Find out more about Private Equity

Reasons to invest in Private Equity : A highly attractive asset class

Investing in unlisted companies, continues to benefit from low correlation with other asset classes, making it a valuable source of diversification for investment portfolios.

Returns are generally higher than those of listed equities due to the nature of these investments, which often involve active management strategies, restructuring or growth of investee companies.

In the US, Private Equity has significantly outperformed the S&P 500 over 5, 10 and 20 years. For example, over a 20-year period, the annualised performance of private equity is +9.9%, compared with +5.9% for the S&P 500.

This higher performance is partly explained by access to private companies, often with high growth potential, and operational improvement strategies that are not always available in public markets.

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Source: Endowment and foundation data as reported to Cambridge Associates LLC. Index data are provided by Bloomberg Index Services Limited and MSCI Inc. MSCI data provided “as is” without any express or implied warranties.

Recent Private Equity investment returns outperforming listed markets

According to the latest data from Cambridge Associates for the first half of 2023, Private Equity in the US generated an annualised return of 9.8% over 20 years, outperforming the S&P 500, which returned 7.9% over the same period.

This confirms the historical trend that Private Equity investments outperform over the long term.

In Europe, according to Invest Europe, LBO funds have also delivered strong annualised returns, reaching around 15% per year over several decades, compared with 5-6% for the MSCI Europe (US PE/ VC BENCHMARK COMMENTARY / Private Investment Benchmarks / ENDOWMENTS QUARTERLY).

The opportunity to make a difference

By funding companies that you believe in and allowing them to grow, you are actively involved in turning an idea into reality. As a direct investor, you can get involved in the company’s development if you wish.

Optimal diversification of your assets

Investing in Private Equity means taking majority or minority stakes in unlisted companies.

This allows you to diversify your investments while at the same time investing in the real economy, in direct contact with the companies you support.

The aim is to make significant capital gains over the medium to long term by selling all or part of your holding when the company goes public or is sold.

And because you are one of the first shareholders, you benefit most when you succeed.

Sources: Cambridge Associates LLC, Frank Russell Company, and FTSE International Limited. — *Source: Cambridge Associates LLC, Frank Russell Company, and FTSE International Limited.*

Investments in tangible assets

Private equity is not just a financial or virtual product. It gives you real meaning to your asset allocation. You invest in businesses you believe in.

The world belongs to those who invest early.

INVEST DIRECT preferences

INVEST DIRECT focuses on 3 types of Private Equity investments:

Venture capital, which finances young and often technology-based companies, is the best known. We prefer companies with a proven track record (e.g. having raised several rounds of financing).

Growth capital, which supports companies that want to increase their production capacity, expand their sales force or acquire other companies. In this case, we focus on profitable SMEs.

Leveraged transactions, where a company is sold to a group of individuals (usually the management). We could find long-term investors to provide these managers with additional equity. They would then buy the business together in a leveraged buy-out (LBO).

Risks in Private Equity investment: Loss of capital

Our vetting methods mitigate some of this risk. However, as with the stock market (e.g. Enron in the USA or WireCard in Germany), you may lose all or part of your investment.

Liquidity

These companies are privately owned and are not listed on the stock exchange. As a result, you cannot sell your shares on an organised secondary market. However, we encourage companies to organise liquidity periods. This allows you to offer your shares to other subscribers on a regular basis and in full transparency with the companies.

Valuation

Stock market listings provide a market value for your investment on a daily basis, which is not the case with Private Equity. To overcome this disadvantage, our platform provides you with an independent valuation of your holdings on a quarterly basis. However, this valuation may differ (up or down) from the price received in a liquidity event. In addition, access to our platform is restricted to qualified investors.

Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Advisory board

A committee of experienced individuals and/or representatives of major investors, which provides advisory opinions.

Build-up

Development of a company through external growth.

Business Angel

Someone who puts his or her investment capacity and business experience at the service of the company in which he or she invests.

Buyout

Generic term covering the various types of company takeovers. See BIMBO, LBO, LBU, LMBO, MBI, MBO.

Carried Interest

Profit-sharing compensation paid to fund managers and their employees based on their portfolio’s performance. It generally amounts to 20% of capital gains, payable only once the financial investors have achieved a minimum internal rate of return (hurdle rate).

Closing

The final stage of the investment structuring process, after which the legal documents are signed, the funds are disbursed by the investors and the transaction is completed.

