Item: PitchBook
Rating: 10
Author: Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with PitchBook

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use PitchBook for various reasons including screening for M&A transactions, learning more about Private Equity firms (specifically fund size, contacts, portfolio, and investment criteria), and researching companies that may be a potential buyer to competitor to the client we are advising in an M&A transaction. Additionally, we use PitchBook to evaluate monthly deal volumes by geography and industry.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Provides accurate, quick information on PE firms
Provides an exhaustive list of M&A transactions
Has a user interface that is east to follow and clean-looking

Cons

Verify company descriptions and company data is accurate
Provide for deal statistics if available (EV, Rev., EBITDA) even if it may be an estimate

Return on Investment

Substantial time savings. Reduces 5+ hours per week compared to using other tools or pulling data manually
More accurate data for analysts gathering specific company or transaction information

Customer Service

I've rarely used the customer service segment of Pitchbook, but when I have it went great.

Comprehensive Data Quality

The quality of data holds up 90% of the time. We use PitchBook to inform our Pitch decks when gathering information on present transactions, key players or buyers (sponsors or strategics), and M&A volumes

Usability

PitchBook has impressed me in all aspects. I rated the platform a 10 because I have not used all aspects and have not been super impressed with the research capabilities.

Alternatives Considered

FactSet Workstation and S&P Capital IQ

I think PitchBook is the best for private markets compared to these platforms. These platforms may surpass PitchBook for public markets work.

Key Insights

Do you think PitchBook delivers good value for the price?

Not sure

Are you happy with PitchBook's feature set?

Yes

Did PitchBook live up to sales and marketing promises?

I wasn't involved with the selection/purchase process

Did implementation of PitchBook go as expected?

I wasn't involved with the implementation phase

Would you buy PitchBook again?

Yes

Other Software Used

FactSet Workstation, Adobe Acrobat

Likelihood to Recommend

PitchBook is well-suited to screen for M&A activity and who is buying these assets. It quickly lets me know the number and timing of M&A transactions in a specific industry and has nice features which allow me to customize the list. PitchBook could improve by improving their data and filter options for Private Equity firm portfolio companies. We often make "buyer strips" which highlight relevant portfolio companies a PE firm may have. It often takes awhile to sort through which companies are most accurate.

PitchBook Feature Ratings

Comments

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PitchBook is great for MA data and research