How to Invest in Private Equity (2024)

Private equity is capital made available to private companies or investors. The funds raised might be used to develop new products and technologies, expand working capital, make acquisitions, or strengthen a company's balance sheet.Unless you are willing to put up quite a bit of cash, your choices in investing in the high-stakes world of private equity are minimal.

Key Takeaways

  • Private equity investing includes early-stage, high-risk ventures, usually in sectors such as software and healthcare.
  • These investors try to add value to the companies they invest in by bringing in new management or selling off underperforming parts of the business, among other things.
  • The minimum investment in private equity funds is relatively high—typically $25 million, although some are as low as $250,000.
  • Investors should plan to hold their private equity investment for at least 10 years.
  • However, there are non-direct ways to invest in private equity, such as funds of funds, ETFs, and special purposes acquisition companies.

Why Invest in Private Equity?

Institutional investors and wealthy individuals are often attracted to privateequity investments. This includes large university endowments, pension plans, and family offices. Their money becomesfunding for early-stage, high-risk ventures and playsa major role in the economy.

Often, the money will go into new companies believed to have significant growth possibilities in industries such astelecommunications, software, hardware, healthcare, and biotechnology. Privateequity firms try to add value to the companies they buy andmakethem even more profitable. For example, they might bring in a new management team, add complementary companies,aggressively cut costs,or spin off parts of the business that are underperforming.

You probably recognize some of the companies below thatreceived privateequity funding over the years:

  • A&W Restaurants
  • Cisco Systems
  • Intel
  • Network Solutions
  • FedEx

Without privateequity money, these firms might not have grown into household names.

Minimum Investment Requirement

Privateequity investing is not easily accessible for the average investor. Most privateequity firms typically look for investors who are willing to commit as much as $25 million. Although some firms have dropped their minimums to $250,000, this is still out of reach for most people.

Fund of Funds

A fund of funds holds the shares of many private partnerships that invest in private equities. It provides a way for firms to increase cost-effectiveness and reduce their minimum investment requirement. This can also mean greater diversification since a fund of funds might invest in hundreds of companies representing many different phases of venture capital and industry sectors. In addition, because of its size and diversification, a fund of funds has the potential to offer less risk than you might experience with an individual privateequity investment.

Mutual funds have restrictions in terms of buying private equity directly due to the SEC's rules regardingilliquidsecurities holdings. The SEC guidelines for mutual funds allow up to 15% allocation to illiquid securities. Also, mutual funds typically have their own rulesrestricting investment in illiquid equity and debt securities. For this reason, mutual funds that invest in private equity are typically the fund of funds type.

The disadvantage is there is an additional layer of fees paid to the fund or funds manager. Minimum investments can be in the $100,000 to $250,000 range, and the manager may not let you participate unless you have a net worth between $1.5 million to $5 million.

PrivateEquity ETF

You can purchase shares of an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks an index of publicly traded companiesinvesting in private equities. Since you are buying individual shares over the stock exchange, you don't have to worry about minimum investment requirements.

However, like a fund of funds, an ETF will add an extra layer of management expenses you might not encounter with a direct, privateequity investment. Also, depending on your brokerage, each time you buy or sell shares, you might have to pay a brokerage fee.

SpecialPurpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs)

You can also invest in publicly traded shell companies that make private-equity investments in undervalued private companies, but they can be risky.The problem is that the SPACmight only invest in one company, which won't provide much diversification. They may also be under pressure to meet an investment deadline, as outlined in their IPO statement. This could make them take on an investment without doing theirdue diligence.

A recent development in private equity is the use of crowdfunding to raise capital, especially for new ventures, from individual investors, each contributing a relatively small amount. Today, there are several platforms offering a range of investment opportunities—but note that these investments can be highly risky. Also. be sure that if you participate in equity crowdfunding, make sure you do so as an investor, and not as a donor (as in the case of Kickstarter-like crowdfunding platforms.).

The Bottom Line

There are several key risks in any private equity investing. As mentioned earlier, the fees of private-equity investments that cater to smaller investors can be higher than you would normally expect with conventional investments, such as mutual funds. This could reduce returns. Additionally, the moreprivateequity investing opens up to more people, the harder it could become for privateequity firms to locate excellent investment opportunities.

Plus, some of the privateequity investment vehiclesthathave lower minimum investment requirements do not have long histories for you to compare to other investments. You should also be prepared to commit your money for at least ten years; otherwise, you may lose out as companies emerge from the acquisition phase, become profitable, and are eventually sold.

