What is private equity in simple terms?
Private equity is ownership or interest in entities that aren't publicly listed or traded. A source of investment capital, private equity comes from firms that buy stakes in private companies or take control of public companies with plans to take them private and delist them from stock exchanges.
Private equity (PE) describes investments that represent an equity interest in a privately held company. Any business that is not a public company is part of the substantial private company universe, which includes millions of US businesses compared with the few thousand that are public companies.
Venture capital is a form of private equity and financing that deals with funding early-stage startups and new businesses. Venture capitalists invest in companies that they believe have high growth potential. They also fund startup companies that have grown quickly and are set up for more expansion.
Similar to a mutual fund or hedge fund, a private equity fund is a pooled investment vehicle where the adviser pools together the money invested in the fund by all the investors and uses that money to make investments on behalf of the fund.
A private equity firm is an investment management company that provides financial backing and makes investments in the private equity of startup or operating companies through a variety of loosely affiliated investment strategies including leveraged buyout, venture capital, and growth capital.
Private equity firms buy companies and overhaul them to earn a profit when the business is sold again. Capital for the acquisitions comes from outside investors in the private equity funds the firms establish and manage, usually supplemented by debt.
In compensation for these terms, investors should expect a high rate of return. However, though some private equity firms have achieved excellent returns for their investors, over the long term the average net return fund investors have made on U.S. buyouts is about the same as the overall return for the stock market.
Because private equity investments take a long-term approach to capitalising new businesses, developing innovative business models and restructuring distressed businesses, they tend not to have high correlations with public equity funds, making them a desirable diversifier in investment portfolios.
Private equity is a core pillar of BlackRock's alternatives platform. BlackRock's Private Equity teams manage USD$41.9 billion in capital commitments across direct, primary, secondary and co-investments.
Private equity firms typically invest in private companies and see returns on investment by improving the company's profits. On the other hand, hedge funds use complex investing techniques, like hedging and leveraging, to see returns on investments in the market via securities like stocks, options, and futures.
What do you actually do in private equity?
Private equity operates with investors and uses funds to invest in private companies or buy out public companies.
Heidrick & Struggle's data suggests that at the top end, a managing partner in a private equity firm with at least $1bn in Assets Under Management (AUM), can expect to earn at least $3.5m in salaries and bonuses, plus around $35m in carried interest over a fund's lifecycle (typically around five years).
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.
Behind the glitz and glamour, “Shark Tank” gives viewers a glimpse into the real world of private equity investment. Every day, private equity firms invest in or entirely buy companies on the promise that their capital infusion will make businesses soar to new heights.
As private equity investors since 1980, the J.P. Morgan Private Equity Group (PEG) is one of the longest-standing PE firms in the industry.
The minimum investment in private equity funds is typically $25 million, although it sometimes can be as low as $250,000. Investors should plan to hold their private equity investment for at least 10 years.
| Position Title | Typical Age Range | Time for Promotion to Next Level |
|---|---|---|
| Associate | 24-28 | 2-3 years |
| Senior Associate | 26-32 | 2-3 years |
| Vice President (VP) | 30-35 | 3-4 years |
| Director or Principal | 33-39 | 3-4 years |
According toCambridge Associates' U.S. Private Equity Index, PE had an average annual return of 14.65% in the 20 years ended December 31,2021.
The 10 largest of those private equity buyouts are all household names: PetSmart, Dollar General, Staples, Toys R Us, Neiman Marcus Group, Michaels, Petco, Mattress Firm and Claire's Stores.
Private equity owners make money by buying companies they think have value and can be improved. They improve the company or break it up and sell its parts, which can generate even more profits.
What are the cons of private equity?
Another con of private equity is the high fees charged by PE firms. These fees can eat into returns and make it difficult for investors to realize a profit on their investment. Additionally, private equity firms typically require a large initial investment, which may be beyond the reach of many individual investors.
Private equity investing often have high investment minimums, which can magnify gains but also magnify losses. Liquidity risk exists since private equity investors are expected to invest their funds with the firm for several years on average.
It's no secret that private equity firms have a bad reputation. They're often seen as ruthless vultures that swoop in to buy up struggling companies, slash costs, and then sell them off for a profit.
Examples of solid answers to the “why private equity” question: You want to work with companies over the long-term instead of just on a single deal. You want to get exposed to the operations of companies and understand all aspects rather than just the financial ones (note: “exposed to,” not “control” or “improve”).
- Profit Potential. Private equity investments have the potential for significant profit. ...
- Flexibility. ...
- Resilience. ...
- Portfolio Diversification. ...
- Minimal Effort. ...
- High Risk. ...
- High Barrier to Entry. ...
- Loss Potential.
