Note Card Set: Private Equity 1. Definition of Private Equity (PE) Investment in privately held companies or buyouts of public companies, leading to their delisting from public stock exchanges. 2. Types of Private Equity Investments Venture Capital: Investing in early-stage companies. Growth Capital: Providing capital to expand existing companies. Buyouts: Acquiring a controlling interest in a company. Distressed Investments: Buying troubled companies to restructure. 3. Structure of a Private Equity Fund Limited Partners (LPs): Investors providing capital (e.g., pension funds, wealthy individuals). General Partners (GPs): Fund managers making investment decisions. 4. Fundraising Process GPs raise capital through a series of fundraising rounds, targeting institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals. 5. Investment Thesis A strategy that outlines how the fund intends to create value in its portfolio companies, including industry focus and operational improvements. 6. Due Diligence Process Comprehensive evaluation of potential investments, including financial, operational, and legal assessments. 7. Valuation Methods Discounted Cash Flow (DCF): Projecting future cash flows and discounting them to present value. Comparable Company Analysis: Valuing a company based on the valuation multiples of similar companies. 8. Deal Structure Includes terms such as equity stake, debt financing, management fees, and preferred returns. 9. Leverage in Private Equity Use of borrowed funds (debt) to increase potential returns on investment (leveraged buyouts). 10. Value Creation Strategies Operational improvements, cost cutting, revenue growth, and strategic realignment of the business. 11. Exit Strategies Ways to realize investment returns, including IPOs, strategic sales, or secondary buyouts. 12. Timeline of Investment Typical PE investments range from 4 to 7 years, with GPs aiming for exits within this timeframe. 13. Performance Metrics Internal Rate of Return (IRR): Annualized effective compounded return. Multiple on Invested Capital (MOIC): Total value returned relative to invested capital. 14. Risks Associated with PE Market risk, operational risk, illiquidity, and valuation risk. 15. Regulatory Environment PE firms must comply with regulations governing securities, taxes, and corporate governance. 16. Current Trends in Private Equity Increasing interest in technology, sustainability, and healthcare sectors. 17. Role of Technology Utilizing data analytics and software tools to enhance investment decisions and operational efficiencies. 18. Impact of Globalization PE firms are expanding their investments into emerging markets for growth opportunities. 19. Key Players in PE Major firms include Blackstone, KKR, Carlyle Group, and Bain Capital. 20. Networking and Relationships Building strong relationships with industry professionals, brokers, and entrepreneurs is crucial for sourcing deals. 21. Operational Focus Engaging with portfolio companies post-investment to implement changes and track performance. 22. Fund Lifecycle Phases include fundraising, investing, managing portfolio companies, and exiting. 23. Investor Returns LPs typically receive a preferred return before GPs take their share of profits (carried interest). 24. Carried Interest The percentage of profits (usually 20%) that GPs receive as compensation after returning capital to LPs. 25. Market Outlook PE market growth is driven by low-interest rates, availability of capital, and increasing demand for private investments. 26. Economic Cycle Impact PE performance can be counter-cyclical, as firms can acquire distressed assets during downturns. 27. Legal Structures PE funds are typically structured as limited partnerships for tax and liability benefits. 28. Sector-Specific Funds Funds may specialize in sectors such as healthcare, technology, consumer products, etc. 29. Private Equity and ESG Growing emphasis on environmental, social, and governance factors in investment decisions. 30. Career Paths in Private Equity Roles include analysts, associates, VPs, and managing directors, often requiring a finance or business background. 31. Exit Timing Considerations Economic conditions, company performance, and industry trends influence when to exit an investment. 32. Impact of Technology on PE Digital transformation and innovation are crucial for operational improvements in portfolio companies. 33. Resources for Further Learning Books, podcasts, online courses (e.g., Coursera, Udemy), and industry reports for in-depth understanding.