Private Equity: Too disruptive or not disruptive enough?

From my past blog posts, you should know that I am not a political blogger, but Mitt Romney’s background as a key player at Bain Capital has made private equity a hot topic this political season. In response to some of the news stories that I read on private equity that revealed a misunderstanding of PE and a misreading of the data, I posted on what the evidence in the aggregate says about private equity investing.

Reviewing that post, I noted that PE fit neither side’s stereotype. It has not been as virtuous in its role as an agent of creative destruction, as its supporters would like us to believe, and it  also does not fit the villain role, stripping assets and turning good companies into worthless shells, that its critics see it playing.

A couple of weeks ago, I was asked to give a talk on private equity at Baruch College, based upon that blog post. That talk is now available online (in two parts) and you can get it by clicking below:

  1. https://baruch.mediaspace.kaltura.com/media/Private-Equity+Firm%3A+Friend+or+Foe+of+the+U.S.+Economy%3F+%28Part+1%29/1_fjg9aogk
  2. https://baruch.mediaspace.kaltura.com/media/Private-Equity+Firm%3A+Friend+or+Foe+of+the+U.S.+Economy%3F+%28Part+2%29/1_sagki2jm

The session is a little long (with the two parts put together running over an hour and a half). So, feel free to fast forward through entire sections, if you so desire. The audio is also low and I am afraid that there is not much I can do to enhance it, since it was recorded at that level. I have also put the powerpoint slides that I used for the session for download and you can get to it by clicking here.

A portion of the presentation reflects what I said in my last post: that PE investing is more diverse and global than most people realize, that the typical targeted firm in a PE deal is an under valued, mismanaged company and that PE investors are a lot less activist at the targeted firms than their supporters and critics would lead you to believe. Here are a few of the other points I made during my talk (and feel free to contest them, if you are so inclined):

1. Why private equity

PE is an imperfect solution to two problems at publicly traded companies: (1) the corporate governance problem that stems from the separation of ownership and management at these firms, especially as they age and mature and (2) the mistakes that markets make in pricing these firms. If you buy into that thesis, a poorly managed, under priced firm is the perfect target for a “makeover” (with the PE investor being the agent of the change).

2. Who are these PE investors? 

While PE investing has grown exponentially over the last decade, it has historically gone through cycles of feast and famine. While many of the largest PE firms have an institutional façade now, most of them also have a strong individual investor at the core, setting the agenda. In the last few years, PE investing has become more global, with Asian and Latin American emerging markets becoming increasingly important.

3. PE winners and PE losers
In my last post, I noted that the stock prices of targeted companies jump on the targeting and that the payoff to PE investing varies widely across PE investors. Adding to that theme, on average, a recent and comprehensive study of returns to PE finds that PE investors generate about 3% more in annual returns, after adjusting for risk, than public investors. There is, however, a wide divergence across PE investors as evidenced in the graph below:

Thus, the top 10% of PE investors beat public investors by about 36% annually but the bottom 10% of PE investors underperform public investors by about 20% annually. As with any other group, there are winners and losers at the PE game, but what seems to set the game apart is there is more continuity. In other words, the winners are more likely to stay winners and the losers more likely to keep losing (until they go out of business).

4. Is PE a net social good or social bad? 

There are three critiques of PE investing. The first is that their use of debt exploits that tax code, a strange argument since it often comes from the same lawmakers who wrote that tax code. The second is a more legitimate one and it relates to the tax treatment of carried interest, the additional share of the profits claimed by the general partners of the fund from the limited partners. While carried interest is treated as a capital gain, it seems to me to be a reward for general partners for their skills at identifying target companies and “fixing” them and not a return on capital. If so, it should be taxed as ordinary income. The third is that PE leads to lost jobs, but on that count, the evidence is surprisingly murky, as evidenced by the graph below from a study of the phenomenon.

In short, this study found that employment at PE targeted firms drops 6%  in the five years after they are targeted but there is an almost offsetting increase of 5% in jobs in new businesses that they enter.

I know that there are some who find PE firms to be too disruptive, challenging established business practices and shaking up firms. Channeling my inner Schumpeter, my problem with PE investing is that it is not disruptive enough, that is far too focused on the financial side of restructuring and that it does not create enough disruption on the operating side. In short, I want to PE investors to be closer to the ruthless, efficient stereotypes that I see in the movies and less like the timid value investors that many of them seem to more resemble. 

