Thesis behind crossover investing

Trying to understand what the whole point of crossover investing is. What is unique about what is being offered to LPs and why might it lead to excess returns generated?
 

Know these firms have gotten crushed as of late but seems like that’s from a lack of discipline rather than being an indictment of the strategy as a whole but curious to learn more

4 Comments
 

Crossover investing involves investing across both public and private markets, typically within the same fund. The strategy is designed to offer LPs a unique value proposition by leveraging insights and opportunities from both domains. Here's the thesis behind it:

  1. Access to Growth Across Stages: Crossover funds can invest in private companies during their growth phase and continue to hold them post-IPO. This allows them to capture value from both the private and public market growth trajectories.

  2. Information Edge: By being active in both markets, crossover investors can gain a deeper understanding of industry trends, competitive dynamics, and company-specific insights. This can lead to better investment decisions and potentially excess returns.

  3. Flexibility in Capital Deployment: Crossover funds can allocate capital dynamically between private and public markets based on where they see the best opportunities, offering a more flexible approach compared to traditional funds.

  4. Attractive to LPs: LPs benefit from a diversified exposure to both private and public markets within a single fund, potentially reducing the need to allocate separately to VC/PE and public equity managers.

While the strategy has faced challenges recently, as you mentioned, this is often attributed to poor execution or lack of discipline rather than a fundamental flaw in the approach. For example, overpaying for private investments or failing to adapt to changing market conditions can erode returns. However, when executed well, crossover investing can provide a compelling risk-return profile for LPs.

Sources: Troubled fundraising processes, Differences between Co-invest and Secondaries?, PE professional, what's your process while judging an investment?, Which investing strategy will be most challenged this decade (‘20 through ‘29)?, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/the-only-post-about-active-investing-you-will-ever-need-to-read?customgpt=1

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