Companies that specialize in certain industriescan carry additional risks. For instance, many firms invest only in hightechnology companies. Their risks can include:

  • Technology risk:Will the technology work?
  • Market risk:Will a new market develop for this technology?
  • Company risk:Can management develop a successful strategy?

Despite its drawbacks, if you are willing to take a little more risk with 2% to 5% of your investment portfolio, the potential payoff of investing in private equity could be big.

How to Invest in Private Equity (2024)

FAQs

How to Invest in Private Equity? ›

You can purchase shares of an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks an index of publicly traded companies investing in private equities. Since you are buying individual shares over the stock exchange, you don't have to worry about minimum investment requirements.

How do people invest in private equity? ›

You can purchase shares of an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks an index of publicly traded companies investing in private equities. Since you are buying individual shares over the stock exchange, you don't have to worry about minimum investment requirements.

Can a person invest in private equity? ›

Who can invest? A private equity fund is typically open only to accredited investors and qualified clients. Accredited investors and qualified clients include institutional investors, such as insurance companies, university endowments and pension funds, and high income and net worth individuals.

How rich to invest in private equity? ›

In addition to meeting the minimum investment requirements of private equity funds, you'll also need to be an accredited investor, meaning your net worth — alone or combined with a spouse — is over $1 million or your annual income was higher than $200,000 in each of the last two years.

How do I get started in private equity? ›

Private equity firms usually look for entry-level associates with at least two years of experience within the banking industry. Investment bankers usually follow the PE firm career path as their next job and typically have a bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, and other related fields.

Is it risky to invest in private equity? ›

Risk of loss: Private equity investments involve a high degree of risk and may result in partial or total loss of capital.

How much does private equity return compared to the S&P 500? ›

2 Furthermore, the S&P 500 slightly edged out private equity, with performance of 13.99% per year compared to 13.77% for private equity in the 10 years ending on June 30, 2020.

Is Berkshire Hathaway a private equity? ›

Berkshire Partners is an American private equity firm based in Boston. It has invested in over 100 middle market companies since 1986 through nine investment funds with aggregate capital commitments of more than $16 billion.

What are typical private equity returns? ›

This is why many investors expect the return for private equity to be higher than that for venture capital. However, this is not a rule that holds true for all 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.

Does Fidelity have private equity funds? ›

Investors can make direct investments in a private company or invest in a private equity fund.

What is the 8 20 rule private equity? ›

The 20% performance fee is the biggest source of income for hedge funds. The performance fee is only charged when the fund's profits exceed a prior agreed-upon level. A common threshold level used is 8%. That means that the hedge fund only charges the 20% performance fee if profits for the year surpass the 8% level.

What is the 2 20 rule private equity? ›

At its most basic, the two and twenty is basically the standard fee structure for venture capital firms to charge their investors. The 2% is the annual fee that the fund charges investors to manage the fund. And the 20% is the percentage of the upside that the fund managers take.

How many billionaires are in private equity? ›

Amid a booming year for the industry, the 22 private equity tycoons on The Forbes 400 are now worth more than $150 billion combined. I t is shaping up to be a stellar 2021 for private equity, with the industry on pace for a record-breaking year.

How much does a PE partner make? ›

At the low end, such as at a brand-new fund with a few hundred million under management, a Partner might earn in the $500K to $1 million range for base salary + year-end bonus. As fund sizes approach several billion under management, Partners move closer to an average of $1-2 million in base salary + bonus.

Is private equity high paying? ›

Private Equity Associate Compensation: Base Salary + Bonus

For the vast majority of private equity associates, the base salary is around $135k-$155k. Then, based on fund performance, bonuses tend to range from 100% to 150% of the base salary.

Do you need an MBA for private equity? ›

Although most large private equity firms look exclusively for job candidates with an MBA, you can still get into a smaller firm without one. Smaller firms prefer candidates with an MBA, but it's not always a requirement.

Does private equity outperform S&P 500? ›

In years in which the S&P 500 gained more than 15 percent, PE funds only generated an average excess return of 0.7 percent. But in years in which the S&P 500 lost more than 5 percent, PE funds beat their public market counterparts by 7.5 percent.

When should you invest in private equity? ›

If you have significant available capital, access to potential deals, knowledge of the due diligence necessary for effective private equity investing, and a willingness to take some risks, private equity investing could be a perfect addition to your portfolio.

