Private equity fondovi i hrvatsko iskustvo

Abstract

Private equity funds are important players in the capital market, investing billions of dollars and euros in portfolio companies every year worldwide and in Europe, thus improving their business and development at almost all stages of their life cycle. Although Croatia lags far behind in this respect - both in terms of foreign private equity funds investing in Croatian companies and in terms of developing the private equity industry in Croatia - we believe it is important to analyze private equity funds and their characteristics in order to gain a full understanding of them . Therefore, this paper will try to define private equity funds and private equity and their interconnection, and explain the various forms and types of equity issued in private equity investments. Furthermore, the paper outlines the basic characteristics of private equity funds, which are crucial for understanding the way they operate, the relationship with the portfolio company and investors. Private equity funds have a specific lifespan and term, and bear significant risks (greater than those of the “infamous” hedge funds). They are meant for professional investors whose approach in portfolio companies is “hands on”. The paper also presents the most common structures of private equity funds, which differ significantly from those in Croatia, whose legislative framework unfortunately still places strong legal obstacles for the efficient and effective functioning of private equity funds. Finally, the paper presents the Croatian experience with private equity funds, with a description of the first private equity funds in Croatia and a special reference to economic cooperation funds, as a special feature of the Croatian capital market and private equity industry.