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Waterfall Distribution Model

This document provides an overview of cash flow distributions in Private Equity (PE) fund investments, focusing on the priority of cash flows to Limited Partners (LPs) and the General Partner's (GP) profit sharing. It includes examples of distribution waterfalls, illustrating scenarios of positive and no returns, as well as definitions of key terms related to PE fund structures. The document emphasizes the importance of understanding the distribution provisions in Limited Partnership Agreements (LPAs) and the implications for both LPs and GPs.

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DIPESH JINDAL
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
152 views13 pages

Waterfall Distribution Model

This document provides an overview of cash flow distributions in Private Equity (PE) fund investments, focusing on the priority of cash flows to Limited Partners (LPs) and the General Partner's (GP) profit sharing. It includes examples of distribution waterfalls, illustrating scenarios of positive and no returns, as well as definitions of key terms related to PE fund structures. The document emphasizes the importance of understanding the distribution provisions in Limited Partnership Agreements (LPAs) and the implications for both LPs and GPs.

Uploaded by

DIPESH JINDAL
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Attachment 1, Page 1 of 13

Private Equity Cash Flow


Distribution Examples

August 2015
Private Equity Cash Flow Distribution Examples Attachment 1, Page 2 of 13

Presentation Objective
• This presentation is intended to provide a high level review of the
economic structure of Private Equity (“PE”) fund investments. The
presentation will cover:
– priority payment of cash flows, including the netting of fees and
expenses, to Limited Partners (“LPs”)
– the timing of the General Partner (“GP”) participation in the profit
sharing (“carried interest”) allocation

Note: For the purpose of simplification, this presentation does not illustrate attributes and concepts specific to Private Equity commingled funds
such as: preferred return, sharing or offset of fees charged to portfolio companies, borrowing, clawbacks, or other terms (please refer to the
Glossary of Terms).
Private Equity Cash Flow Distribution Examples Attachment 1, Page 3 of 13

Typical Private Equity Fund Structure

LPs GP
(e.g. CalPERS) (Investment Advisor)

Commingled
Fund

Company Company Company Company


1 2 3 4
Private Equity Cash Flow Distribution Examples Attachment 1, Page 4 of 13

Typical Private Equity Contributions

LPs GP
(e.g. CalPERS) (Investment Advisor)

Commingled
Fund

Equity for Investments


($100.0)

Company Company Company Company


1 2 3 4

• Assumes a $120MM commitment as an LP to a 10 year fund.


• Terms: Average management fee of ~2% per year for the life of the fund and 20% profit share with GP.
• Assumes no preferred return.
Private Equity Cash Flow Distribution Examples Attachment 1, Page 5 of 13

Typical Private Equity Distributions

LPs GP
(e.g. CalPERS) (Investment Advisor)

Commingled
Fund

Realizations
($200.0)

Company Company Company Company


1 2 3 4

• Assumes a $120MM commitment as an LP to a 10 year fund.


• Terms: Average management fee of ~2% per year for the life of the fund and 20% profit share with GP.
• Assumes no preferred return.
Private Equity Cash Flow Distribution Examples Attachment 1, Page 6 of 13

Private Equity Cash Flows

The Distribution Provision in a Limited Partnership Agreement (LPA),

typically referred to as a “Distribution Waterfall,” refers to the priority of

distributions returned to the LPs and the GP.


Private Equity Cash Flow Distribution Examples Attachment 1, Page 7 of 13

Distribution Waterfall Illustration – Positive Return


Investment in Fund = $100 Fund Management Fee: $20MM
Return on Fund = $200 LP Profit Share: 80%
GP Profit Share: 20%

I INVESTMENT ($MM)

Investment Cost $100.0


+ Management Fees $20.0

Total Investment Cost $120.0

II REALIZATION of INVESTMENT ($MM) IV TOTAL CAPITAL RETURNED TO CalPERS ($MM)

Investment Realization Proceeds $200.0 Investment Cost $100.0


Return of Investment Cost to CalPERS $100.0 + ** Management Fee Recapture $20.0
+ ** Management Fee Recapture $20.0 + 80% of Profit Share to CalPERS on Gain of $80 $64.0
Total Investment Cost Returned $120.0 Total Capital Returned to CalPERS $184.0

III NET INVESTMENT GAIN ($MM) V TOTAL GP CASH FLOW ($MM)


Investment Gain (Investment Proceeds -
Investment Cost or $200-$100-$20) $80.0 Fund Investment Management Fee $20.0
20% of Profit Share to GP on Gain of $80 $16.0 + 20% of Profit Share to GP on Gain of $80 $16.0
80% of Profit Share to CalPERS on Gain of $80 $64.0 Total Cash Flow to GP $36.0

** GP earns its 20% profit interest only after CalPERS total cost of the investment has been realized, including all fees. Management fees may be
offset by portfolio company reimbursement to the GP for services provided.
Private Equity Cash Flow Distribution Examples Attachment 1, Page 8 of 13

Distribution Waterfall Illustration – No Return


Investment in Fund = $100 Fund Management Fee: $20MM
Return on Fund = $120 LP Profit Share: 80%
GP Profit Share: 20%

I INVESTMENT ($MM)

Investment Cost $100.0


+ Management Fees $20.0

Total Investment Cost $120.0

II REALIZATION of INVESTMENT ($MM) IV TOTAL CAPITAL RETURNED TO CalPERS ($MM)