Why do people go into private equity? ›

Investors seek out private equity (PE) funds to earn returns that are better than what can be achieved in public equity markets. But there may be a few things you don't understand about the industry. Read on to find out more about private equity (PE), including how it creates value and some of its key strategies.

What are the disadvantages of private equity funds? ›

One of the main disadvantages of private equity is the lack of liquidity. Unlike publicly traded stocks and bonds, private equity investments are not easily converted to cash. This can make it difficult for investors to exit their position if they need to do so.

Does private equity pay more than hedge funds? ›

Hedge fund compensation is more variable than private equity salaries + bonuses, but at the junior levels, you'll most likely earn a bit more in private equity. At the top levels, a star hedge fund PM who has a great year could easily earn more than an MD in private equity – depending on the fund size and structure.

What is the difference between private equity and venture capital? ›

Private equity (PE) is capital invested in a company that is not publicly listed or traded. Venture capital (VC) is funding provided to startups or other young businesses that show strong potential for long-term growth.

What does Warren Buffet think of private equity? ›

Warren Buffett is well-known for promoting the clear success of value investing, but one lesser known attitude he holds is his disdain for private equity firms. In this video, Warren and Charlie Munger explain why they dislike private equity and so-called "alternative investments".

Who is bigger Vanguard or BlackRock? ›

About Vanguard

As of 2022, Vanguard has more than $8 trillion in assets under management (AUM), second only to BlackRock, Inc ($9.5 trillion AUM). 4 Headquartered in Pennsylvania, Vanguard is the largest mutual funds issuer in the world and the second-largest issuer of exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Who is Berkshire Hathaway's biggest competitor? ›

Berkshire Hathaway vs competitors
CompanyFounding DateRevenue
Lincoln Financial Group1905$16.4B
Realty Executives1965$6.5B
R Re/Max Services-$3.9M
EXIT Realty Partners-$1.0M
12 more rows

What is the outlook for private equity in 2023? ›

Private Equity Will Sail in Stormy Seas in 2023

Weak economic activity, difficult political environments, and tight credit markets will pressure current valuations and slow investment and realization activity. While public equities quickly reflected these concerns in 2022, private markets reacted more slowly.

What is the rule of 72 private equity? ›

The Rule of 72 is a simple way to determine how long an investment will take to double given a fixed annual rate of interest. By dividing 72 by the annual rate of return, investors obtain a rough estimate of how many years it will take for the initial investment to duplicate itself.

How long does a private equity fund last? ›

This period also generally lasts 4-6 years. The fund will exit investments and distribute profits among the investors (and carryholders). Sometimes there are follow on investments during this period. At the end of the life of a fund, remaining investments are liquidated.

Does Vanguard offer a private equity fund? ›

Each of Vanguard's private equity funds is slated to take 14- to 17 years to complete its investment journey.

Is Vanguard a private equity fund? ›

Vanguard HarbourVest 2021 Private Equity Fund General Information. Vanguard Private Equity Fund II is a diversified private equity fund managed by The Vanguard Group and HarbourVest Partners. The fund is located in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

What is private equity at Vanguard? ›

Vanguard's private equity strategy builds upon the firm's legacy of active investment management leadership. Global scale, a low-cost philosophy, rigorous oversight, and adherence to time-tested investment principles drive the firm's decision-making to ensure the consistency and stability of its active lineup.

What are the 4 P's of private equity? ›

According to Tipple, “Disappointment with investment manager selection can be reduced by considering the tangible '4 P's' (people, process/philosophy, portfolios, and performance) and the intangible '4 P's' (passion, perspective, purpose, and progress).” Due diligence of strategic partner risks is essential.

What is the 80 30 20 Rule? ›

Key Takeaways. With the 80/20 rule of thumb for budgeting, you put 20% of your take-home pay into savings. The remaining 80% is for spending. It's a simplified version of the 50/30/20 rule of thumb, which allocates 50% of your take-home pay to needs, 30% to wants, and 20% to saving.

What is the 80 Rule in trading? ›

' it simply means that 80% of your portfolio's gains come from 20% of your investments. Here's how this rule plays out in the world of finance and the US stock market.

Do you have to be rich to invest in private equity? ›

Therefore, accredited investors must have a net worth of at least $1 million and an income of $200,000 or more ($300,000 for married couples) over the past two years. These investors have to have more investing experience and therefore are up to doing their research and making decisions about private firms.

What is the minimum fund size for private equity? ›

Firms generally require a minimum investment of $200,000 or more, which means private equity is geared toward institutional investors or those who have a lot of money at their disposal. If that happens to be you and you're able to make that initial minimum requirement, you've cleared the first hurdle.

