The four steps to starting a private equity fund - Intertrust Group (2024)

CLOSE

Featured events

The four steps to starting a private equity fund - Intertrust Group (46)

Events | Virtual

Private Funds Industry Live, Expanding Private Funds in Global Markets

10 Jan 2023

Watch the recording >

The four steps to starting a private equity fund - Intertrust Group (47)

Events | Virtual

Private Funds Industry Live, Demystifying Private Capital Funds

6 Dec 2022

Watch the recording >

The four steps to starting a private equity fund - Intertrust Group (48)

Events | Virtual

State of the Market and Growing your Business – Setting up and Maintaining WFOEs in China

15 Nov 2022

Watch the recording >

Show all events >

CLOSE

Home | Insights | The four steps to starting a private equity fund

26 November 2020

Make an enquiry

There are some important hurdles to overcome when starting a private equity fund – but with the right knowledge and expertise, the opportunities are vast.

Private equity funds have been a successful asset class in recent years, typically outperforming the S&P 500 Index and attracting widespread interest from institutional investors and high-net-worth-individuals (HNWIs).

No one had planned for a global pandemic, and companies in every market need capital to stay afloat. There’s a wealth of opportunities for ambitious private equity firms to complete well-priced deals for ‘Covid-resistant’ businesses, such as logistics firms and tech start-ups, whilst a range of other businesses still have strong prospects as they look to reshape and restructure to increase their resilience.

There’s been a strong resurgence in M&A activity, with private equity firms putting a record amount of dry powder to good use.According to Refinitiv, the combined value of deals over USD5 billion rose to USD456 billion in the three months through to September 2020, making it the busiest third quarter on record. September was the most prolific month, with 73% year-on-year growth reported.

Commentators expect this trend to continue into 2021, so now’s a good time to consider investing in businesses in addition to your stocks and real estate. Raising capital comes with many benefits, not least the long-term mindset of building up an investment company as opposed to hustling to try to get that one big deal.

Before you get started, you need to ask some important questions:

  • How do you build your fund out?
  • How do you make it make sense for small businesses?
  • How do you make sure that your investors are getting the returns they want?
  • How do I build relationships with fund administrators, placement agents, and the other partners that help to unlock success?

Intertrust Group can help you to answer these questions. We’ve been supporting the private equity industry for over 65 years, and currently work with 40 of the top 50 private equity international firms. We offer a tailored service, helping you to accelerate the possible by adapting to changing market conditions and stakeholder demands.

Here are some tips to help you kick off the process of setting up a private equity fund.

1. Define your business strategy

Firstly, you need to create your strategy and differentiate your financial plan from those offered by competitors. This requires significant, in-depth research into a defined market or individual sector. Finding market patterns is extremely important. Most investors are interested in one thing and one thing only: returns. Where are you seeing the highest returns? Make sure that you measure this in years, or even decades.

You need to find the ‘secret sauce’. Learn everything there is to know in your chosen area so that you’re familiar with the history but can also predict future outcomes. In this way, you can position yourself to investors as a source of real expertise and thought leadership.

2. Establish the right investment vehicle

Once you’ve nailed down your winning business plan, you need to establish the fund’s legal structure. In the US and Europe, limited partnerships or limited liability firms are common. As the fund manager, you’ll be a General Partner (GP) and will be responsible for the investments that make up the fund.

The investors you attract will be Limited Partners (LPs), and it’s important you conduct due diligence and AML/KYC checks when onboarding them – something that Intertrust Group can drive with our proprietary technology. LPs are only accountable for losses attributed to their individual investment, while you’ll be responsible for additional losses within the fund and any liabilities to the market.

Liaising with your legal team is key to the fund’s success. Your lawyers will draft the Limited Partnership Agreement (LPA) and help you to understand and meet all regulatory requirements, as well as helping you to navigate complexities such as data protection, disaster recovery, and cybersecurity. We can introduce you to the top fund formation law firms, with whom we have extensive relationships.

3. Set the right fee structure

This determines how much you and your investors make. As a GP, you should determine provisions related to management fees, carried interest, and any hurdle rate for performance.

Typically, we’ve seen that a GP receives 2% of committed capital from investors. So, for every USD10 million the fund raises from investors, the manager will collect USD200,000 in management fees annually. However, it’s worth noting that less experienced or emerging fund managers may receive a smaller management fee to attract new capital.

