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L.4 · ADVANCED · 2 MIN

IRR Math: What PE Firms Actually Target

PE firms target 20–25% gross IRR and 2.0–3.0x MOIC over 3–7 years. IRR is time-weighted, so a 2.0x return in 3 years is vastly better than 2.0x in 7 years. Understanding this math is essential for evaluating PE performance.

Quiz · 5 questions ↓
§ 01
MOIC = Exit Equity / Invested Equity
§ 02
MOIC3-Year IRR5-Year IRR7-Year IRR
2.0x26%15%10%
2.5x36%20%14%
3.0x44%25%17%
§ 03

A 2.0x MOIC in 3 years is a 26% IRR. The same 2.0x in 7 years is only 10% IRR. Time is the PE investor’s enemy — the longer you hold, the harder it is to achieve target returns.

§ 04
Use the calculator to see how hold period affects IRR. A 3.0x MOIC in 5 years is 25% IRR — but in 7 years it drops to 17%. This is why PE firms are eager to exit.
§ 05
A PE fund reports 2.5x MOIC. Is this good performance?
§ 06

When evaluating PE performance, always ask for IRR alongside MOIC. A fund that reports great MOICs but takes 8+ years to achieve them may be underperforming the public markets on a time-adjusted basis.

§ 07
PE fund targets 20% IRR with a 5-year hold. A deal projects 15% IRR on base case. Do they still do the deal?
Five questions · AI feedback

Sit with the ideas.

A PE fund invests $500M of equity in a deal. After 4 years, the fund receives $200M via a dividend recapitalization and then sells the company for $1.1B in equity value at exit. What are the gross MOIC and approximate IRR?

Why:
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