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General Atlantic Service Company, L.P.
Part 2A of Form ADV
The Brochure
Park Avenue Plaza
55 East 52nd Street, 33rd Floor
New York, NY 10055
www.generalatlantic.com
March 27, 2025
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of General
Atlantic Service Company, L.P. If you have any questions about the contents of this brochure, please
contact us at 212-715-4000. The information in this brochure has not been approved or verified by
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or by any state securities authority.
Additional information about General Atlantic Service Company, L.P. is also available on the SEC’s
website at: www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Item 2. Material Changes
This Brochure, dated March 27, 2025, serves as the annual amendment to General Atlantic Service
Company, L.P.’s (“GASC”) Annual Brochure dated March 28, 2024. This Brochure contains updates
to the prior brochure descriptions of GASC and its applicable affiliates’ compliance policies and
procedures, fee and expense practices, and conflicts of interest.
Item 3. Table of Contents
Item 2. Material Changes ................................................................................................................ 2
Item 3. Table of Contents ................................................................................................................ 2
Item 4. Advisory Business .............................................................................................................. 3
Item 5. Fees and Compensation .................................................................................................... 10
Item 6. Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management ................................................ 24
Item 7. Types of Clients ................................................................................................................ 38
Item 8. Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss ......................................... 39
Item 9. Disciplinary Information ................................................................................................... 98
Item 10. Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations ...................................................... 98
Item 11. Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading
........................................................................................................................................... 99
Item 12. Brokerage Practices....................................................................................................... 107
Item 13. Review of Accounts ...................................................................................................... 108
Item 14. Client Referrals and Other Compensation .................................................................... 109
Item 15. Custody ......................................................................................................................... 110
Item 16. Investment Discretion ................................................................................................... 110
Item 17. Voting Client Securities ................................................................................................ 111
Item 18. Financial Information .................................................................................................... 112
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Item 4. Advisory Business
Background
GASC, a Delaware limited partnership, was formed in 2005 and has approximately $102.9 billion1
of assets under management as of December 31, 2024. All of such assets are managed by GASC
and/or its relying advisers, on a discretionary basis.
GASC is owned by GASC SubCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“GASC SubCo”),
and General Atlantic Partners, L.P. (“GA Partners”), a Delaware limited partnership, as its limited
partners, and by GASC GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“GASC GP”), as its general
partner. GA Partners is principally owned by General Atlantic Management Holdco, L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership, and GA GenPar Holdco (Bermuda), L.P., a Bermuda exempted limited
partnership, as limited partners, and by GASC GP, as its general partner. General Atlantic
Management Holdco, L.P. is owned by GASC GP as its general partner, and certain Managing
Directors, Operating Partners and other professionals of GASC as its limited partners. GA GenPar
Holdco (Bermuda), L.P. is owned by GAP (Bermuda) L.P., a Bermuda exempted limited partnership,
as its general partner, and certain Managing Directors, Operating Partners and other professionals of
GASC as its limited partners. GAP (Bermuda) L.P. is owned by GAP (Bermuda) GP Limited, a
Bermuda exempted company, as its general partner, and certain Managing Directors, Operating
Partners and other professionals of GASC as its limited partners. GAP (Bermuda) GP Limited is
wholly owned by GA Partners. William E. Ford is the only individual that indirectly owns over 25%
of GASC. No individual controls more than 25% of GASC.
GASC’s general partner, GASC GP, is wholly owned by GASC MGP, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (“GASC MGP”). GASC MGP’s Partnership Committee (formerly, the
Management Committee) determines the strategic and major policy decisions of GA, oversees and
1“AUM” refers to the assets managed by GASC and its affiliated relying advisers. AUM is calculated as the sum of: (i)
the aggregate fair value of the investments held by GA’s investment vehicles and (ii) Dry Powder. “Dry Powder” refers
to the aggregate amount of capital GA is entitled to call from Limited Partners as of December 31, 2024, pursuant to the
terms of their respective capital commitments for future investments or management fees and expenses, including the
amount of capital that is committed to be invested by the Sponsor Coinvestors (as defined herein) in our investment
vehicles, and excluding capital not yet called in respect of investments that have been made using our subscription credit
facilities, but have not yet been called from our capital partners. For the GA Core Program, this reflects the amount of
capital that is committed to be invested by the Core Program Sponsor Coinvestors over a calendar year. However, the
actual amount of capital invested by the Sponsor Coinvestors in the Core Program is tied to an annual investment target
that is set at the beginning of each year for the GA Core Program. In the event the actual amount invested by the GA Core
Program in that year exceeds or falls short of the investment target, the actual amount of capital invested by the Sponsor
Coinvestors will be higher or lower than the amount of capital that was originally committed to be invested. AUM includes
the AUM of investments funds and clients advised by Actis LLP (including its affiliates) as of December 31, 2024. AUM
does not include the Personal Investment Vehicles (as defined herein).
