What does "private ownership approach to public equities" really mean?
Starting to think through potential opportunities post my PE stint and saw a couple of SMs with the above description come across my inbox.
I look at the 13F filings and looks like they are still piled onto the same tech / semi-conductor cos mega caps that many others are invested in. When you have a $0.9 Bn investment in a $1 trillion company how do you take a private ownership approach?
Is it more through due diligence? What does that look like?
it means "we dont do any work and just ride beta but will take the moral high ground about it"
Spend months on DD, scrutinizing minutiae, talking to management at various levels, conducting primary research. Then buy the same crowded long anyway.
The term "private ownership approach to public equities" generally refers to applying the principles and strategies of private equity investing to public market investments. Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what this approach typically entails:
Active Involvement and Engagement: Unlike traditional public market investors who may passively hold shares, this approach involves engaging with the management of public companies to influence strategy, operations, or governance. The goal is to unlock value in a way similar to how private equity firms work closely with portfolio companies.
Deep Due Diligence: This involves conducting thorough research and analysis, akin to the diligence done in private equity deals. It goes beyond surface-level financial metrics to include operational assessments, competitive positioning, and long-term strategic opportunities.
Concentrated Investments: While traditional public market investors might diversify broadly, a private ownership approach often involves making fewer, more concentrated bets. This allows for a more hands-on role in driving value creation.
Long-Term Horizon: Private equity investors typically have a longer investment horizon compared to public market investors. Applying this mindset to public equities means focusing on long-term value creation rather than short-term market fluctuations.
Operational Improvements: Even with a minority stake, investors may push for operational changes, cost-cutting, or strategic shifts to improve performance, similar to how private equity firms optimize their portfolio companies.
Regarding your observation about investments in mega-cap tech or semiconductor companies, the "private ownership approach" can still apply, but the scale of influence may be limited. In such cases, the focus might be on leveraging relationships, influencing governance through shareholder proposals, or collaborating with other large investors to drive change.
In essence, this approach is about bringing the rigor, focus, and value-creation mindset of private equity to the public markets, even if the level of control is inherently less than in private ownership.
Sources: Is Private Equity a Low-IQ Approach to Finance?, Is Private Equity a Low-IQ Approach to Finance?, Public Perception of Private Equity: A Discussion
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