Private Equity Funds

What are Private Equity Funds?

Private equity funds are pools of capital to be invested in companies that represent an opportunity for a high rate of return. They come with a fixed investment horizon, typically ranging from four to seven years, at which point the PE firm hopes to profitably exit the investment. Exit strategies include IPOs and sale of the business to another private equity firm or strategic buyer.

Institutional funds and accredited investors usually make up the primary sources of private equity funds, as they can provide substantial capital for extended periods of time. A team of investment professionals from a particular PE firm raises and manages the funds.

Equity

Equity can be further subdivided into four components: shareholder loans, preferred shares, CCPPO shares, and ordinary shares.

Typically, the equity proportion accounts for 30% to 40% of funding in a buyout. Private equity firms tend to invest in the equity stake with an exit plan of 4 to 7 years. Sources of equity funding include management, private equity funds, subordinated debt holders, and investment banks. In most cases, the equity fraction is comprised of a combination of all these sources.

Types of Private Equity Funds

Private equity funds generally fall into two categories: Venture Capital and Buyout or Leveraged Buyout.

1. Venture Capital (VC)

Venture capital funds are pools of capital that typically invest in small, early stage and emerging businesses that are expected to have high growth potential but have limited access to other forms of capital. From the point of view of small start-ups with ambitious value propositions and innovations, VC funds are an essential source to raise capital as they lack access to large amounts of debt. From the point of view of an investor, although venture capital funds carry risks from investing in unconfirmed emerging businesses, they can generate extraordinary returns.

2. Buyout or Leveraged Buyout (LBO)

Contrary to VC funds, leveraged buyout funds invest in more mature businesses, usually taking a controlling interest. LBO funds use extensive amounts of leverage to enhance the rate of return. Buyout finds tend to be significantly larger in size than VC funds.

Exit Considerations

There are multiple factors in play that affect the exit strategy of a private equity fund. Here are some necessary questions to ask:

• When does the exit need to take place? What is the investment horizon?
• Is the management team amenable and ready for an exit?
• What exit routes are available?
• Is the existing capital structure of the business appropriate?
• Is the business strategy appropriate?
• Who are the potential acquirers and buyers? Is it another private equity firm or a strategic buyer?
• What Internal Rate of Return (IRR) will be achieved?

Typical Exit Routes for PE Funds

When deciding to exit, PE firms take either one of two paths: total exit or partial exit. In terms of a wholesale exit from the business, there can be a trade sale to another buyer, LBO by another private equity firm, or a share repurchase.

In terms of a partial exit, there could be a private placement, where another investor purchases a piece of the business. Another possibility is corporate restructuring, where external investors get involved and increase their position in the business by partially acquiring the private equity firm’s stake. Finally, corporate venturing could happen, in which the management increases its ownership in the business.

Lastly, a flotation or an IPO is a hybrid strategy of both total and partial exit, which involves the company being listed on a public stock exchange. Typically, only a fraction of a company is sold in an IPO, ranging from 25% to 50% of the business. When the company is listed and traded publicly, private equity firms exit the company by slowly unwinding their remaining ownership stake in the business.

Additional Resources

Thank you for reading CFI’s guide on Private Equity Funds. To keep learning and advancing your career, the following resources will be helpful:

• Equity Capital Market (ECM) Guide
• Career Guide to Private Equity
• Revenue-Based Financing
• Search Fund
• Vulture Capitalist
• See all wealth management resources
• See all capital markets resources