Cogent Partners
Encyclopedia
Cogent Partners is a boutique, private equity
-focused investment bank and advisory firm and was one of the first advisory firms dedicated to transactions in the private equity secondary market
(secondaries
). The firm, which was founded in 2002, provides an array of sell-side
advisory services such as secondary advisory
, portfolio valuation and other research functions. Since inception, Cogent Partners has advised on over 3,000 limited partnership interests representing over $40 billion in private equity secondaries.
Cogent Partners offers various private equity research products, including both fund and portfolio-level performance monitoring as well as due diligence
services for new fund commitments. The firm publishes research bulletins for distribution to institutional investor
s. Cogent also runs an alternative asset management business "CP Cogent Asset Management" which focuses in particular on investing into the timber asset class. Cogent raised and manages the Cambium Global Timberland Limited Fund, listed on the London Stock Exchange
, which is run by Colin McGrady.
The firm has offices in Dallas, New York City
, London
, Shanghai
and Tokyo
and comprises a team of over 40 professionals.
The firm was founded by former investment professionals from the Crossroads Group
. Among its founders were Colin McGrady, Scott Myers, Stephen Sloan, Ian Charles, and Brian Mooney. Crossroads was a private equity
investment manager investing primarily as a fund of funds
. Within the secondary space, Crossroads was noted for its $340 million acquisition of a portfolio of direct investments in large- to mid-cap companies from Electronic Data Systems
(EDS). Since then, the firm has added a variety of professionals from various investment banking
and management consulting
backgrounds.
(FINRA) and is a member of Securities Investor Protection Corporation
(SIPC). COGENT PARTNERS EUROPE, LLP is a broker-dealer authorized and regulated by the U.K. Financial Services Authority
. Additionally, Cogent Partners Europe, LLP is a member of the British Venture Capital Association (BVCA), of the European Venture Capital Association (EVCA) and of the Association Française des Investisseurs en Capital (AFIC).
advisory space, other advisors also include investments banks (Credit Suisse
and UBS), electronic exchanges (NYPPE also a buyer of secondary interests through Allen Capital Partners), as well as established fund placement agents (Campbell Lutyens
, Park Hill Group, Probitas Partners
and Triago
).
Within the Asset management Business, the firm competes with a number of established asset management firms such as Pictet & Cie
and J. P. Morgan
and specialist timber investors such as the Forestland Group and FourWinds Capital Management.
Private equity
Private equity, in finance, is an asset class consisting of equity securities in operating companies that are not publicly traded on a stock exchange....
-focused investment bank and advisory firm and was one of the first advisory firms dedicated to transactions in the private equity secondary market
Private equity secondary market
In finance, the private equity secondary market refers to the buying and selling of pre-existing investor commitments to private equity and other alternative investment funds....
(secondaries
Private equity secondary market
In finance, the private equity secondary market refers to the buying and selling of pre-existing investor commitments to private equity and other alternative investment funds....
). The firm, which was founded in 2002, provides an array of sell-side
Mergers and acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions refers to the aspect of corporate strategy, corporate finance and management dealing with the buying, selling, dividing and combining of different companies and similar entities that can help an enterprise grow rapidly in its sector or location of origin, or a new field or...
advisory services such as secondary advisory
Private equity secondary market
In finance, the private equity secondary market refers to the buying and selling of pre-existing investor commitments to private equity and other alternative investment funds....
, portfolio valuation and other research functions. Since inception, Cogent Partners has advised on over 3,000 limited partnership interests representing over $40 billion in private equity secondaries.
Cogent Partners offers various private equity research products, including both fund and portfolio-level performance monitoring as well as due diligence
Due diligence
"Due diligence" is a term used for a number of concepts involving either an investigation of a business or person prior to signing a contract, or an act with a certain standard of care. It can be a legal obligation, but the term will more commonly apply to voluntary investigations...
services for new fund commitments. The firm publishes research bulletins for distribution to institutional investor
Institutional investor
Institutional investors are organizations which pool large sums of money and invest those sums in securities, real property and other investment assets...
s. Cogent also runs an alternative asset management business "CP Cogent Asset Management" which focuses in particular on investing into the timber asset class. Cogent raised and manages the Cambium Global Timberland Limited Fund, listed on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
, which is run by Colin McGrady.
The firm has offices in Dallas, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
and Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and comprises a team of over 40 professionals.