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controls GA’s affairs and business, and is the steward of culture for GASC MGP and, indirectly,
GASC GP, GA Partners and GASC. As of March 1, 2025, GASC MGP’s Partnership Committee is
comprised of William E. Ford (Chairman and CEO), Gabriel Caillaux (Co-President, Global Head of
Climate, Head of EMEA), Martín Escobari (Co-President, Head of Global Growth Equity), David
Hodgson (Vice Chairman) and Christopher G. Lanning (Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel).
Following regulatory approval, Torbjorn Caesar (Global Head of Sustainable Infrastructure) will join
GASC MGP’s Partnership Committee. The Partnership Committee has delegated oversight of day-
to-day business activities and certain strategic and balance sheet matters to the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee is comprised of William E. Ford, Martín Escobari, Gabriel Caillaux,
Torbjorn Caesar, Albert T. Smith (Global Head of Credit), Christopher Kojima (Global Head of
Capital Solutions), Edward G. Tompkins (Chief Operating Officer), Michael Gosk (Chief Financial
Officer), Christopher G. Lanning, and Annie Paydar (Global Head of Human Capital). GASC MGP
is owned by certain senior Managing Directors of the firm.
GASC and its relying advisers manage third-party capital for (i) its global growth equity strategy,
which is comprised of the General Atlantic Core Program (the “GA Core Program”), companion
funds to the GA Core Program (“Companion Funds”) and Continuation Vehicles (defined below),
(ii) its credit strategy (“GA Credit”), which is comprised of funds making credit investments and (iii)
its sustainable infrastructure strategy as a result of the Actis Transaction (as defined below). In
addition, GASC manages LP Coinvestment Vehicles (as defined herein) and Sponsor Coinvestment
Funds that participate in investments alongside other GA Clients (as defined below).
On October 1, 2024, certain affiliates of GASC closed a transaction with Actis LLP and certain of its
affiliates (collectively, “Actis”) pursuant to which certain affiliates of GASC acquired Actis (the
“Actis Transaction”). Actis is the sustainable infrastructure arm within GA’s global investment
platform. Please see Actis’ Brochure for information on Actis’ advisory business, its clients (the
“Actis Clients”) and related conflicts including as between GASC and Actis.
Investment management services provided to each GA Client are tailored to such GA Client’s specific
investment strategy, objectives, limitations and restrictions, as set forth in each investment advisory
agreement, commitment agreement, private placement memorandum, limited partnership agreement
and/or constituent document, as applicable (collectively, the “Governing Documents”).
A.
Global Growth Equity Business
GA Core Program
Through the GA Core Program, General Atlantic2 focuses on investments across the growth spectrum
(generally private, but sometimes public), primarily targeting later-stage growth companies, but may
from time to time invest in emerging growth companies, which are earlier stage investments where
GA believes there is a potential for outsized returns, and pre-revenue stage life sciences companies.
The GA Core Program invests in five industry sectors (Technology, Financial Services, Consumer,
Healthcare and Life Sciences, and Climate) and the following geographic regions: United States,
Europe, the Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”), Latin America, India and Southeast Asia, and China.
2 Where appropriate, “General Atlantic” or “GA” refers to GASC or one or more General Partners or GASC and the
General Partners, collectively. As the context requires, “GASC” refers to its applicable relying advisers.
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These industry and geographic sectors may evolve over time to reflect increasing globalization and
other emerging trends.
GASC and General Atlantic, L.P. (“GA LP”) currently raise third party capital for the GA Core
Program by entering into individual commitment agreements (each, a “Commitment Agreement”)
with investors (each, a “Core Program Limited Partner”)3 for the purpose of making investments
in portfolio companies. Pursuant to its Commitment Agreement, each Core Program Limited Partner
(i) commits to make capital contributions to private investment vehicles (the “Core Program
Partnerships”), of which the Core Program Limited Partners are limited partners or members, and
GA LP or one of its affiliates serves as general partner, manager or managing member (or analogous
control person) (a “General Partner”) and (ii) agrees to pay management fees (referred to as service
fees) (“Management Fees”) to GASC for its investment advisory and management services. The
Core Program Partnerships make investments in portfolio companies, directly and indirectly through
affiliated entities.
A Core Program Limited Partner may invest in the Core Program Partnerships through a Five-Year
Commitment, an Evergreen Commitment or a Pooled Managed Account in the following manner:
Individual Managed Accounts.
Five Year Commitments. A Core Program Limited Partner may commit capital to GA
for investments in portfolio companies and other uses pursuant to a Commitment
Agreement with a five-year commitment period (a “Five-Year Commitment”).
Evergreen Commitments. A Core Program Limited Partner that commits $100 million
or more to GA for investments in portfolio companies and other uses may enter into a
Commitment Agreement that does not have a fixed capital commitment or a fixed
commitment period (an “Evergreen Commitment”).