Carried interest is commonly set at 20% above an expected return level. Should the hurdle rate be 5% for the fund, you and your investors would split returns at a rate of 20/80. It’s crucial to establish compliance, risk, and valuation guidelines for the fund.

4. Raise the capital!

My favourite part. Now you sell the fund! You’ll need appropriate marketing material to raise capital, and first-time fund managers also need to make sure they’ve received a severance letter from previous employers, which gives them the green light to highlight previous experience and track record – remember, a good track record of working on previous funds will boost your ability to raise capital.

Convincing others to invest in your fund can be tough – you need to show the investors your expertise, which goes back to my first point on preparing a solid business strategy. You can also use a placement agent to help you market the fund. We can make the right introductions.

Ultimately, starting a successful private equity fund is a complex undertaking – but working with Intertrust Group, you’ll have an experienced global partner who’s committed to you for the long term.
You can learn more about our serviceshere, and get in touch with one of our experts today.

Related Services

Private / investment funds

More

X

Weekly insights

direct to your inbox

Subscribe to receive the latest news and insights, personalised to your role, location and areas of interest.

The four steps to starting a private equity fund - Intertrust Group (2024)

FAQs

The four steps to starting a private equity fund - Intertrust Group? ›

Initial closing – the first time that investors commit to making their investment in the fund. Final closing – the last investors commit to making their investments. Commitment period – the period over which investors are required to make their commitments, i.e. pay the money over!

What are the stages of private equity funding? ›

Initial closing – the first time that investors commit to making their investment in the fund. Final closing – the last investors commit to making their investments. Commitment period – the period over which investors are required to make their commitments, i.e. pay the money over!

What are the requirements to start a private equity firm? ›

Among the documents you'll have to complete are the Limited Partnership Agreement (LPA), Articles of Association, Offering Memorandum for marketing the fund, Subscription Agreement, Investment Management Agreement, Due Diligence Questionnaire, Compliance and Risk Guidelines, Custody Agreements, Counterparty Risk ...

How do I start a private investment group? ›

  1. Choose the Name for Your Investment Company. ...
  2. Develop Your Investment Company Business Plan. ...
  3. Choose the Legal Structure for Your Investment Company. ...
  4. Secure Startup Funding for Your Investment Company (If Needed) ...
  5. Secure a Location for Your Business. ...
  6. Register Your Investment Company with the IRS. ...
  7. Open a Business Bank Account.

What are the requirements to invest in private equity funds? ›

What is the minimum investment required? The required minimum investment is often $25 million, but can be higher or lower. Some private equity firms have lower minimums of several hundred thousand dollars.

What are the three ways to make money in private equity? ›

Private equity firms have access to multiple streams of revenue, many of those unique only to their industry. There are really only three ways that firms make money: management fees, carried interest and dividend recapitalizations. Let's first take a look at how PE firms capitalize on various fees.

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

These are People, Philosophy, Process, and Performance. When evaluating a wealth manager, these are the key areas to think about. The 4P's can be dissected further, but for the purpose of this introduction, we'll focus on these high-level categories.

What are the 4 main areas within private equity? ›

9 Types of Private Equity
  • Leveraged Buyout (LBO) A leveraged buyout fund strategy combines investment funds with borrowed money. ...
  • Venture Capital (VC) ...
  • Growth Equity. ...
  • Real Estate Private Equity (REPE) ...
  • Infrastructure. ...
  • Fund of Funds. ...
  • Mezzanine Capital. ...
  • Distressed Private Equity.

What are the 4 stages of equity financing? ›

The 5 Key Stages of Equity Funding
  • Pre-Seed Funding.
  • Seed Funding.
  • Early Stage Investment (Series A & B)
  • Later Stage Investment (Series C, D, and so on)
  • Mezzanine Financing.

How do you set up a fund? ›

Here Are Four Easy Steps To Setting Up A Fund:
  1. Decide When to Give. You can create your fund now, establish it in your will, or create it through a trust arrangement that benefits your family and charity. ...
  2. Decide What to Give. ...
  3. Choose the Name of Your Fund. ...
  4. Choose a Type of Fund.

