The Case for Twitter: Private Equity et. al or Apple can do

Recent reports on a Twitter (NYSE:TWTR) sale skim through the facts and misinterpret suitors . Why No one should buy Twitter (@Slate). Twitter is a unique media property with loyal users. The user base of Twitter is organic, limited. (very different than the Facebook platform). As far as demographics go, Twitter users … Continue ReadingThe Case for Twitter: Private Equity et. al or Apple can do

Venture Capital valuation methods: the basics

There’s been some talk about Andreessen Horowitz returns lagging other prominent venture capitalists such as Sequoia, Benchmark and Founders Club. In response, Scott Kupor of A16Z published a rebuttal outlining valuation methods used in the industry. Kupor differentiates between the “marks” (quarterly snapshot of realized and unrealized gains ) from … Continue ReadingVenture Capital valuation methods: the basics

Private Equity Funds Returns: The Basics

PE use borrowed funds to buy companies, so typically these investments are riskier than the public markets and are mostly illiquid. Private equity cash flows are typically described by the “J-Curve ”, with investments generally being made in years 1-5 (negative returns) and realizations generally occurring in years 4-11 (positive).… … Continue ReadingPrivate Equity Funds Returns: The Basics