Co-investissement

The simultaneous acquisition of a stake in the same target by several structures, in principle under equivalent price, term and legal conditions.

Data Room

A virtual platform allowing users to share documents securely and acting as a reference for the organisation of the transaction’s due diligence.

Deal flow

Number of deals proposed to an investment team or a platform such as Invest Direct.

Direct investment

Direct purchase of equity in a private company. It allows the investor to have some control over operations and gain privileged access to information. It is usually more profitable than an investment in a fund, but it is also riskier and requires the use of significant human resources.

Discounted Cash Flow

Method of valuing of the company by discounting future cash flows.

Due diligence

Documents enabling an investor to determine the strengths and weaknesses, risks and opportunities of an investment case. They are usually carried out by external experts.

Earn-out

Part of the price paid by the buyer based on future estimated profits of a company. It could be based on EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation), EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) or operating profit projections.

Expansion capital

Equity or quasi-equity investment, generally as a minority investor, intended to finance the development of a company or the purchase of existing shareholders. This aims to support the management in its development strategy with the objective of creating value and liquidity in the medium term.

Follow-on equity

Equity investment to finance the acquisition of the majority of a company. If this operation is carried out through a holding company and financed by bank debt, it is called an LBO.

IRR (Internal Rate of Return)

The actuarial rate of return on an investment where the present value of the positive flows (dividends, interest and proceeds) is equal to the present value of the negative flows (investments).

LBI (Leverage Buy In)

A takeover of a company by an outside person or team using leverage.

LBO (Leverage Buy Out)

Acquisition of a company by its managers associated with equity investors. The financial package includes a greater or lesser proportion of loans, the repayment of which is planned to be exacted from future cash flows.

LBU (Leverage Build Up)

An LBO holding company that acquires companies in the same industry as its original target through the use of debt.

Leverage

A financing technique that consists of paying part of the acquisition price of a company with debt in order to increase the return on the equity invested.

LOI (Letter of Intent)

A document formalising an investor’s investment proposal to the company in which he/she proposes to invest. This offer is not binding on the investor (non-binding offer).

Management fee

A fee paid annually by a fund to the management company, usually between 1.5% and 3% of the amount of funds committed during the fund’s investment period.

MBI (Management Buy-In)

Buying a company with the financial involvement of a new outside management team (LMBI if bank leverage).

MBO (Management Buy-Out)

Buying a company while financially involving the incumbent management team (LMBO if bank leverage).

Mezzanine financing

Financing instruments that rank ahead of equity but whose repayment is subordinated to that of bank, commercial or other debt.

Non-disclosure agreement (NDA)

An agreement signed at the beginning of negotiations between the entrepreneur and/or seller and the investor that defines what information is considered confidential and the obligations of the parties with respect to that information within a given time and place.

OBO (Owner Buy Out)

Acquisition by the company’s owner who partly cashes out while reinvesting in the takeover holding company so as to remain a significant shareholder.

PIPE (Private Investment in Public Equity)

Refers to an investment in a listed company along the practices of Private Equity (forfeiting the immediate liquidity of the stock market, medium-term commitment, privileged access to company information, involvement in strategic decisions).

Secondary transaction

A transaction in which outstanding shares are sold with no new shares issued by the company. It does not bring new financing to the company, as opposed to a primary transaction. It is also referred to as a secondary transaction in the case of the sale of shares in an investment fund by an investor before the end of the life of the fund.

Securitisation

Securitisation is a financial technique that transforms illiquid assets, i.e. assets for which there is no real market, into transferable securities that can be easily traded between financial institutions thanks to an internationally recognised code (ISIN - International Security Identification Number).

Shareholders’ agreement

A document that complements the company’s articles of association, allowing shareholders to organise their relations within the company (exit conditions, protection clauses, etc.). It is confidential, whereas the articles of association are accessible to all.

Stock options

A type of equity right reserved for employees and managers of a company and its subsidiaries.

Success fee

Compensation received by a financial intermediary in the event of the success of the transaction for which it has been mandated.

Syndication

A group formed by several investors to make an investment.

Term sheet

Terms or conditions of an investment (equity stake, governance, etc.)

Turnaround capital

Equity financing of troubled companies. They are poised to return to profitability in the short term.

Venture capital

Equity or quasi-equity investment in young or start-up companies with a high technological content and/or growth potential.