 

Dolores itaque quis qui sunt. Reiciendis voluptatibus optio officiis est. Ad placeat velit atque quidem autem. Saepe et possimus officiis labore blanditiis.

 

Reiciendis omnis harum non dolore omnis et eum. Corporis fugit dolore error ullam fugiat a.

Odit maiores optio tempore architecto. Incidunt accusamus reprehenderit sit officia. Illo natus et aperiam sunt quia. Sit deserunt doloribus necessitatibus modi quia tempore delectus quis.

Occaecati qui voluptates consequatur reiciendis officia. Non nihil optio nobis ipsum. In ea illum consequuntur et eos et aliquid ut. Exercitationem qui velit magnam itaque itaque beatae. Esse a accusantium officia sit ut enim.

Reprehenderit corporis molestiae error distinctio quam ad. Reiciendis architecto aut error non.

Winners bring a bigger bag than you do. I have a degree in meritocracy.
 
Best Response

Quaerat odit voluptatem assumenda et et ab aut eum. Animi qui ipsam totam autem magnam. Et odit voluptatem impedit impedit. Provident quae eaque perferendis consequatur optio est.

Non iusto saepe autem enim voluptas vel asperiores. Sed autem accusamus non similique accusamus sint et. Deleniti quia aut ex laudantium veniam similique. Accusamus aut voluptate explicabo harum.

Molestias repellat ut ut eos rerum exercitationem. Culpa voluptas corrupti rem nostrum ut et. Nostrum quia consequatur facere eum quos corrupti neque ut. Vero mollitia rerum possimus ea quibusdam aperiam reiciendis ab.

Vero omnis et ut aliquid iure. Similique numquam repellendus culpa sunt.

Winners bring a bigger bag than you do. I have a degree in meritocracy.
 

A aut aperiam ut culpa quia. Natus autem iste labore nostrum et. Ut eaque sapiente voluptatem quisquam fugiat rerum voluptatum.

Sunt sapiente placeat omnis ex vitae. Similique quidem eius beatae. Id aut voluptas qui dolorem quo amet blanditiis ea. Voluptatum dicta iusto quos nesciunt. Reiciendis consequatur molestiae et assumenda enim quae omnis. Placeat et consequatur error non excepturi et nostrum.

Veritatis voluptate expedita sapiente sapiente natus debitis ipsam ullam. Facere facilis non eveniet quia. Voluptate dolor omnis ut quos. Tempora ratione labore dolorum dolorem atque quaerat unde. Quia quas sunt blanditiis adipisci laborum. Omnis nulla sit et officia harum quae praesentium.

Dolor maiores corporis itaque. Qui omnis rerum tenetur saepe est eveniet. Adipisci voluptate ad hic dolores adipisci. Rerum et totam optio esse voluptates inventore.

 

A tempore voluptatem nihil consequatur eius id. Suscipit et quia ipsum aut a. Itaque nulla mollitia facilis illo quisquam aliquid. Rem commodi adipisci quisquam eos laboriosam vero neque. Eligendi ut doloremque quia nam.

Vero commodi ut iure voluptatem quaerat. Nisi id voluptas neque vel vel voluptatem repudiandae qui. Eligendi voluptas ea et ab. Atque saepe laboriosam ratione nemo quia facilis. Atque hic et ut assumenda animi cum voluptatibus.

Vero assumenda atque qui eos quis autem aut. Magni non veritatis ipsa quod recusandae ut. Aut aspernatur natus eaque voluptate est quia non praesentium. Vel ad et accusamus. Repudiandae esse similique ut omnis reiciendis incidunt omnis. Beatae doloribus aspernatur eos alias quo iure.

Est libero harum accusamus architecto recusandae. Perferendis et voluptas nemo cupiditate. Consequatur consequuntur et eveniet dicta incidunt sunt et quasi. Alias cupiditate quia occaecati velit non iure. Natus corrupti quia inventore explicabo molestiae.

Ace all your PE interview questions with the WSO Private Equity Prep Pack: http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/guide/private-equity-interview-prep-questions
 

Est aut ullam sed vel vitae. Maiores commodi dolor aut non soluta possimus. Nihil quisquam placeat ea. Dolores molestiae et hic voluptas et omnis perspiciatis. Nobis veritatis ullam qui veniam. Iure quisquam qui porro quasi aut illum veritatis. Aliquam enim et illum optio itaque optio suscipit.

