Distressed investments refer to the purchase of debt or equity securities of companies that are in weak financial condition, distressed, or bankrupt. Private equity firms and other investors may specialize in distressed investing, aiming to turn around troubled companies and sell them for a profit. Two common distressed investment strategies are purchasing the debt of distressed companies at discounted prices and converting debt holdings into equity stakes, or providing rescue financing in exchange for equity. The goal is to implement major restructurings to restore the business to viability then exit at an optimal time. However, turnarounds often fail. Distressed investing requires expertise in bankruptcy proceedings, debt restructuring, and operational reorganizations to profitably execute deals. When successful, distressed investments can produce extremely high returns due to the low prices of purchasing shares in troubled companies.
As private equity adapts to a prolonged high-cost environment, investors are being forced to rethink how they source deals, create value, and deploy capital. Ahead of her appearance at 0100 Europe (April 21–23), we spoke with Geraldine O’Keeffe, Partner at EQT Healthcare Growth, about how one of Europe’s leading investment platforms is transiting today’s market dynamics—across healthcare, technology, and beyond.
Ahead of her appearance at 0100 DACH in February, Daisy Cai, General Partner at B Capital, reflects on deep tech beyond the label—and where frontier innovation becomes enduring value.
AI is no longer a fringe technology—it is rapidly reshaping entire industries, from climate and energy to industrial operations and enterprise software. Yet as competition intensifies and barriers to entry fall, the question facing venture investors is no longer whether to invest in AI, but how to identify companies capable of generating durable, long-term value. In this interview, Jeremy Brown, Principal & Head of Climate at Anthemis, shares his perspective on evaluating AI businesses beyond the hype, drawing on his experience at the intersection of AI, climate, and complex industrial markets, and setting the stage for a broader discussion with fellow investors on where real opportunity—and real risk—now lies in AI venture capita
