Private equity (PE) constitutes a distinctive investment asset class. Unlike publicly traded stocks, private equity involves investments in privately held companies that are not listed on public stock exchanges. It's important to differentiate private equity from both traditional equity investments and "private" hedge funds, as the latter represent totally different asset groups. Typically, private equity attracts a range of investors, including institutional investors, high-net-worth individuals, and pension funds, drawn to its potential for higher returns over the long term. As of 2023, the total assets under management (AUM) in private equity in the USA have reached significant values, reflecting the growing prominence of this investment category in the financial landscape. According to McKinsey & Company research, as of June 30, 2023, assets under management (AUM) in private markets reached $13.1 trillion, marking a nearly 20 percent annual growth rate since 2018. The dry powder reserves, representing committed but uninvested capital, soared to $3.7 trillion, marking the ninth consecutive year of growth. In private equity (PE), the dry powder inventory increased for the second consecutive year, reaching 1.6 years in 2023, up from 0.9 years in 2021, albeit still within historical ranges. Additionally, net asset value (NAV) experienced growth, largely attributed to managers' reluctance to exit positions amid challenging macroeconomic conditions.
Private equity typically involves three main parties: General Partners (GPs), Limited Partners (LPs), and private equity investors.
- General Partners (GPs): GPs are the fund managers or investment professionals who manage the private equity fund. They are responsible for sourcing investment opportunities, conducting due diligence, negotiating deals, and managing the portfolio companies. GPs typically receive management fees and a share of the profits, known as carried interest, as compensation for their services.
- Limited Partners (LPs): LPs are the investors in private equity funds. They can include institutional investors such as pension funds, endowments, and insurance companies, as well as high-net-worth individuals and family offices. LPs provide the capital for the fund and typically have limited liability, meaning their financial exposure is limited to the amount they have invested in the fund. LPs receive returns on their investment based on the performance of the fund's portfolio.
- Private Equity Investors: Private equity investors are individuals or entities that invest directly in private equity deals outside of a fund structure. They may include wealthy individuals, family offices, or institutional investors who have the expertise and resources to make direct investments in private companies. These investors may co-invest alongside private equity funds or pursue standalone investment opportunities.
Assessing risk in private equity (PE) investments poses several challenges:
- Unique Risk Models: Traditional risk models designed for publicly traded securities, such as market risk or credit risk models, are not suitable for evaluating PE investments. Unlike publicly traded assets, PE investments involve illiquid and long-term commitments, making them inherently different in terms of risk assessment. Developing risk models tailored to the specific characteristics of PE, such as illiquidity risk, operational risk, and exit risk, is essential for accurately measuring and managing risk in this asset class.
- Lack of Historical Data: PE represents a relatively young asset class compared to traditional investments like stocks and bonds. As a result, historical data on PE performance may be limited or unavailable, making it challenging to assess risk based on past trends and patterns. This lack of historical data complicates risk analysis and requires investors to rely on alternative methods, such as forward-looking assumptions and scenario analysis, to evaluate potential risks.
- Illiquidity and Valuation Challenges: One of the defining features of PE investments is their illiquidity, meaning investors cannot easily buy or sell their stakes in private companies. This illiquidity introduces valuation challenges, as there may be limited market data or benchmarks available to determine the fair value of PE holdings. Valuing illiquid assets accurately is critical for assessing risk and determining investment performance, but it requires sophisticated valuation techniques and may be subject to greater uncertainty.
- Unbiased Evaluation: Assessing PE investments requires access to comprehensive and unbiased data on fund performance, portfolio holdings, and market trends. However, obtaining unbiased evaluation data can be challenging, as fund managers may have incentives to present their performance in the best possible light. Additionally, certain biases, such as survivorship bias and backfill bias, can distort performance data and lead to inaccurate risk assessments. Overcoming these biases and ensuring the integrity of evaluation data are crucial for making informed investment decisions in the PE space.
A typical lifespan of a private equity (PE) fund can be broken down into several stages:
- Fund Formation: The first stage involves the establishment of the PE fund by the general partners (GPs), who are responsible for managing the fund's investments. During this stage, the GPs raise capital from limited partners (LPs), who provide the majority of the fund's capital. The fund's investment strategy, target industries, and geographic focus are defined in the fund's offering documents.
- Funds Raising Period: Before the investment period begins, private equity (PE) funds go through a funds raising period. During this stage, general partners (GPs) actively solicit commitments from limited partners (LPs), who contribute capital to the fund. The GPs outline the fund's investment strategy, target sectors, and potential returns to attract LPs. Once the fundraising target is met, the fund is established, and the investment period commences. This period may involve roadshows, presentations, and negotiations with potential investors to secure capital commitments for the fund.
- Investment Period: Once the fund is formed and capital is raised, the investment period begins. During this stage, the GPs actively seek out investment opportunities that align with the fund's investment strategy. They conduct due diligence on potential target companies, negotiate deal terms, and make investments on behalf of the fund. The investment period typically lasts several years, during which the fund aims to deploy its committed capital into promising opportunities.
- Portfolio Management: After making investments, the PE fund enters the portfolio management stage. During this phase, the GPs work closely with portfolio company management teams to drive growth, operational improvements, and value creation initiatives. They may provide strategic guidance, access to networks, and resources to help portfolio companies achieve their goals. The GPs actively monitor the performance of portfolio companies and may make adjustments to the investment strategy as needed.
- Harvesting: The final stage of a PE fund's lifecycle is harvesting, also known as the exit phase. During this stage, the GPs seek to realize returns on their investments by exiting portfolio companies through various means, such as initial public offerings (IPOs), mergers and acquisitions (M&A), or secondary sales. The goal is to generate liquidity for the fund and distribute profits to the LPs. Successful exits allow the fund to return capital to investors and generate attractive returns on investment.