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Fund Terms

DPI (Distributions to Paid-In Capital)

Fund Terms

What is DPI (Distributions to Paid-In Capital)?

DPI is a fund performance metric calculated by dividing cumulative distributions received by LPs by the total capital they have paid into the fund. A DPI of 1.0x means LPs have received back their invested capital; values above 1.0x indicate net realized profit. It is considered the most reliable performance measure because it reflects actual cash returned to investors.

Why It Matters

DPI is the gold standard of fund performance metrics because it reflects actual cash returned to LPs, not paper gains. Experienced institutional investors prioritize DPI over IRR or TVPI when evaluating GP track records, especially for mature funds.

Key Takeaways

  • 1

    Measures cumulative cash distributions relative to total capital paid in by LPs.

  • 2

    A DPI of 1.0x means return of capital; above 1.0x indicates realized profit.

  • 3

    Considered the most reliable performance metric as it reflects actual cash returned.

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Fund of Funds (FOF)

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General Partner (GP)

The General Partner is the entity (typically the fund management firm or its affiliate) responsible for managing a private equity or venture capital fund, making investment decisions, and handling day-to-day operations. The GP bears unlimited liability for the fund’s obligations and earns management fees and carried interest in exchange for managing LP capital.

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Limited Partner (LP)

A Limited Partner is an investor in a private equity or venture capital fund who contributes capital but does not participate in the fund’s management or investment decisions. LPs enjoy limited liability (their exposure is capped at their capital commitment) and include pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, insurance companies, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals.

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GP Commitment

GP Commitment is the capital that the General Partner (or its principals) commits to the fund alongside LPs, typically ranging from 1% to 5% of total fund size. This “skin in the game” aligns the GP’s economic interests with those of the LPs and is a standard term evaluated by institutional investors during fund due diligence.

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