Investment Realization Proceeds $120.0 Investment Cost $100.0


Return of Investment Cost to CalPERS $100.0 + ** Management Fee Recapture $20.0
+ ** Management Fee Recapture $20.0 + 80% of Profit Share to CalPERS on Gain of $0 $0.0
Total Investment Cost Returned $120.0 Total Capital Returned to CalPERS $120.0

III NET INVESTMENT GAIN ($MM) V TOTAL GP CASH FLOW ($MM)


Investment Gain (Investment Proceeds -
Investment Cost or $120-$100-$20) $0.0 Fund Investment Management Fee $20.0
20% of Profit Share to GP on Gain of $0 $0.0 + 20% of Profit Share to GP on Gain of $0 $0.0
80% of Profit Share to CalPERS on Gain of $0 $0.0 Total Cash Flow to GP $20.0

** GP earns its 20% profit interest only after CalPERS total cost of the investment has been realized, including all fees. Management fees may be
offset by portfolio company reimbursement to the GP for services provided.
Private Equity Cash Flow Distribution Examples Attachment 1, Page 9 of 13

Distribution Waterfall Illustration – Portfolio of Multiple Funds


I TOTAL CAPITAL RETURNED TO LP ($B)

Investment Cost $10.0


+ ** Management Fee Recapture $2.0
+ 80% of Profit Share to LP on Gain of $8.0 $6.4
$12B Private Equity Total Capital Returned to LP $18.4
Commitment
II TOTAL GP CASH FLOW ($B)

Fund Investment Management Fee $2.0


+ 20% of Profit Share to GP on Gain of $8.0 $1.6
Total Cash Flow to GP $3.6

** GP earns its 20% profit interest only after LP total cost of the investment has been realized, including all fees.
Management fees may be offset by portfolio company reimbursement to the GP for services provided.

In summary, this large LP constructed an $12B private equity portfolio that, overall, achieved a gain of $8B
• LP share of profit = $6.4B
• GP share of profit = $1.6B
Private Equity Cash Flow Distribution Examples Attachment 1, Page 10 of 13

Glossary of Terms
• Carried Interest (“Carry,” or “Profit Share”) – The GP’s share of the profits of the fund’s investments as articulated in the LPA.

• Clawback – GP carried interest received that is required to be returned to LPs due to failure of the Fund to achieve the hurdle rate.

• Commingled (“pooled”) Fund – A common partnership structure, which consists of assets from various accounts that are blended together.

• Contribution (“Drawdown,” or “Paid-in Capital”) – Capital deployed by LPs, to fulfill capital call notices submitted by GPs, to fund new or
follow-on investments, or otherwise pay for fees and expenses of the fund.

• Deal-by-deal (“American”) Waterfall – GP receives carried interest after capital associated with each investment, including fees and
expenses, is returned to LPs, regardless of performance of other investments.

• Distribution Waterfall – Refers to the priority of cash flows returned to investors in a PE fund as articulated in the LPA.

• European Waterfall – GP receives carried interest only after all capital, including fees and expenses, is returned to LPs.

• General Partner (“GP”) – The investment manager responsible for managing the activities of a fund. The GP invests its own money in the
fund alongside the LPs, and earns a return in the form of carried interest if the fund outperforms the hurdle rate.

• Limited Partner (“LP”) –Investors who invest capital into a fund for the GP to manage according to the terms of the LPA.

• Limited Partnership Agreement (“LPA”) – The contract that governs the terms of a fund. The terms define the obligations and
responsibilities (and any potential recourse) for all parties.

• Management Fee – A periodic payment that is paid by LPs to the GP for investment and portfolio management services, typically
investment advisory services as well as administrative services.
• Preferred Return (“Hurdle Rate”) – The minimum return to investors (not guaranteed) before carried interest is permitted, as articulated in
the LPA.
Private Equity Cash Flow Distribution Examples Attachment 1, Page 11 of 13

Appendix: Waterfall Types


Private Equity Cash Flow Distribution Examples Attachment 1, Page 12 of 13

Deal-by-Deal Waterfall
• GP takes carry on each investment
– LP receives all capital contributions (including fees and expenses) associated with the
investment being sold and the preferred return (on realized and written off investments)
before any remaining profit is split between the LPs and the GP.

• Must achieve preferred return (“hurdle rate”) before the GP can distribute the carry
– Preferred return, for example 8% compounded annually, and on all realized capital,
(including permanent write-offs and write-downs) and costs.

• Majority of fees and expenses front-end loaded during the commitment period
– Return of all fees and expenses generally back-end weighted.

• GP-friendly Distribution Waterfall creates clawback risk


– Greater risk of clawback if GP values assets aggressively early in the fund life.
– LPs attempt to mitigate this risk via a clawback provision; however, the clawback
obligation is typically net of taxes.
Private Equity Cash Flow Distribution Examples Attachment 1, Page 13 of 13

European Waterfall
• Returns 100% of called capital (including all fees and expenses) plus a preferred
return, for example 8% compounded annually, before the LPs and GP spilt any
remaining profit.

• Majority of fees and expenses front-end loaded during the commitment period
– Shorter duration to LP reimbursement of all fees and expenses relative to deal-
by-deal waterfall.

• LP-Friendly Distribution Waterfall minimizes clawback risk


– Because the GP cannot distribute any carry until the contributed capital has
been returned, it is unlikely for the distributions to the GP to exceed 20% of
total profits.

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