Robust Proprietary Performance Database of Institutional Quality Funds
Cambridge Associates' proprietary database of institutional quality private investment funds is one of the largest such data repositories in the world. The database currently tracks performance for more than 5,000 institutional quality private partnerships and more than 65,000 portfolio company investments. This comprehensive independent data is used to derive the firm's private investments benchmarks, which are widely considered to be among the standard benchmark statistics for these asset classes. The Cambridge Associates U.S. Venture Capital Index® and the Cambridge Associates Private Equity Index are published in Barron's and are frequently cited in industry publications. Preliminary returns are reported in Barron's Market Laboratory section and quarterly returns are available approximately 12 to 15 weeks following the close of each quarter. These indices represent the majority of institutional quality capital raised since 1981. Cambridge Associates also produces benchmarks for global private equity, venture capital, real estate, natural resources, distressed securities, funds of funds, and secondary funds. For more information on the benchmarks, please review the Introduction to Cambridge Associates Private Equity and Venture Capital Benchmarks.
Private Investments Benchmarks
Many of Cambridge Associates' private investment indices and benchmark statistics are publicly available and released on a quarterly basis. Each quarter, Cambridge Associates' research team writes commentaries about the benchmarks' performance, which are available in conjunction with the benchmark data. We also provide preliminary U.S. index returns on a weekly basis prior to the quarterly data being finalized.
Strategic Partnerships with Industry Organizations
Cambridge Associates has been selected to provide data and to develop and maintain customized industry benchmarks for a number of prominent industry associations, including the National Venture Capital Assocation (NVCA), the Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA), the Indian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (IVCA), the Australian Private Equity & Venture Capital Association, Limited (AVCAL), the New Zealand Venture Capital Association (NZVCA), the African Venture Capital Association (AVCA), the Asia Pacific Real Estate Assocation (APREA), and the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association (EMPEA)
Private Investment Tools and Resources for Our Clients
Cambridge Associates developed the Private Equity Benchmark Calculator to enable investors to calculate internal rates of return (IRRs) and end-to-end returns for a customized universe of private investment assets. With our Benchmark Calculator, users can tailor a benchmark specifically to their private equity program by employing the tool's extensive reporting and filtering capabilities to generate aggregate returns on both a fund and underlying company level. We adhere to a very strict conflict of interest policy to maintain complete independence from money management firms. As a result, we cannot offer the Benchmark Calculator to asset management firms. For more information on Benchmark Calculator or to request a demonstration, please click here.
Private Investment Resources for Managers
Cambridge Associates invites GPs with institutional quality funds to participate in the benchmarks. Participating managers will increase their visibility to us and receive quarterly complimentary copies of our benchmark reports, which contain performance metrics useful for comparative purposes. Information on how to participate in Cambridge Associates benchmarks can be found here.