Some LPs still keen on co-investment

In 2016, limited partners participated in no fewer than 76 US private equity transactions, the cumulative value of which hit no less than $33.8 billion, more than any other year in the past decade excepting 2007. Moreover, 2017 is off to a strong start in terms of value at least, with $9.8 billion tallied thus far across a slower-paced 13 deals. The steady upward trend since 2010 is unmistakable if volatile...

Is the PE industry on pace for lower net cash flows?

Since 2012, net cash flows of private equity funds worldwide have been positive, with the last three full years handily exceeding $130 billion apiece. With fund returns through the middle of 2016, however, net cash flows currently stand at $27.0 billion, putting the back half of 2016 under considerable stress to even leave the year at more than $100 billion. This diminishing metric is attributable to a variety of factors, including the slow winding down of the buyout cycle in addition to a sluggish exit market...

Plenty of value yet to be realized in older PE vintages

In the world of private equity, the long-persisting effects of the financial crisis are still evident, particularly when regarding fund returns from certain, most affected vintages. Funds from vintages between 2007 and 2009 inclusive still possess plenty of value yet to be realized, having taken relatively longer to build up total value to paid-in capital multiples given the effects of the crisis. In fact, the sizable disparity between what has been able to be realized thus far between funds of the 2009 vintage...

On a long enough horizon, returns for PE funds of all sizes converge

By and large, the macroeconomic environment remains the most significant factor to bear in mind when assessing long-term private equity fund performance. Given the impact of the financial crisis, it makes sense that no matter the size of the fund in question, at the longest time horizon—10 years—internal rates of return (IRRs) have by and large converged. Following the typical J-curve of fund performance, at that point in the conventional fund lifecycle most assets that end up contributing to the majority of a fund’s return have already been sold...