Gradually Improving IPO Market Produces Strengthened Venture Capital Fund Performance

Arlington, VA (PRWEB) February 03, 2014

Venture capital fund performance continued to make gains across most time horizons as of September 30, 2013, according to the Cambridge Associates LLC U.S. Venture Capital Index®, the performance benchmark of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). The quarterly, 1-, 3-, 5-, 10- and 15-year horizons all showed higher returns with no change in the 20-year horizon. The 10-year return inched higher for the 14th consecutive quarter and the 1-year performance indicator nearly doubled from one year ago. Despite these improvements, the 1-, 3-, and 5- year returns were bested by the DJIA, NASDAQ Composite, and S&P 500 as of Q3 2013.

“In the past 10 years, returns overall have been more modest than those of the previous decade but some great companies were created in this period, many of which are expanding their growth by going public or being acquired,” said Bobby Franklin, president and CEO, NVCA. “The industry has been optimistic about seeing an improvement in VC fund performance, and it’s encouraging to see that materialize. Given the better exit environment, the IPO markets generated welcomed returns to limited partners and that should continue through Q4 2013 and we hope in 2014,” Franklin added.

“A healthy IPO market and M&A activity both benefitted biotech and IT companies alike,” said Theresa Sorrentino Hajer, Managing Director, Venture Capital Research at Cambridge Associates. “While there were several success stories involving large companies, the IPO market remains highly selective and volatile. The stronger exit environment has meant good news for LPs in the form of distributions from venture funds.”

Vintage Year Return Ratios
The following chart lists the ratio between the dollars paid into venture capital funds by limited partners (LPs) and the dollars distributed to them by vintage year. For example, the 2002 vintage year funds have distributed cash of 0.67 times the amount of capital paid in by LPs and the residual value is 0.36 times the paid-in capital; the total value multiple is therefore 1.03 times. It is important to note that the residual value is unrealized and will change as companies exit the portfolio, are re-valued, or are written off. The 2003 and 2004 vintage year funds show the most positive ratio of the last decade, with returns at 1.58 and 1.49 times (respectively) the capital contributed by LPs, should those funds realize the value of what remains in the portfolio. More recent vintage years have yet to return significant cash to LPs as most funds do not have the opportunity to begin returning capital until after year five.

Additional Performance Benchmarks
To view the full, comprehensive report, which includes tables on additional time horizons, vintage years, and industry returns, please visit the Cambridge Associates or NVCA websites.

Cambridge Associates derives its U.S. venture capital benchmarks from the financial information contained in its proprietary database of venture capital funds. As of September 30, 2013, the database included 1,439 venture funds formed from 1981 through 2013.

About The National Venture Capital Association
Venture capitalists are committed to funding America’s most innovative entrepreneurs, working closely with them to transform breakthrough ideas into emerging growth companies that drive U.S. job creation and economic growth. As the voice of the U.S. venture capital community, the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) empowers its members and the entrepreneurs they fund by advocating for policies that encourage innovation and reward long-term investment. As the venture community’s preeminent trade association, NVCA serves as the definitive resource for venture capital data and unites nearly 400 members through a full range of professional services. For more information about the NVCA, please visit http://www.nvca.org.

About Cambridge Associates
Founded in 1973, Cambridge Associates is a provider of independent investment advice and research to institutional investors and private clients worldwide. Today the firm serves over 950 global investors and delivers a range of services, including investment consulting, outsourced portfolio solutions, research services and tools (Research Navigatorsm and Benchmark Calculator), and performance monitoring, across asset classes. The firm compiles the performance results for over 5,500 private partnerships and their more than 68,000 portfolio company investments to publish its proprietary private investments benchmarks, of which the Cambridge Associates LLC U.S. Venture Capital Index® and Cambridge Associates LLC U.S. Private Equity Index® are widely considered to be among the standard benchmark statistics for these asset classes. Cambridge Associates has been selected to provide data and to develop and maintain customized industry benchmarks for a number of prominent industry associations, including the Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA), Australian Private Equity & Venture Capital Association Limited (AVCAL); the African Venture Capital Association (AVCA); the Canada Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (CVCA);the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (HKVCA); the Indian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (IVCA); the New Zealand Private Equity & Venture Capital Association Inc. (NZVCA); the Asia Pacific Real Estate Association (APREA); and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). Cambridge also provides data and analysis to the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association (EMPEA). Cambridge Associates has more than 1,100 employees serving its client base globally and maintains offices in Arlington, VA; Boston; Dallas; Menlo Park, CA; London; Singapore; Sydney; and Beijing. Cambridge Associates consists of five global investment consulting affiliates that are all under common ownership and control. For more information about Cambridge Associates, please visit http://www.cambridgeassociates.com.

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