Private markets are solidifying their position as the global growth engine, with their value projected to reach a towering $30tr by 2030. As a result, demand for private market data is accelerating rapidly around the world.

But high-quality private market data is hard to find and often fragmented. Dealmakers have to piece together partial views from numerous disparate tools. And for dealmakers trying to operate in international markets, the challenges are amplified by different reporting requirements and systems, currency conversions, and translations.

So, how can dealmakers navigate private markets with confidence and ease? And what if instead of being a hinderance, data complexity was a competitive advantage?

The challenge: Global gaps in private company financial reporting

Across major economies, private companies face varying financial disclosure requirements – often leaving investors with limited visibility, especially for smaller firms.

Private market dealmakers:

• Don’t have comprehensive coverage of their markets because small companies have limited reporting requirements
• Don’t have data points beyond what’s shown in the filings, which is often limited to financials
• Have to rely on filings for information, even though that information could be misleading or incomplete because they don’t account for subsidiaries or foreign headquarters

The result? Private market investors need to sift through government documents across multiple sources to get a solid picture of a target’s financial performance, subsidiaries, and the like.

And when it comes to financial transparency, not all private companies are created equal. Across the UK, EU, and Australia, reporting requirements vary widely – leaving investors with an uneven view of company performance.

In the UK, only privately-owned companies that meet certain size thresholds must file annual financial statements with Companies House. Smaller firms often fall below the radar, creating blind spots for investors and analysts.

EU countries operate under different national systems:

France: Most companies must file annual statements with the Commercial and Companies Registry (RCS). However, “small companies” (meeting two of three criteria: balance sheet ≤ 7.56m, turnover ≤ €15m, ≤ 50 employees) can submit abridged reports. Even medium-sized firms can opt to keep income statements private.

Germany: All registered companies must file financials with the Unternehmensregister. But:

• Micro companies (balance sheet ≤ €350k, revenue ≤ €700k, ≤ 10 employees) are exempt from filing profit and loss statements.
• Small companies (balance sheet ≤ €6m, revenue ≤ €12m, ≤ 50 employees) can file simplified reports and skip profit and loss disclosures.

Australia’s middle market is dynamic but opaque. Private companies are classified as “small” if they meet two of the following:

• Revenue < AUS$50m
• Assets < AUS$25m
• Fewer than 100 employees

Larger companies face more rigorous reporting, but smaller ones enjoy lighter requirements – limiting visibility into a significant portion of the market.

The Solution: Full visibility into private markets

Operating from incomplete analysis leads to inefficient workflows, which costs dealmakers time, resources, and opportunity. If a target company meets the reporting thresholds, dealmakers have to parse through registry documents. If the target doesn’t meet the thresholds, dealmakers have to estimate themselves using proxies like headcount – which have their own challenges.

Financial filings documents on Grata aggregate multiple subsidiaries within and across countries. They are also standardized across the filings for ease. This way, dealmakers can easily access all of the data they need to screen potential targets is in one place.

Accessibility is just as important as depth. Private market investors must be able to seamlessly integrate the data into their processes.

Grata's AI-powered workflows surface the data you need quickly and all in one place at every step of the dealmaking process:

Industry research: Understanding market landscapes takes time – and a lot of data.  Analyze competitive landscapes, assess fragmentation, and detect M&A activity quickly and efficiently. Discover more companies in your space vetted and ranked by trusted publishers with List Library.

Sourcing: Finding the right targets means going beyond surface-level searches.  Grata’s deeper search capabilities and Similar Company search reveal adjacent markets and lesser-known opportunities. The Grata Deal Network connects dealmakers with live mandates, giving users exclusive access to in-market deals.

Comps analysis: Finding precise comps is difficult. Whether you are working from a list of companies, or a strategic focus, flexible filters and deep data ensure your comps reflect the reality of your deal. Define your market using specific industries, companies, or lists. See the most accurate comps for your target.

Relationship building: Relationships are often key to success. Find conferences, trade shows, and events that matter most in your industry. Search within attendee lists to find your highest priority targets. Reach out to executives with verified contact information to set up meetings ahead of time.

Pipeline management: Managing a pipeline requires structure and adaptability. Create custom labels that match your deal process. Document your interactions with Notes and collaborate with your team. In Grata every step is visible, searchable and aligned to your internal workflow – reducing friction and improving handoff.

Relationship tracking: Relationships can live in many places. Use Grata’s bi-directional CRM integration to see your most important Salesforce, Dealcloud, or Hubspot data directly in the Grata platform. Prioritize the right opportunities and streamline your processes.

Buyer list building: When it’s time to exit, identifying the right buyers is critical. Grata’s extensive breath of data and purpose-built filters allow users to search across 20,000 financial sponsors and 100,000 strategic buyers based on investment criteria and past deals. Build buyer lists and run exit analyses rooted in data not guesswork.

See it in action

Ready to discover how Grata can help you? Request a demo today and explore the power of AI-powered market intelligence.