The firm was founded by former investment professionals from the Crossroads Group
Crossroads Group
The Crossroads Group was a Dallas-based private equity fund of funds firm focusing on venture capital investments. The firm was founded in 1981 and acquired by Lehman Brothers in October 2003...
. Among its founders were Colin McGrady, Scott Myers, Stephen Sloan, Ian Charles, and Brian Mooney. Crossroads was a private equity
Private equity
Private equity, in finance, is an asset class consisting of equity securities in operating companies that are not publicly traded on a stock exchange....
investment manager investing primarily as a fund of funds
Fund of funds
A "fund of funds" is an investment strategy of holding a portfolio of other investment funds rather than investing directly in shares, bonds or other securities. This type of investing is often referred to as multi-manager investment...
. Within the secondary space, Crossroads was noted for its $340 million acquisition of a portfolio of direct investments in large- to mid-cap companies from Electronic Data Systems
Electronic Data Systems
HP Enterprise Services is the global business and technology services division of Hewlett Packard's HP Enterprise Business strategic business unit. It was formed by the combination of HP's legacy services consulting and outsourcing business and the integration of acquired Electronic Data Systems,...
(EDS). Since then, the firm has added a variety of professionals from various investment banking
Investment banking
An investment bank is a financial institution that assists individuals, corporations and governments in raising capital by underwriting and/or acting as the client's agent in the issuance of securities...
and management consulting
Management consulting
Management consulting indicates both the industry and practice of helping organizations improve their performance primarily through the analysis of existing organizational problems and development of plans for improvement....
backgrounds.
Regulations
CP COGENT SECURITIES LP is a broker-dealer licensed by the Financial Industry Regulatory AuthorityFinancial Industry Regulatory Authority
In the United States, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or FINRA, is a private corporation that acts as a self-regulatory organization . FINRA is the successor to the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ...
(FINRA) and is a member of Securities Investor Protection Corporation
Securities Investor Protection Corporation
The Securities Investor Protection Corporation is a federally mandated, non-profit, member-funded, corporation in the United States. It protects investors in certain securities from financial harm if a broker-dealer fails...
(SIPC). COGENT PARTNERS EUROPE, LLP is a broker-dealer authorized and regulated by the U.K. Financial Services Authority
Financial Services Authority
The Financial Services Authority is a quasi-judicial body responsible for the regulation of the financial services industry in the United Kingdom. Its board is appointed by the Treasury and the organisation is structured as a company limited by guarantee and owned by the UK government. Its main...
. Additionally, Cogent Partners Europe, LLP is a member of the British Venture Capital Association (BVCA), of the European Venture Capital Association (EVCA) and of the Association Française des Investisseurs en Capital (AFIC).
Competitors
Within the secondaryPrivate equity secondary market
In finance, the private equity secondary market refers to the buying and selling of pre-existing investor commitments to private equity and other alternative investment funds....
advisory space, other advisors also include investments banks (Credit Suisse
Credit Suisse
The Credit Suisse Group AG is a Swiss multinational financial services company headquartered in Zurich, with more than 250 branches in Switzerland and operations in more than 50 countries.-History:...
and UBS), electronic exchanges (NYPPE also a buyer of secondary interests through Allen Capital Partners), as well as established fund placement agents (Campbell Lutyens
Campbell Lutyens
Campbell Lutyens is an independent private equity advisory firm exclusively focused on primary fundraising and secondary transactions in the private equity and infrastructure markets...
, Park Hill Group, Probitas Partners
Probitas Partners
Probitas Partners is a global investment bank focused on raising capital as a placement agent for private equity fund sponsors as well as providing portfolio management and liquidity solutions, through the private equity secondary market, for investors in private equity. The firm operates through...
and Triago
Triago
Triago is a leading global placement agent, specializing in raising capital for private equity investment firms from a range of institutional investors...
).
Within the Asset management Business, the firm competes with a number of established asset management firms such as Pictet & Cie
Pictet & Cie
-Pictet & Cie, Private Bankers, Geneva, Switzerland:Founded in 1805 in Geneva, Pictet & Cie is today one of Switzerland's largest private banks, and one of the premier independent asset management specialists in Europe...
and J. P. Morgan
J. P. Morgan
John Pierpont Morgan was an American financier, banker and art collector who dominated corporate finance and industrial consolidation during his time. In 1892 Morgan arranged the merger of Edison General Electric and Thomson-Houston Electric Company to form General Electric...
and specialist timber investors such as the Forestland Group and FourWinds Capital Management.
External links
- Cogent Partners (company website)
- Cogent Partners (Business Week Profile)