Professor Ludovic Phalippou: The Private-Equity Mystique

Ludovic Phalippou is a specialist in asset management with a focus on investments in private-equity funds. He is a professor of financial economics at Oxford’s Saïd Business School, heads their FAME Group, and has strong links with senior practitioners in the industry. He speaks at practitioner conferences, appears in the media internationally, and is the author of Private Equity Laid Bare.

Here, Professor Phalippou identifies the challenges of measuring PE funds’ performance and suggests ways of addressing those challenges. Noting that the relatively low degree of transparency in PE markets is hard to square with the relatively high management fees charged by the funds, he offers his perspective on a future in which investors will seek a greater degree of control over their investments.

Discussion Points

• Professor Phalippou’s research into problems in measuring private-equity performance and his ideas for better metrics
• His surprising findings from comparing private-equity funds with the S&P 500
• Drivers behind the PE industry’s record-breaking pace of raising funds
• Professor Ludovic’s expectations for evolution in the roles of PE firms and investors in PE funds
• His origin story as a rural French boy fascinated with how to foster economic growth
• His upcoming book about a more sustainable direction for private-equity markets

Fernweh Insights is brought to you by Fernweh Group. The host of this episode, Paolo Baldesi, is a senior vice president at Fernweh. Fernweh Group is an investment company that is adapting an engaged investor and operator model to create alpha − performance superior to market indices − in the industrial and industrial technology sector.

Disclaimer: The views, information, and opinions presented in this podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Fernweh Group LLC or its affiliates. This Podcast should not be considered financial or investment advice. Fernweh does not verify for accuracy any of the information contained in this podcast.

Ludovic Phalippou on LinkedIn

Private Equity Laid Bare (Ludovic Phalippou’s book)