Carry as Associate LMM / MM - Please Share

Looking for some benchmarks on Carry allocation as a 2nd Yr associate. New fund in LMM space in Germany - 200-250m fund size. 

Think it will be anywhere between 50-150 bps

Thanks for sharing in advance. 

34 Comments
 

Keep in mind the benchmarks you get here are likely from longer-established funds that can afford to pay higher cash comp. New funds will typically be lighter on cash and higher on carry... similar to how startups are often more aggressive with granting equity. 

The difference between 50 and 150 bps for you will depend heavily on when you joined -- are you the first non-partner hire, or are you employee #14 after they've basically already closed the fund? If you're closer to the former I would argue strongly for >100 bps given the added risk you are taking on + they don't have that many other mouths to feed yet. If closer to the latter, 50-75 seems about right.  

 

Yes that is understood. 1 VP and 2 Associates were highered all at the same time - fund is still in Fundraising. 

Which is why I expect a bit more, because I took an "entrepreneurial" risk. Cash comp is somewhat market in Germany. 

70k fix, 50k Bonus (can go up to 70k when exceeding goals) +15k retention bonus p.a. = 135k (all Euro) - not the best, not the worst. 

 

I switched while ago in Germany from a LMM fund to a MM fund. Received 100bps carry. At LMM (same size as your fund) they offered me 200 - 250 bps, but turned down due to difficult track record. 

I think 50-150 bps is realistic, would push for the higher end. It's a first time fund? Thus track record is not given and therefore the risk is higher. (excl. experience of partners at old shops) 

 

To clarify, is 50-150bps market in terms of a percentage of total profit or of GP profit? Currently negotiating my carry and they are offering 200bps of the GP profit only (so 40bps of total profit)

 

Sounds like you’re confusing a few different topics. 
 

The “total profit” belongs to all investors - GP and LPs. Traditionally split 80/20 between LP/GP after an 8-12% hurdle, but can vary. The fund manager (the firm that employs you) has no claim on the the LP profits, so any carry you get comes out of the GP carry pool, hence pretty much always being quoted as a % of the 20%, not the 100%. 
 

However, “GP Profit” is actually a slightly different concept - it includes the 20% GP carry, but also the [2%] management fees, less operating expenses (your salary, rent, insurance, etc). If management fees > OpEx, the fund manager runs at a slight profit as well, so owning a GP stake is more attractive than just a carry allocation. It’s also hard equity instead of just a profits interest (like carry)

 

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