What is required to start an investment company? ›

Pick a Good Name
  1. Pick a Good Name.
  2. Choose a name for your business that conveys to potential clients that you can help them with their investment and financial planning needs. ...
  3. Write a Business Plan.
  4. Your business plan should include a complete marketing plan. ...
  5. Incorporate Your Business.
  6. Incorporate the investment firm.

What are the three types of private equity funds? ›

There are three key types of private equity strategies: venture capital, growth equity, and buyouts.

Can anyone start an investment group? ›

If you're interested in investing but don't want to go at it alone, you can join an investment club or even start one of your own. An investment club consists of members who study stocks, bonds and other investments.

Can anyone start an investment fund? ›

Due to regulations on who can invest and the unregistered nature of private equity investments, the government says that only institutional investors and accredited investors can provide capital to these funds.

How do I start an investment group LLC? ›

It's Easy to Start an Investment LLC
  1. Gather information on all the owners/members who will want to be part of the LLC.
  2. Search for and choose a unique business name for your investment LLC.
  3. Provide an official address.
  4. Assign a Registered Agent for the LLC.
  5. File Articles of Organization to officially form your LLC.
May 8, 2023

Can anyone be a private equity investor? ›

Traditional private equity funds have very high minimum investment requirements, potentially ranging from a few hundred thousand to several million dollars. As such, most private equity investing is reserved for institutional investors (such as pension funds or private equity firms) or high-net-worth individuals.

What is private equity for beginners? ›

Private equity, in a nutshell, is the investment of equity capital in private companies. In a typical private equity deal, an investor buys a stake in a private company with the hope of ultimately realising an increase in the value of that stake.

How much do private equity fund owners make? ›

In short, if you're at a top mega fund, then you can expect to get paid between $350-$400k per year. These numbers reflect total compensation paid to private equity associates in 2022.

How is private equity structure? ›

Private equity funds are closed-end investment vehicles, which means that there is a limited window to raise funds and once this window has expired no further funds can be raised. These funds are generally formed as either a Limited Partnership (“LP”) or Limited Liability Company (“LLC”).

What are the three most common sources of equity funding? ›

Three common sources of funding include:
  • banks loans.
  • venture capital.
  • crowdfunding.
Nov 2, 2022

What are the three most common forms of equity funding? ›

This doesn't mean you must surrender control of your business, as your investor can take a minority stake. Common equity finance products include angel investment, venture capital and private equity. Read on to learn more about the different types of equity financing.

What are the 4 P's model? ›

The four Ps of marketing is a marketing concept that summarizes the four key factors of any marketing strategy. The four Ps are: product, price, place, and promotion.

Why are the 4 P's important? ›

The 4Ps of marketing is a model for enhancing the components of your "marketing mix" – the way in which you take a new product or service to market. It helps you to define your marketing options in terms of price, product, promotion, and place so that your offering meets a specific customer need or demand.

Which of the 4 P's is most important? ›

The product is the most significant pillar in the marketing strategy. You deliver a particular product to the particular audience at a particular location so that it satisfies their needs and demands.

What are the four categories of real asset funds? ›

Commodities, real estate, equipment, and natural resources are all types of real assets.

What is the life cycle of a private equity fund? ›

Although every deal is different, the life cycle for most private equity (“PE”) investments follows a similar path: (i) invest/acquire (ii) build, manage, enhance; and (iii) exit.

What are the key characteristics of private equity firms? ›

While similar in concept to equity securities in publicly held companies, private equity investments have sufficiently unique form and characteristics to consider them a separate asset class. Primary among these characteristics are high risk, illiquidity, and finite durations.

What is the rule of four equity? ›

Using the ''rule of four"

But a simple rule of thumb is to multiply your useable equity by four to arrive at the answer. For example, four multiplied by $100,000 means your maximum purchase price for an investment property is $400,000.

What are the 4 financing decisions? ›

There are four main financial decisions- Capital Budgeting or Long term Investment decision (Application of funds), Capital Structure or Financing decision (Procurement of funds), Dividend decision (Distribution of funds) and Working Capital Management Decision in order to accomplish goal of the firm viz., to maximize ...

