Pros and Cons of Private Equity Investing | Granite Harbor Advisors (2024)

FAQs

What is the downside of private equity investment? ›

Higher risk: Private equity investments often involve significant risks, including the potential loss of your entire investment, which must be part of the individual investors' consideration process.

Likely the biggest appeal of private equity investing is its potential for high returns. Data from investment firm Cambridge Associates shows private market returns have consistently exceeded those of the public market.

Private equity produced average annual returns of 10.48% over the 20-year period ending on June 30, 2020. Between 2000 and 2020, private equity outperformed the Russell 2000, the S&P 500, and venture capital. When compared over other time frames, however, private equity returns can be less impressive.

Hedge funds and Private equity funds also differ significantly in terms of the level of risk. Both offset their high-risk investments with safer investments, but hedge funds tend to be riskier as they focus on earning high returns on short time frame investments.

Private equity fees are very high

Simply put, the less you pay in fees and charges, the more you keep for yourself, and, generally speaking, the higher your eventual returns will be. The importance of controlling your costs applies just as much to investing in private companies as it does to investing in public ones.

Low correlation to other asset classes: In terms of performance, Private Equity funds are less volatile than listed markets. Diversification: You can diversify away from more traditional asset classes.

There are several ways to branch into private equity investing, including through mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, SPACs, and crowdfunding. However, keep in mind that many private equity opportunities are only offered to qualified investors and may require a sizable minimum commitment as well as a high net worth.

1 Funds that rely on an Accredited Investor standard generally require a minimum net worth of $1 million for an individual (excluding primary residence), and $5 million for an entity. for an individual, and $25 million for an entity.

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.

While the proportion of private equity in a portfolio very much depends on an investor's unique preferences, our findings suggest that up to 20% of an equity allocation is appropriate. Investors tend to include private equity in their portfolios to harvest liquidity premiums and enhance returns.

What is the success rate of private equity investments? ›

The latest data from 2011 to 2021 shows funds with a narrow investment focus or niche delivered an average IRR of 38 percent and a MOIC of 2.3x net of fees. During the same period, broadly diversified funds of all sizes in North America averaged an 18 percent IRR and 1.7x MOIC.

Private equity investments are traditionally long-term investments with typical holding periods ranging between three and five years. Within this defined time period, the fund manager focuses on increasing the value of the portfolio company in order to sell it at a profit and distribute the proceeds to investors.

Liquidity risk: The illiquidity of private equity partnership interests exposes investors to asset liquidity risk associated with selling in the secondary market at a discount on the reported NAV. Market risk: The fluctuation of the market has an impact on the value of the investments held in the portfolio.

BlackRock's private equity team help debunk common myths as it relates to drivers of performance, the use of secondaries as a portfolio management tool and also walk through case examples within primary, secondary, and co-investment examples.

They are often seen as ruthless cost-cutters who gut companies and lay off workers in order to make a quick profit. And while it is true that some private equity firms do engage in these practices, it is important to remember that not all private equity firms are evil.

Downside protection is a common objective for investors and fund managers to avoid losses, and several instruments or methods can be used to achieve this goal. The use of stop-loss orders, options contracts, or other hedging devices may be used to provide downside protection to an investment or portfolio.

Not only do private equity firms have extremely particular job requirements, they also offer relatively few roles. To get into a private equity firm, you not only need the “right” background and education, you also have to be a solid fit with the existing team, and be ready to ace the private equity interviews.