Jump to content

High Watermark Normally Calculated Before or After the Performance fee is taken?


wescobrk

Recommended Posts

Hedge fund super basic question, let's say an account goes from $1 million to $2 million and the GP collects 20% of all profits. In this scenario the GP takes $200k so now the LP is left with $1.8 million. Is the high watermark to calculate future performance fees based on the $1.8 million or the $2 million before the fee?

 

I'm sure different funds calculate both ways but do most funds calculate the high watermark before the fee? To put another way, the GP now has to earn a little over 10% just to get into the black to start earning the next fee?

 

Thanks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hedge fund super basic question, let's say an account goes from $1 million to $2 million and the GP collects 20% of all profits. In this scenario the GP takes $200k so now the LP is left with $1.8 million. Is the high watermark to calculate future performance fees based on the $1.8 million or the $2 million before the fee?

 

I'm sure different funds calculate both ways but do most funds calculate the high watermark before the fee? To put another way, the GP now has to earn a little over 10% just to get into the black to start earning the next fee?

 

Thanks.

 

Generally its the former...the LP would be left with $1.8M. 

 

If the GP reinvests their fees, then there would be X number of units issued to the GP at the month-end unit price of Y.  All of the units would be priced at Y at month-end.  In this case, the LP would have $2M in it, but a higher number of total units.

 

If new capital now comes in, it would be brought in at the price of Y. 

 

The fund would now have to achieve above the monthly hurdle on the total number of units before new capital came in, but after the GP reinvestment was made...so the watermark is actually $2M.  If no reinvestment by the GP, but new capital comes in, then the high watermark would be $1.8M. 

 

Cheers!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...