Acceleration of Trends: Trendspotting

Have you ever had a sense that a trend is developing? I have, from time to time. And it’s especially validating when I then see a report with data that confirms that view. (For example: I totally called that the housing market was going to go crazy late in the pandemic, and I just knew that Crocs would come back...) Personally, I am then even more eager to understand what’s driving the trend and why. To me, the best news stories are those that provide real data and thoughtful analysis to support their views. I know, I know. Hamilton Lane is once again spouting off about data and analytics. If those topics aren’t of interest, dear reader, I expect that reading on will be an unsatisfactory use of the next 2 minutes of your life. 

 But for those of you who are sticking with me, consider fundraising in the private markets as one such topic that tends to be light on data, but long on anecdote; it is oft discussed and dissected, with participants and bystanders alike offering guesses and assertions around what’s driving the latest trends. How much money has been raised, by whom, and for what? Quick to offer predictions or even declarative statements around the “next trend” in fundraising.  

And while some are more fleeting, there is at least one fundraising trend that holds up: Fundraising has become increasingly concentrated amongst the largest managers. This is something that you may have sensed or even experienced directly. The chart below shows the amount of capital raised by the top 10 managers in each vintage year. The trendline – backed by fulsome data – is clearly up over the past several years. 

CHart 1. Fundraising by top 10 gps

% of Fundraising by Vintage Year

The forces behind this trend, however, may not be the ones most people expect. The common refrain we hear is that the largest funds are getting larger and taking more market share. Our view is that there is something more significant at play. The data actually shows that the largest GPs have expanded their capital base by raising funds outside of their existing flagship vehicles. As illustrated in the chart below, for the top 10 GPs, more than 50% of total fundraising is now coming from non-flagship funds, which is a dramatic increase.  

Chart 2. Top 10 GPs Non-Flagship Fundraising

% of Fundraising by Vintage Year

In a prior Acceleration of Trends piece, I highlighted accelerating investor interest in infrastructure and growth. Any guesses as to where these largest GPs have expanded their fundraising? Never a group to miss out, the largest GPs have indeed taken notice of investor appetite for infrastructure and for growth. Chart 3 shows that after a focus on adding real estate and credit funds from 2000-2010, infrastructure and growth equity have emerged as priorities in recent years.

CHART 3. TOP 10 GPS NON-FLAGSHIP FUNDRAISING

% of Non-Flagship Funds Raised