Your private equity firm can make a bold statement with your year-end report.  As the vehicle to get partners and prospects the numbers it can be more than just facts and figures.  Take a creative approach to tell your firm’s annual story with inspiration from these top private equity year-end reports.

01. LLR Partners – 2020 Year in Review

Full disclosure — this is the second Year in Review we have built for LLR.  That being said, it’s a little tough to be fully objective on its merits (of which there are many).  But since we can personally vouch for the design, it’s our selection to set the bar for top private equity year-end reports.

What we love:

• Compelling messaging – “Deals will always be important, but this year was about helping each other survive, adapt and grow.”  They eloquently introduced their story of 2020 with an honest, yet hopeful perspective that sets the tone for what’s to follow.
• Delivery – They could have chosen pdf, PowerPoint, or newsletter, but the microsite they went with to share their review of 2020 opens the door for more creative design and dynamic content.  Microsite design is the through-line for all of our top 5.  A format that helps cause a bigger stir for your year-end report.
• Content organization – A clear delineation of LLR’s 2020 experience is well laid out.  After a personal high-level intro, the focus is placed on the portfolio companies & investment achievements.  From there they celebrate their people.  Before they close out with lessons and a look forward, their top posts from the ‘Growth Bits’ blog are linked out as an end-of-year bonus.
• People-focused – They took a very personal approach with their hero image & it’s nice to see a joyful moment from 2020.   In their team section, we see not only new additions but also achievements and promotions throughout the team.   The people are the backbone of any strong firm and we like how they celebrate theirs.

02. Vistria Group – 2020 Impact Report

Vistria took a Go Big approach with so many surprising features that keep us following along their 2020 journey.  Major points for style without compromising substance are deserved for their “Impact Report”, another apt way to title your firm’s year-end report.

What we love:

• Accessibility – Vistria’s report begins with a page of instructions with a few well-laid-out options to move forward.  Once you choose your path a stunning experience greets you.  You can also download a pdf if you want to go traditional to view the full report.
• Value Messaging – They’re spot on in how they differentiate themselves with their values and beliefs.   The mission-driven work of their portfolio companies solidifies this.  And in-depth information found in the module features gives credence to the impressive numbers in the main display.
• Visual Elements – This report is far from boring, with visual elements that keep you guessing for what’s next.  We could spend a lot of time focusing on the UI/UX elements that we love on this site.  Some of our favorite features: the image treatment and photography, the map of portfolio companies, and the vertical scrolling section titles, to name a few.
• Overall Design – The horizontal setup could throw some off at first since it’s an untraditional way to view a website.  But it’s kind of like reading a book, a picture book in this case, and one we don’t want to quickly put down.

03. Ardian – 2020 Activity Report

Ardian’s Activity Report is proof that a “report” doesn’t have to be one-note.  They stand out not only with great visuals but with an audio component.  If we were judging these micro-sites on accessibility, Adrian would surely take first place.

What we love:

• Tone – The whole style is fun & whimsical, something you don’t often get in a year-end report from investors.  The portrait sketches of Ardian’s people show who they are while adding artistry.  And we really appreciate the message from their CEO & President that conveys both strength and warmth.
• Navigation – Everything about the movement on this site is clean and sensible.  The side scroll, the transition of slides, and the natural feel of the micro-movements all aid in a calm yet engaging experience.
• Unconventional – Not everyone has to break the mold to make an impact, but Ardian did something very unexpected with the interview recordings that accompany the text. The way they placed the audio to flow between sections was a feat of editing and design well worth the effort.
• Dual Language – The French & English language toggle was likely a non-negotiable in consideration of their audiences.   However, we know the extra work it takes to create two languages for a microsite so we give them the kudos they deserve for this bonus feature.

04. Vista Equity Partners – 2020 Year In Review

Vista’s Year in Review brings their sector to life through thematic elements that feel futuristic.  See how their dedication to tech shines as you scroll through this private equity year-end report.

What we love:

• Visual Aids – More micro-movements. We love to see them.  You can always expect infographics and charts in a year-end report, but Vista’s come alive with movements they’ve incorporated across the site.  We are staying engaged through our visit down the page.
• Video Use – If you have the means to add a video to a text-heavy report, do so and help your audience feel the meaning of your content.  Through video, their portfolio companies’ benefits to customers are given much deeper meaning than text alone could convey.  And if you want to feel inspired don’t miss their wrap-up video that honors the impact made through challenges over the past year.
• The Numbers – They made the numbers easy to digest and nice to view at the same time.  Movement helps break down and illustrate the activity of capital and transactions.  And the layout of key figures is woven neatly into the rest of the content.
• Differentiation – Their partners are not simply lumped together into one big section, but broken down into their specialized categories.   They managed to be detail-oriented without creating a confusing mess of information.

05. Spectrum Equity – 2020 Year in Review

This example may not make us nerd out, but it is super solid and well above the average year-end report.  If you want to tread lightly into the idea of a year-end microsite here’s a great one to examine.

What we love:

• Clean and Well-Organized – Spectrum understands their visitor’s primary value, a site setup that makes it easy to find the information they need.  With a top horizontal menu bar that links to any section on the page, the navigation of this site is a no-brainer.
• Thought Leadership – We celebrate any firm that’s diving into thought leadership and are glad to see them repurposing their content from the past year.   The ‘Perspectives’ they share add value to this report and something audiences can take away after they’ve left the page.
• Criteria & Strategy – Usually PE firms leave overall criteria and strategy off their Year in Review.  Spectrum didn’t and we think that’s a smart move that provides clarity on their strategy and sectors, which can change from year to year.
• Organization Health – Additions and promotions to the team happened, even in 2020.  They kept their display of team growth simple and clean, which is all that’s really needed here.  A photo of a covid-safe team gathering was a warm personal touch to round this section out.

Wrapping Up

We hope you found your own favorite features as you navigated through our top 5 sites.  With all seen and discovered you should be walking away ready to build year-end experience that your stakeholders and partners enjoy diving into.

Do you want to deliver an impactful year-end report for 2021?  Please get in touch with us.  We’d love to help you!