Private Equity Pledge Funds: Benefits, Features, Pitfalls, Regulatory Concerns

Specialization is changing the private equity market as industry-focused strategies increase in popularity. In recent years, the alternative asset market has paid increasing attention to fundraising alternatives, including a revival of interest in "pledge fund" structures.

As the fundraising market tightens and investors increase their interest in "direct" investments, fund sponsors have turned to pledge funds. These funds can present an attractive midpoint between the direct investment model and a fully committed blind pool and enable sponsors to have some certainty in funding their deals.

Similarly, investors that have moved away from the blind pool in favor of a more directed strategy can find the pledge model very attractive. Pledge funds allow investors to retain discretion over their investment decisions by opting in or out on a deal-by-deal basis.

Listen as our authoritative panel of practitioners discusses the benefits and pitfalls of private equity pledge funds and how they contrast with blind pool funds or the separately managed account model. The panel discussion will also include regulatory concerns associated with pledge funds.