio company value creation initiatives.

RITTERWALD is a pan-European boutique consultancy specializing in the real estate and energy management sectors. Founded in 2011 by Dr. Mathias Hain and Lutz Rittig, the firm has grown from a single client to advising over 100 national and international companies across Europe. With offices in Berlin, Frankfurt am Main, Amsterdam, and London, RITTERWALD has completed more than 500 projects delivering measurable efficiency gains and future-proofing strategies for housing providers, real estate companies, and institutional investors. Recognized by Handelsblatt as the Best Consultant for Real Estate in 2024 for the second consecutive year, RITTERWALD has established itself as a first mover in sustainable housing consulting. The firm developed the Certified Sustainable Housing Label to make social and environmental performance visible, opening access to ESG investors. Their multinational team speaks over 10 languages and combines deep industry expertise with delivery-focused execution across strategy, restructuring, M&A, digital transformation, and sustainability advisory.