What percentage does private equity take? ›

Calculated as a percentage of the profits from investing, typically around 20%. These fees are intended to incentivize greater returns and are paid out to employees to reward their success.

Is Rothschild a private equity? ›

Our Corporate Private Equity business focuses on investing in lower-middle market companies in Western Europe through Five Arrows Principal Investments (FAPI) and in the US through Five Arrows Capital Partners (FACP).

Who is the richest private equity manager? ›

Here are the 20 richest hedge fund managers on Forbes' 2023 World's Billionaires list:
  • #1. Ken Griffin. Net worth: $35 billion. ...
  • #2. Jim Simons. Net worth: $28.1 billion. ...
  • #3. Ray Dalio. Net worth: $19.1 billion. ...
  • #4. David Tepper. Net worth: $18.5 billion. ...
  • #5. Steve Cohen. ...
  • #6. Carl Icahn. ...
  • #7. Michael Platt. ...
  • #8. Israel Englander.
Apr 4, 2023

How do PE investors get paid? ›

Even though private equity firms generally invest little of their own money into acquisitions, they typically receive both a small percentage of a company's total assets (usually 2%) as a management fee and a 20% cut of resulting profit from a sale of the company, all of which the U.S. government taxes at a significant ...

What is the average age of a PE partner? ›

The Private Equity Career Path
Position TitleTypical Age RangeTime for Promotion to Next Level
Senior Associate26-322-3 years
Vice President (VP)30-353-4 years
Director or Principal33-393-4 years
Managing Director (MD) or Partner36+N/A
2 more rows

How many hours do PE partners work? ›

Private Equity Associate Lifestyle and Hours

At many smaller funds and middle-market funds, you can expect to work 60-70 hours per week, mostly on weekdays, with occasional weekend work when deals heat up.

What degree is best for private equity? ›

Candidates should have an bachelor's degree in an analytical major like finance, accounting, statistics, mathematics, or economics.

How long are the hours in private equity? ›

Investors need to know they can rely on what you say and the analysis you're producing. The average during a busy time for associates and analysts is usually around ~60-70 hours per week. But it's all dependent on how many deals and investments are on the go. The above hours will vary based on if there's a live deal.

Why is private equity so hard to get into? ›

Landing a career in private equity is very difficult because there are few jobs on the market in this profession and so it can be very competitive. Coming into private equity with no experience is impossible, so finding an internship or having previous experience in a related field is highly recommended.

How do I get into private equity with no experience? ›

If you can't score an internship or a first job in private equity, try a related field like venture capital, investment banking, or asset management. These firms also have little interest in hiring inexperienced business school graduates, no matter how bright. Once again, this is a function of supply and demand.

Is private equity a prestigious career? ›

A career in private equity is one of the most desired professional pathways for a number of reasons – it can be extremely lucrative, it's intellectually rewarding, and in general provides a better work/life balance than other highly competitive areas in finance such as investment banking.

Do you have to be a qualified purchaser to invest in private equity? ›

Qualified purchaser vs.

Although qualified purchasers and accredited investors can both invest in private funds and companies, they are not the same. The criteria for qualified purchasers is based on the amount of money held in investments, whereas accredited investors must reach income or net worth thresholds.

Can anyone be a private investor? ›

Private investors are people or firms who possess expertise, knowledge, and an interest in investing. More often than not, they put their money into companies that require capital from them to succeed and get financial returns. They focus less on speculation and more on demonstrated growth and opportunity.

Can you sell your private equity? ›

You can only sell your private company shares if you exercise your stock options and purchase those shares first. Depending on the strike price, though, you may not have enough cash to exercise your options, especially if your company requires you to hold onto stock for a certain period of time before selling.

What is a good return for a private investor? ›

Expectations for return from the stock market

Most investors would view an average annual rate of return of 10% or more as a good ROI for long-term investments in the stock market. However, keep in mind that this is an average.

How do I find private companies to invest in? ›

The easiest way for a beginner to invest in private companies is through a crowdfunding website. These sites vet private businesses and make it easy to buy shares. All you have to do is choose the companies to invest in and provide the money.

How much does it cost to have a private investor? ›

Private market fund managers charge their investors an annual management fee, typically 1%–2%, which goes to support overhead costs, such as investment staff salaries, due diligence expenses, and ongoing portfolio company monitoring. Management fees may be calculated differently depending on the type of structure.

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