While Venture Capital often gets more press within tech, Private Equity is one of the major forms of funding and a top exit strategy for many companies. If you’re evaluating a company with PE backing, we’ve compiled some of the fundamental things you need to know. 

The Basics

Private Equity firms provide financial backing to companies, making investments through strategies such as leveraged buyout, venture capital, and growth capital, etc. Some of the characteristics of Private Equity involvement include:

• Investing in startups or established companies. The most common focus is late stage or otherwise mature businesses. 

• Obtaining a majority stake in the business

• Long-term strategy - fewer investments at a time than within venture capital 

Process

PE firms tend to follow a four-step process through a deal and ownership cycle, which most commonly lasts 7-10 years. 

1. Raise pool of capital

   1. Limited Partners: Pension funds, Sovereign wealth funds, Family offices, wealthy individual investors

2. Identify companies to acquire or obtain a substantial minority stake; typically over 50%

3. Assume operational management of the newly acquired company and work to improve profitability, efficiency, and margins by: 

   1. Installing new leadership

   2. Hiring and scaling teams

   3. Improving the technology

   4. Overhauling the tech stack and eliminating tech debt

   5. Cutting waste and trimming budgets 

4. Exit

   1. IPO

   2. Sale to a Strategic Buyer

   3. Recapitalization - Sale / Partial Sale to another PE firm

   4. Merger

How Do They Make Money?

Private Equity firms make their money in two different ways. The first is management fees; they take a percentage of assets under management (AUM), and that percentage is typically around 2%. The second way they make money is through carried interest. They usually take about 20% of the share in profits earned from each fund they manage. 

The Big Names

There are numerous private equity firms, but some of the top firms are: 

• The Blackstone Group

• The Carlyle Group

• Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR)

• TPG Capital

• Warburg Pincus

• Neuberger Berman

• Advent International

• Vista Equity Partners

• Apollo Global Management

• Bain Capital

• Oaktree Capital Management

PE vs. VC:

Venture Capital firms typically like to invest in a large volume of innovative startups hoping that at least one will lead to a successful, profitable exit. This is in contrast to PE, which typically holds many fewer investments, but has a much higher rate of return. 

PE-Backed Companies as Employers

PE-backed companies traditionally have significant involvement from the Operating team of their PE owners. Immediately after acquisition, it’s common for the firm to roll out their standard operating playbook, designed to help the company optimize efficiency and profitability. These playbooks contain the industry’s best strategies to build, manage and scale companies, so learning and mastering these methods can be invaluable learnings. 

These companies are also great places to quickly advance your career if you are a top performer. Do well as a Director of Marketing and your next role may be leading an entire marketing function for another of the firm’s portfolio companies. 

Although many people may feel that PE-backed companies lack the excitement factor of some of their venture-counterparts, they can often be tremendous opportunities to strengthen your skillset and propel your career forward.