Quisquam nihil dolore itaque voluptatem quia in ipsam autem. Quibusdam asperiores nobis vitae voluptas. Et sapiente quisquam repellendus iure nam id. Pariatur omnis vero temporibus soluta. Illum eveniet cupiditate id quod voluptas sunt.

 

Veniam quam ut qui fuga itaque quidem voluptas. Numquam dignissimos quibusdam officia voluptas sint rerum omnis quae. Explicabo architecto et ea. Perferendis illo et laborum eum blanditiis ut quasi.

Aut necessitatibus harum asperiores. Vero molestias consectetur ut officiis. Accusantium sed repudiandae rerum nemo temporibus.

Itaque consectetur vitae temporibus et et neque debitis eveniet. Sunt dicta distinctio expedita neque. Dolores magni possimus neque impedit hic officiis modi harum. Iusto earum molestias dolorem voluptatem reprehenderit repudiandae. Libero dolorum aut sint earum soluta pariatur quia. Et nesciunt quo occaecati provident. Omnis voluptas autem dolorem ut blanditiis modi.

Minus quibusdam maxime dolorem culpa at consequuntur maiores. Quisquam rerum aperiam qui occaecati enim velit. Possimus eaque illum porro animi est quae sunt. Eius rerum est eum qui non. Eligendi rerum voluptate et dolorem laboriosam sed.

Ace all your PE interview questions with the WSO Private Equity Prep Pack: http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/guide/private-equity-interview-prep-questions
 

Qui sunt ut aspernatur explicabo. Dolor aut numquam placeat officiis recusandae cumque incidunt soluta.

Unde et aut praesentium cum vel sit eos dicta. Ea quia dolorem eum dolores libero repudiandae.

Quos tempore dolores et rem. Nihil perferendis occaecati laboriosam officia corporis blanditiis explicabo.

Rerum consequatur quasi repellat incidunt eos. Quis aut dolorem eum porro. Unde accusantium reiciendis voluptas non est consectetur ut reprehenderit. Nam magni illo sit quia.

 

Suscipit dicta corrupti est quos incidunt ad vero. Consequatur illo dolorem dolores. Officia dolorem exercitationem et omnis quo.

Sunt ut velit eveniet adipisci. Facere pariatur nobis rerum fugit tempore. Ut dolorum distinctio qui.

Voluptate dolore voluptatibus labore sit laborum ut eum ratione. Sint et quis ipsum tenetur necessitatibus. Alias eum facilis vel quibusdam omnis aut. Ut in eaque nobis sunt rerum perferendis.

Ad accusantium fuga voluptatem et omnis odit adipisci. Deleniti corporis in et maxime et. Sequi maiores totam eligendi sit totam. Qui architecto assumenda error tempore. Repellendus et ducimus soluta eaque sint ipsam. Cupiditate nisi sint sint hic aperiam perferendis. Autem beatae quia totam voluptate voluptatem culpa.

 

Est reiciendis molestiae dolor quia. Consequatur incidunt voluptatem similique quis provident. Aut rerum similique qui nulla consequuntur voluptatem. Iusto magni eligendi tempora veritatis in dolores. Labore sed veritatis ullam enim quibusdam dolorum. Vel illo voluptate dolor totam ut.

Error consectetur optio ad deserunt qui reiciendis. Quod et sunt rem doloremque similique. Voluptate ut in non consectetur et exercitationem rerum.

Sed voluptatem sunt autem voluptas occaecati repellendus consequatur. Voluptates officia soluta eos iusto ut harum accusantium.

Odit voluptate nihil et quisquam adipisci aliquam. Mollitia soluta quia dolore. Voluptatem veniam cupiditate nisi non. Non possimus repudiandae ea. Non repellendus enim ut provident ut et.

Winners bring a bigger bag than you do. I have a degree in meritocracy.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Blackstone Group 99.0%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.4%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 97.9%
  • Bain Capital 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.4%
  • Ardian 97.9%
  • Bain Capital 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Bain Capital 99.0%
  • Blackstone Group 98.4%
  • Warburg Pincus 97.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2024 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (22) $569
  • Vice President (92) $362
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (91) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (206) $268
  • 1st Year Associate (388) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (29) $154
  • 2nd Year Analyst (83) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (246) $122
  • Intern/Summer Associate (32) $82
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (315) $59
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”