PE Distribution Metrics: DPI, RVPI, and TVPI

pop synthpop, tuareg synthwave · 4:44

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Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Private equity fund's got money flowing in
Investors write their checks, the game begins
Years go by, the fund starts distributing
Cash comes back, but how do we measure wins?
Three magic ratios tell the tale complete
DPI, RVPI, TVPI - numbers we need

[Chorus]
Distributed over Paid-In, that's DPI
Cash you've gotten back divided by what you supplied
Residual Value over Paid-In, RVPI's the key
What's still locked up, unrealized but free
Total Value over Paid-In, TVPI shows all
Add them up together, see the fund's total haul

[Verse 2]
DPI measures realized returns in hand
Dollar fifteen back means profits fifteen grand
Per hundred that you paid into the fund
Real money in your pocket when it's done
But that's just half the picture, don't you see
Unrealized value waits patiently

[Chorus]
Distributed over Paid-In, that's DPI
Cash you've gotten back divided by what you supplied
Residual Value over Paid-In, RVPI's the key
What's still locked up, unrealized but free
Total Value over Paid-In, TVPI shows all
Add them up together, see the fund's total haul

[Bridge]
RVPI holds tomorrow's promise tight
Portfolio companies growing out of sight
Mark-to-market valuations tell us what they're worth
Waiting for the harvest, calculating birth
When RVPI turns to DPI at exit time
That's when paper profits turn to dollar signs

[Verse 3]
TVPI combines both sides of the equation
Distributed plus residual calculation
One point five means fifty cents of gain
For every dollar in the investment game
Track these metrics through the fund's lifecycle
Watch the ratios dance, precise and nice

[Chorus]
Distributed over Paid-In, that's DPI
Cash you've gotten back divided by what you supplied
Residual Value over Paid-In, RVPI's the key
What's still locked up, unrealized but free
Total Value over Paid-In, TVPI shows all
Add them up together, see the fund's total haul

[Outro]
D-P-I for cash returned
R-V-P-I for value earned
T-V-P-I shows the sum
PE metrics, now you've won

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