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April 4, 2008 Glendale, AZ Heather M. Stone Partner; Head of Fund Formation Global Private Equity Investing Conference Structuring Winning Partnership Terms and Conditions
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Structural Overview Partnerships Careful with other entities, particularly if you have non-U.S. activities (LLCs) Multiple layers to accomplish multiple goals Economics Tax efficiency (U.S. and other) Control
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Very Basic Organizational Framework Fund Limited Partnership 2% Contract Management Company, LLC General Partner LP/LLC Class B Non-Manager Partner/Member GP/Manager Advisory Committee Limited Partner Class A Non-Manager Partner/Member Class A Non-Manager Partner/Member 20% Carried1% ($) $ $$
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Fund X Organizational Structure
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What Are Key Terms? Capital commitment of GP Investment limitations Restrictions on the GPs or Manager(s) Management fee Key man provisions Clawbacks (GP, individual GPs/Managers and LPs) Distribution waterfalls No fault remedies, removal of GP Confidentiality/FOIA
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Capital Commitment of the GPs How much is it? Increasing trend How is it paid? Cash or “other”? As a GP or as an LP? Addressing risks and tax efficiency concerns
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Investment Limitations Single company Public securities – how defined? “Foreign” – how defined? Other pooled vehicles Coordinate with preferred investment structures Hostile deals Reinvestment Caps (during and after commitment period) Impact of UBTI/ECI and other restrictions
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Restrictions on the GPs Cross-fund investing Co-investments Conflicts generally New fund restrictions Any new funds? new lines of business Percent of commitments coordinate with reserves, expenses, suspensions and terminations
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Management Fee How much? How calculated? Defaults? After end of investment period Ramp ups and step downs Offsets Capital contributions, deferrals Budgeted fees and budgets generally
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Key Man Provisions Who are key? Individuals? Groups? What is trigger? Active involvement Substantially all of business time Criminal behavior – removal a cure? Cease to be a member Automatic, Advisory Board vote, LP vote, combination? What is remedy? Suspension Termination Impact on fees
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Clawbacks - GP Why necessary? Amount Net of taxes or tax distributions? Carry forward and back? Multi-tiered for preferred return? Timing Liquidation Interim true-ups Several vs. joint and several; caps Escrows, guarantees, holdbacks Not just an LP issue anymore Departures, retention, etc.
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Clawbacks - LP When appropriate? Limits Amount Timing after distribution is made after fund has liquidated
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Distribution Waterfalls Amount of carry – tiers in the marketplace Preferred returns – true or vanishing? When does GP get carry? Commitments vs. contributions vs. other Venture vs. buyout Catch-ups Hurdles Coordinate with escrows, holdbacks, true-ups Allocations of expenses
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No Fault Remedies – Removal of GP Circumstances – geographic differences Triggers – lower trigger for cause? What is remedy? Termination of investment period Termination of fund Removal? Coordinate with Key man provisions Time commitment restrictions, etc.
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Confidentiality; FOIA Where are we today? Longer and more complicated side letters Remedies for breach Geographic differences Start managing disclosure now
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Tips for Effective Fund Raising START EARLY IT TAKES LONGER THAN YOU THINK…
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Tips for Effective Fund Raising Roles and responsibilities Terms Managing LP expectations Companion funds Managing the process Timing Avoid the traps for the unwary
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Roles and Responsibilities Establish the team Assign responsibilities Terms PPM Contacts with LPs Due diligence requests Document comments
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Terms Understand “market” How does it relates to how you operate? Review your positioning relative to market Understand LP’s perspective Determine what really matters
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Managing LP Expectations Plan ahead Establish method for allocations Understand expectations Pre-sell terms
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Friends, Family and Entrepreneur Funds Purpose Expand network of resources Deal flow Due diligence Significant marketing effort to do correctly Involves everyone in the firm Split marketing among GP “sponsors” Administratively time consuming
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Managing the Process Database Current investors Prospects Rank likely prospects Maintain detailed notes of each contact Allocation system Summarize LP comments Respond in a coordinated way Don’t negotiate against yourself
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Timing Set realistic expectations Allow 1-1/2 to 2 months from documents to close Talk to investors before they read the documents Keep promises to a minimum until you have reviewed points with counsel – don’t negotiate against yourself
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Timing THE DAY AFTER CLOSING START PLANNING FOR THE NEXT FUND…
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Traps for the Unwary Not being conservative – timing and performance Not reporting performance consistently Sweeping failures under the rug Not disclosing all relevant information on valuations (assumptions, methodology, etc.) Using performance data from a prior fund Making off-the-cuff predictions Publicity
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THANK YOU! Heather M. Stone Partner Head of Fund Formation Group Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP hstone@eapdlaw.com (617) 951-3331 www.eapdlaw.com
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