6. Private Equity Flashcards
Loans made to borrowers who do NOT carry an investment grade credit rating. - considered absolute return prodcut typically meets one or more of the following: 1. borrower’s debt below investment grade rating 2. loan carries greater spread than 125 basis points over LIBOR 3. loan is subordinated to other senior secured loans
Leveraged Loans
Stage THREE - product that has successfully made it through beta testing -product moves to second stage of customer testing with second generation prototypes - other activities include: marketing product and establishing distribution channels - business begins making sales - generally $2million or more investment
Startup Financing Stage_ First or Early Capital Stage
VC capital firm has no track record and is pre- IPO. May firms will fail before IPO, and thus investors demand high returns.
VC Risk Premium_ Business Risk
- senior debt: from banks, finance companies, insurance - mezzanine debt: mezzanine debt funds, institutional investors, investments banks - equity: provided by LBO firms and management.
Financing LBO
Purchase of nonfinancial firms by financial institutions; similar to LBO. -merchant bank always the general partner
Merchant Banking
The VC obtains capital commitments from investors. No funds invested during this period. Typically six months to a year
VC Stage_ Fundraising
Refers to the order in which claims are processed in bankruptcies. 1. Employees, Accounts Payable, Tax Justifications 2. Debt and Bond Holders (with senior secured debt holding priority) 3. Preferred and common shareholders
Absolute Priority
An investor group deals directly with a public firm to acquire a private equity position. Public firms sell unregistered securities to institutional investors. - Securities can’t be sold till registered with SEC - stock often sold at sizable discount to market price - often the case that sold with agreement shares will be registered within 6 months
Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPE)
- Max total mezzanine debt issued by a single firm tends to be around $400 million - Mezz debt structure customized , making them much less liquid than high yield bonds and leveraged loans. - Mezz deb covenants generally allow for max loan-to-EBITA multiple of 4.0 - 4.5, whereas bank and senior loans allow for max 2.0 - 2.5.
Comparison of Mezzanine Debt to Other Financing Types
Stage FOUR -product has penetrated the market -business is either at profitability or break even -most VC prefer to invest here, returns lower but risk lower & more rapid return of capital - period of high growth - generally $5- $25 million investment -serves to get business through cash crunch and period of high growth
Startup Financing Stage_ Second or Late/Expansion Stage
Leveraged buyout when investors are the firm’s current management team.
Management Buyout
The company must meet any specific criteria (e.g., a debt to earnings ratio lower than 4.0) when a specific action is taken, such as issuing new debt. -Can violate criteria, as long as not a result of the action being taken.
Incurrence Covenant
Bankruptcy court freezes all default notices from lenders.
Bankruptcy Process _ Step 2
** no universal definition, but generally meets one or more of the following: -low credit rating, below CCC, Caa - mrk value of debt issue lower than 50% of principal - yield to maturity at least 10% higher than risk free
Terms to Qualify as Distressed Debt
Issued privately to a limited set of investors under an existing registration with the SEC. Typically only sold at a small discount to the public shares.
Registered Common Stock (use in PIPE)
2000-2010 underperformed both private and public equity, as it has a negative return, substantial volatility, negative Sharpe ratio, and highest possible drawdown. Return distribution had slight positive skewness and substantial correlation to equity.
Historical Performance of Venture Capital
Investment strategies the invest in privately traded equity. Typically higher risk, long term strategies that require extensive due diligence.
Private Equity
reduction in the value from a security’s purchased price to it’s current price. Ex: bond bought at 1000, now worth 400, has experienced 60% haircut.
Haircut/Margin
- Active Investors Seeking Control - Active Investors Not Seeking Control - Passive Investors
Distressed Debt_ Investment Strategies
- When other opportunities are limited - In companies they have already invested in to get the firm through IPO
Mezzanine Debt Investors_ Traditional Venture Capital Firms
Three primary differences from publicly trades stocks and bonds: 1. Require activities investors that become controlling shareholders 2. Rely on substantial amount of leverage 3. Not public ally traded despite reliance on traditional investments to acquire financing
Leveraged Buyouts_ Differences from Traditional Investments
Once the senior debt has been repaid to a certain level, this important provisions allows the mezz debt holders to take out (buy) the senior debt, making the mezz investor the most senior level of financing for the firm. If wanted mezz debt can take steps to take over company by converting debt to equity ownership.
Mezz Debt_ Takeout Provisions
- Larger capital pool - Investment restrictions - Pooled resources
Advantages of Club Deals
- Investors actively seek: 1. Blocking position to influence Chapt. 11 2. Equity-for -debt conversion for control of the company 3. Board of director or Chair position - Fulcrum Securities - Active role in restruc and business plan - May infuse additional equity after conversion - Highest risk and longest holding period strategy -expected returns: 20- 25%
DD Investment Strat _ Active Investors Seeking Control