How Does a Private Equity Fund Operate?

Triston Martin

Aug 29, 2022

Modern private equity investments may be traced back to the turn of the past century, but it wasn't until the 1980s that they began to garner widespread attention. During this time, the United States technology sector received much-needed venture money.

Numerous start-ups and failing businesses were able to secure funding from private investors rather than entering the public market. It was with the help of private equity money that several of today's most recognizable brands got their starts, including Apple.

However, the typical investor may have trouble accessing these funds despite their high potential returns. Due to the high minimum required to participate in most companies, private equity is mainly targeted at large institutions or wealthy individuals.

Funding Basics for Private Equity

One type of alternative investment is private equity funds, which are closed-end funds. Private companies' shares aren't traded publicly because of this. These vehicles facilitate the direct investment and acquisition of stock ownership in firms by affluent people and a wide range of institutional investors.

To go private, a fund may decide to invest in a publicly traded company or a private company with the hope of one day delisting it from the stock market. Once a particular period has passed, the private equity fund will often sell its interests.

Private equity funds typically adhere to a standard framework in terms of structure, with a limited partnership agreement outlining the classes of fund partner, and other critical variables. Minimum contributions may vary from fund to fund.

Fees

Hedge funds, in terms of their fee structure, are not dissimilar to private equity funds. Management fees and incentive compensation are also part of the package. It costs roughly 2% of the total amount invested in the fund to pay for the management. 4 Therefore, a fund with $1 billion in AUM would want a $20 million annual management fee.

All expenses associated with running the fund, including employees and deal fees, are covered by this charge. The management fee is still due whether or whether the fund is profitable. 5 In contrast, the general partner receives a performance fee equal to a share of the fund's actual net income.

These charges, which might approach 20% of a fund's gains, are often performance-based. 4 That's why they're called "performance fees"; they work to align the interests of investors and fund management. If the fund manager achieves this, then their performance fee is warranted.

Relationships and Duties

Various investment alternatives exist; however, limited partnerships are the most frequent structure for such funds.

If you're trying to figure out how private equity funds work, you need to know that there are two distinct types of investors. The investors in a private equity fund are referred to as "general partners."

Each fund's structure grants the general partner discretion over the private equity fund's management and the investments it makes. In addition, general partners are accountable for raising funds from limited partners.

Contract for a Limited Partnership

Institutional and individual investors in a fund agree to the conditions of their investments under a limited partnership agreement. The degree of risk assumed by each type of partner in this agreement sets them apart. On the contrary, general partners bear full responsibility for the fund's debts and obligations in the event of a total and permanent loss of all assets and a negative net asset value.

Investment Model and Compensation Plan

The return on investment and operating expenses are two of the most visible aspects of a fund's LPA. The GPs have the authority to make decisions and are compensated with a management fee and a "carry." The LPA often spelled out general partner costs for managing the fund.

Typically, private equity funds would ask for a 2% annual fee on money invested to cover things like employee wages, legal fees for finding deals, the cost of data and research, advertising, and other fixed and variable expenses. 411 If a private equity company successfully collected $500 million for a fund, it would get $10 million yearly to cover operating costs.

Summary

High-net-worth individuals and large financial institutions might find investment options in private equity businesses attractive. If you want to put money into a private equity fund, you need to know how they are organized to calculate the time commitment, the management and performance fees, and the potential risks.

Private equity funds typically last for ten years, charge 2% in yearly management fees plus 20% in performance fees from investors, and have limited partners (LPs) take on entire liability for their investments while general partners (GPs) shoulder none.

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