New private equity trend: using leverage to buy leveraged portfolios.

The market for secondary offerings of private equity investments is currently undergoing two changes:

  1. Whereas previously this space was reserved for discounted purchases of portfolios from investors that had grown tired of poor performance, now these purchases are being made at a premium. The article cites multiple examples where the price paid was at or above face value, with the most extreme purchase coming in at 135% of face value.
  2. Buyers are increasingly using leverage to make these purchases in an effort to boost returns as the sum paid increases. Leveraging a portfolio of leveraged investments increases the risk profile substantially.
overleveraged private equity
Source: Paul J. Davies | "Private Equity: So Hot Even Second-Hand Funds Can Sell at a Premium" | The Wall Street Journal | 06/25/2018 | Visit