The Rise of the ‘Mega LP’

Direct investors have some private equity firms looking nervously over their shoulders.

Private equity firms are getting worried.

In recent years, major pension funds and sovereign wealth funds have been bypassing them altogether to take direct stakes, transforming from clients to competitors. Private equity managers see this as a trend that is unlikely to slow down, according to a survey by MVision Private Equity Advisers and the London Business School.

“Right now these are like small waves which can turn into a tsunami in the long term.”One-third of the 62 general partners (GPs) surveyed said they had come up against limited partners (LPs) such as large pension funds in auction processes. Nearly half (47%) expect to see more of them in the future.

“Right now these are like small waves which can turn into a tsunami in the long term,” one anonymous GP told the survey.

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Pension funds in Canada have led the way in taking direct stakes in companies, beating competition from traditional players. The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board outbid Apollo and KKR to buy General Electric’s private equity lending business last year, while a consortium of the Alberta Investment Management Company, Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System, and the Kuwait Investment Authority bought London’s City Airport earlier this year.

Meanwhile, the Railways Pension Scheme and the Universities Superannuation Scheme in the UK and the California Public Employees’ Retirement System are all building up internal expertise in private assets.

This increased competition has pushed up valuations, according to 40% of GPs surveyed, while more than 20% were concerned that they would struggle to meet their fundraising targets in future.

“It is vital that GPs understand what is driving the trend of direct LP investment,” MVision’s report said.

The answer is simple, according to the survey: Fees.

Just 4% of GPs thought improved performance was the driver of direct investments, while almost half said the ongoing debate over fees was the cause.

“While investors’ pursuit of reduced fees is not a new phenomenon, it is only recently that the numbers of those venturing out on their own has increased enough to make a significant impact on the investment community,” MVision said. “Looking to the future, GPs will need to examine the way that their fees are communicated and justified to investors, and work harder to demonstrate the value that their expertise brings and the returns they can achieve.”

Those clients that GPs can retain are more likely to negotiate co-investment deals, the survey found, especially as deal sizes rise. More than 80% said larger tickets were a main reason for offering co-investment terms, while 60% said it was demand-driven. Just 16% said they offered the option to access LPs’ skills and expertise.

“We experience a high level of demand for co-investment,” said one respondent. “It’s the easiest meeting to get, teams will listen fast, intermediaries and end LPs are all staffed and more importantly focused on doing this.”

MVision private equity surveySource: MVision, London Business School

Read MVision’s report, “The New Paradigm.”

Related:When Private Equity GPs Play Favorites & Private Equity: Co-investing vs. Commingled

UN Pension Names New Director of Investments

Herman Bril has been named to lead the United Nations pension fund in the wake of controversy over governance reforms.

herman brilThe United Nations (UN) pension fund has appointed a new director of investments a year after it was accused of “massive fraud”.

Herman Bril, formerly managing director and chief financial officer at risk management specialist Cardano, has been hired to help lead the $53.5 billion UN Joint Staff Pension Fund, according to Bril’s LinkedIn page.

A spokesperson for Cardano confirmed Bril’s departure.

Bril first joined Cardano in 2009. He was previously head of treasury at Dutch insurance giant Aegon, and has served as CIO at Dutch asset manager Syntrus Achmea.

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Bril’s appointment at the UN pension follows controversy over policy reforms initiated by CEO Sergio Arvizú last year. According to Arvizú, the reforms—including shifting control over staffing from the UN secretary general to the fund CEO, as well as simplifying the fund’s governance structure—would “improve the financial control environment of the fund.”

However, UN staff and union representatives balked at the proposed changes, with officials accusing Arvizú of fraud and characterizing the proposal as a power-grab. Union staff representative Michelle Rockliffe called the new policy an “attempt to concentrate power in the hands of one man: the CEO.”

Arvizú fired back in a letter to members of the UN pension board and staff pension committees, calling the fraud charges “totally unfounded” and “fabricated to damage the fund.” His policy reforms, he added, were backed by both the pension board and the General Assembly.

A UN Office of Internal Oversight investigation concluded the fraud allegations were unsubstantiated.

Currently, the pension fund’s investments are overseen by Carol Boykin, representative to the UN secretary general.

Related: UN Pension Accused of ‘Massive Fraud’; UN Pension CEO Rebuffs Fraud Allegations; Battle Over UN Pension Reform Rages On

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