What are the stages of startup funding? ›

8 startup funding stages
  • Pre-seed funding stage. This is the research phase of beginning a startup. ...
  • Seed funding stage. At this point, your idea is an actual business with some customer traction. ...
  • Series A funding. ...
  • Series B funding. ...
  • Series C funding. ...
  • Series D funding and beyond. ...
  • Mezzanine funding and bridge loans. ...
  • IPO.
Mar 10, 2023

How do you raise funds in a group? ›

  1. Offer a convenient text-giving option. ...
  2. Send out a fundraising letter to supporters. ...
  3. Launch a crowdfunding campaign for time-bound projects. ...
  4. Host fundraising events and sell tickets. ...
  5. Try peer-to-peer fundraising to encourage supporters to fundraise. ...
  6. Turn one-time donors into recurring donors. ...
  7. Ask for corporate sponsorships.

Who funds private equity? ›

Private equity funds are generally backed by investments from large institutional investors: pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and very wealthy individuals. Private equity firms manage these funds, using both investors' contributions and borrowed money.

Who regulates private equity firms? ›

The private equity industry in the United States is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission's implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

How much does it cost to start a private equity fund? ›

Each fund is different, and each attorney is different, but you can expect to spend between $50,000 and $300,000 in legal costs to complete your fund, and often more. One way to manage legal costs is to have a comprehensive fundraising strategy before hiring an attorney.

Who owns a private equity fund? ›

Private equity funds are generally backed by investments from large institutional investors: pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and very wealthy individuals. Private equity firms manage these funds, using both investors' contributions and borrowed money.

Can you become a billionaire from private equity? ›

The 22 members on the latest Forbes 400 list who made their fortunes in private equity are now worth a combined $153.7 billion. Leading the list this year is Stephen Schwarzman, chairman and CEO of Blackstone Group, with a net worth of $37.4 billion.

What is the minimum fund size for private equity? ›

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.

What is the minimum revenue for private equity? ›

Some investors can provide private equity on their own, but they must own considerable assets. SEC guidelines require at least $200,000 in annual income and a net worth of $1 million for private equity investors.

What is the typical private equity fund size? ›

Middle Market Private Equity Definition: Middle market private equity firms typically acquire companies for purchase prices between $50 and $500 million and use leverage in deals but tend to focus more on growth and operational improvements.

Who makes the most money in private equity? ›

Private Equity Paydays
NameFirm2021 Compensation and Dividend Earnings
Jonathan GrayBlackstone$321,370,488
Hamilton JamesBlackstone$161,698,945
George RobertsKKR$112,736,561
Henry KravisKKR$108,518,677
3 more rows
Feb 28, 2022

How much do top private equity people make? ›

Private Equity Principal Salary + Bonus: Compensation reports indicate highly variable numbers, but the 25th to 75th percentile is in the $500K to $800K range. Carry becomes even more important at this level and may substantially increase total compensation.

Is Warren Buffett a private equity? ›

Private equity firms have been making headlines for their huge investments and takeovers of companies in recent years. Many investors are turning to these firms to help them grow their businesses or to get a better return on their investment. One of the most successful private equity investors is Warren Buffett.

Is private equity an LP or LLC? ›

The private equity fund is an entity in itself. Private equity funds are usually established as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or a Limited Partnership (LP). The reason the fund is its own entity is the fact that it offers benefits for those involved in these limited partnerships.

Can normal people 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.

Why do people in private equity make so much money? ›

Private equity owners make money by buying companies they believe have value and can be improved. They make money by improving the company, which generates more profits, making them money. They also make money when they eventually sell the improved company for more than they bought it for.

Can you sell your private equity? ›

If you're an individual investor you cannot buy shares of private stock, but you can sell them. In most cases, the easiest option is to sell your shares of stock back to the company that issued them. Otherwise, you can find a broker who will help you find a buyer and conduct this transaction.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Patricia Veum II

Last Updated:

Views: 5907

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Patricia Veum II

Birthday: 1994-12-16

Address: 2064 Little Summit, Goldieton, MS 97651-0862

Phone: +6873952696715

Job: Principal Officer

Hobby: Rafting, Cabaret, Candle making, Jigsaw puzzles, Inline skating, Magic, Graffiti

Introduction: My name is Patricia Veum II, I am a vast, combative, smiling, famous, inexpensive, zealous, sparkling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.