In a nutshell
Private equity and investment firms operate funds that pool the investments of anybody prepared to part with their money for a sustained period of time. Private equity firms use investors' cash (equity) in combination with money raised from banks (debt) to buy companies or other assets with the goal of selling them on at a profit. When the targeted company's assets are used as leverage and a significant amount of bank debt is employed, the transaction is known as a leveraged buyout (LBO).
Venture capital is a subset of private equity that sees investors put money into startup companies or small businesses in the hope they will be sold to a private equity firm or taken public. Although this typically entails high risk for the investor, it has the potential for above-average returns. This high risk is typically offset by investing smaller amounts over a shorter timespan.
Investment management is the professional management of various securities (shares, bonds etc.) and assets in order to meet specified investment goals. Investment management lawyers advise on the structuring, formation, taxation and regulation of all types of investment funds.
A hedge fund is a private, actively managed investment fund. It aims to provide returns to investors by investing in a diverse range of markets and financial products, regardless of whether markets are rising or falling. Using the derivatives market helps hedge funds achieve this.
A mutual fund is a collective investment vehicle that pools money from many investors to purchase securities. The term is most commonly applied to collective investments that are regulated and sold to the general public.
A real estate investment fund/trust is a publicly traded investment vehicle that uses investors' money to invest in properties and mortgages.
Both hedge funds and mutual funds generally operate as open funds. This means that investors may periodically make additions to, or withdrawals from, their stakes in the fund. An investor will generally purchase shares in the fund directly from the fund itself rather than from the existing shareholders. This contrasts with a closed fund, which typically issues all the shares it will issue at the outset, with such shares usually being tradable between investors thereafter.
What lawyers do
- Advise private equity firms on how to structure new funds.
- Help private equity firms negotiate the terms on which investors contribute their money.
- Act for private funds when they buy and sell investments.
- Assist clients throughout the fund-raising process. This includes the preparation of offer materials and partnership agreements, advising on and documenting management and compensation arrangements, and closing fund formation transactions.
- Conduct diligence and negotiate contracts.
- Draft the numerous organisational documents necessary to form an investment fund. The private placement memorandum is key – it's a prospectus detailing the terms of the investment, minimum investor requirements, risk factors, who the investment manager is, and the strategy to be employed by the fund. If the fund is a limited partnership, it will need a limited partnership agreement, and if it's a limited liability company, it will need an operating agreement, as well as an investor subscription agreement.
- Inform and advise clients on the constantly changing regulatory and compliance issues arising under UK and international securities and tax law.
- Provide day-to-day advice with respect to issues such as performance and advertising and brokerage and portfolio trading practices.
Realities of the job
- Small teams mean that trainees can get high levels of responsibility and client exposure rather than being stuck doing more mundane tasks. You can expect to be involved in drafting key documents and reviewing transfer agreements and to play a part in large-scale negotiations that could involve hundreds of parties at the same time.
- Structuring funds requires an intimate familiarity with the relevant securities and investment company rules. Understanding and being able to apply knowledge of key financial legislation is a vital skill.
- Setting up funds also requires a significant amount of tax and general finance industry knowledge. Funds lawyers often work in close collaboration with their tax and finance colleagues.
- Good people skills and a tough attitude are a must. Private equity lawyers work closely with clients to offer advice on a wide range of areas and need to be able to explain the constantly evolving private fund markets to them as well as understanding the time-sensitive nature of fund organisation. Fortunately, clients are entrepreneurial and tend to have a good understanding of the world of business, meaning they can pick up on issues quickly.
Current issues
October 2023
- With 2021 a record year in private equity investment, 2022 was (while down on 2021-levels) up 13% from pre-pandemic levels with £46 billion in investment from mid-market private equity firms according to KPMG. 2023 has so far painted a similar picture, with optimism increasing among investors here in the UK.
- According to the data published by KPMG, business services and telecommunications, media & technology (TMT) accounted for over 60% of mid-market private equity deals in 2022, and continue to play a large part in the space in 2023.
- As a general rule, the sectors that fared best post covid were those that proved the most resilient during the peak of the pandemic. Tech, software and pharma emerged as the frontrunners as the sectors least affected.
- The EU and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have both been making efforts to extend the rules governing banks and investment firms to private equity houses. The FCA has been keen to highlight the benefits of aligning UK policy with that of the European and international norms. PRIIPS regulations (which amplify the standards of protection to insurance-based investment products) came into effect in January 2018 and have since come in for some hefty criticism.
- Private equity continues to engage in renewable resources and transitional energy as opportunities for investment, particularly with the past decade showing less of a return on investment with traditional resources. However, although newer extraction methods still hold lofty headroom on returns, current energy turmoil brought about in part by Russia’s war with Ukraine have underscored the limitations of renewables as sole or primary energy sources. Analysts expect this to be reflected in in PE going forward, with an increased emphasis on traditional and transitional energy investment.