Characteristics of private equity return: evidence from Brazil

Private equity (PE) stands out significantly in the world as one of the main development tools of the capital market in emerging economies and alternative sources of finance for companies. Particularly, the increase in fund value and continuous returns are objects of intense study in Brazil. The paper aims to find determinants to Brazilian private equity returns, regarding three relevant variables funds characteristics and GDP to a macroeconomic view. A sample of 1,112 PE funds registered at the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) was used and analyzed by three main variables: period of establishment, equity size, and exclusivity as possible determinants of funds’ performance using multiple regression model and fourth variable GDP is applied as a descriptive variable. The results indicate that older funds had a return premium of 1.5% monthly over young funds, smaller funds had a return premium of 1.4% over larger funds, and exclusivity does not influence the funds’ performance. Thus, the paper provides a basis for the relevant factors that an investor should verify in Brazil’s private equity fund before allocating the resources.

The Private Equity Market

This chapter defines private equity, describes the origins of the private equity market, and examines the data on the size and growth of the private equity industry. Private equity is risk capital provided outside the public markets. The businesses invested in by private equity range from early stage ventures, usually termed venture capital investments, through businesses requiring growth or development capital to the purchase of an established business in a management buyout or buy-in. Much, but not all, of the investing done in the private equity market is by private equity funds. The objective of a private equity fund is to invest equity or risk capital in a portfolio of private companies which are identified and researched by the private equity fund managers. The chapter then considers what private equity fund managers do. It also provides a brief history of private equity before assessing how big the private equity market is.

The Private Equity Fund

This chapter discusses private equity funds. It looks at the typical fund structures, who invests in private equity, and compares and contrasts alternative investment options. A private equity fund is a form of ‘investment club’ in which the principal investors are institutional investors, such as pension funds, investment funds, endowment funds, insurance companies, banks, sovereign wealth funds, family offices/high net worth individuals and funds of funds, as well as the private equity fund managers themselves. Private equity funds have a limited life, meaning that there is a pre-agreed date on which they will stop making new investments and subsequently be wound up. Typically, a fund invests in new projects for six years and is wound up in ten years. There is a standard extension period of two years in most fund agreements, hence they are generally known as ‘ten plus two’ limited life funds. In the past few years, some longer-term funds have started to be raised by some fund managers. These are typically targeting growth capital. The chapter then differentiates limited partners (external investors) from the general partner (the manager). It also studies the economics of private equity, examines the details of a representative Limited Partners Agreement as well as taxation, and describes the secondary fund market.