Under an Evergreen
Commitment, a Core Program Limited Partner has a series of notional commitment
periods that continuously renew, subject to the right of such Core Program Limited
Partner to elect under certain circumstances to convert to a commitment with a fixed
capital commitment and fixed commitment period.
Pooled Managed Accounts. An investor may invest in the Core Program Partnerships by
committing capital to a pooled investment vehicle (a “Pooled Managed Account”), of which
such investor is a limited partner and a General Partner is the general partner. In turn, the
Pooled Managed Account enters into a Commitment Agreement with GA LP and GASC. The
Pooled Managed Account is a Core Program Limited Partner. In addition to participating in
a Pooled Managed Account, an investor in a Pooled Managed Account (a “Pooled Account
Investor”) may also be a Core Program Limited Partner with a separate Commitment
Agreement.
3 Unless otherwise indicated, a “Core Program Limited Partner” also means the Pooled Managed Accounts, as
described below.
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GA may enter into Commitment Agreements with investors at any time, including investors making
new commitments, Core Program Limited Partners increasing their commitments, Core Program
Limited Partners renewing their commitments and Core Program Limited Partners who wish to
change their Five-Year Commitments to Evergreen Commitments, or vice versa, or who renew their
Five-Year Commitments through a Pooled Managed Account. An investor may invest through a
Pooled Managed Account only at the time that General Atlantic determines to offer interests in a new
Pooled Managed Account. As noted above, a Pooled Account Investor may also be a Core Program
Limited Partner with a separate Five-Year Commitment or Evergreen Commitment.
Subject to the Governing Documents of the GA Core Program, GA has, and may in the future, enter
into a Commitment Agreement with a strategic investor who is subject to terms that may vary from
the terms applicable to other Core Program Limited Partners (which terms may require Core Program
Limited Partner consent). Such different terms may impact the other Core Program Limited Partners.
To date, GA has entered into one such strategic investor arrangement, which focuses on investment
opportunities in China (as defined in the Commitment Agreements) and results in such strategic
investor receiving an allocation of a predetermined percentage of new investments by the GA Core
Program in China.
GASC provides investment advisory and management services to the Core Program Limited Partners
who enter a Five-Year Commitment and an Evergreen Commitment, as well as the Pooled Managed
Accounts, each of which is a client of GASC.
Companion Funds
The Companion Funds are investment vehicles or accounts (including, without limitation, pooled
investment funds) managed by GASC or its affiliates and established to invest alongside the GA Core
Program in all or a subset of investment opportunities (including follow-on investments) that fall
within the investment focus of the GA Core Program. The terms of the Companion Funds vary from
the terms applicable to the GA Core Program. As of the date of this Brochure, GASC has established
two sets of Companion Funds. Additional Companion Funds may be established at any time, with
the consent of the limited partner advisory committee of the GA Core Program (the “Core LP
Advisory Committee”).
Continuation Vehicles
GASC serves as investment adviser to one or more investment vehicles (including pooled investment
funds or single investor vehicles) managed by GASC or its affiliate and whose principal objective at
the time of establishment is to purchase one or more existing investments of the GA Core Program
from the Core Program Partnerships and Sponsor Coinvestment Funds (“Continuation Vehicles”).
The terms of the Continuation Vehicles vary from the terms applicable to the GA Core Program and
the Companion Vehicles and are set forth in the Governing Documents of the Continuation Vehicles.
As of the date of this Brochure, GASC has established four sets of Continuation Vehicles.
Other Global Growth Equity Advisory Clients
In addition to the GA Clients described above, subject to the terms of the Governing Documents of
the GA Core Program, GASC may also establish, sponsor and manage from time to time: (i) one or
more single investor vehicles or separate accounts managed by GASC or its affiliate and whose
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overall investment mandate is the same or substantially similar to that of the GA Core Program and
whose total investor capital commitment to any one such vehicle or account is equal to at least $500
million (a “Similar Single Account”); and (ii) one or more investment vehicles or accounts
(including, without limitation, pooled investment funds) managed by GASC or its affiliate and whose
principal objective is to invest in a subset of investments which would otherwise be suitable for the
GA Core Program based on the overall investment mandate of the GA Core Program at the time such
vehicle or account is being established (a “New Focused Client”). The Actis funds are deemed to be
New Focused Clients. The terms of any Similar Single Account or New Focused Client are
determined by GASC upon their establishment, subject to the terms of the Governing Documents of
the GA Core Program and, in the case of any New Focused Client, with the prior consent of the Core
LP Advisory Committee.
The Core Program Limited Partners, the Companion Funds, the Continuation Vehicles, Similar Single
Accounts and New Focused Clients, and any LP Coinvestment Vehicles and Sponsor Coinvestment
Funds that are formed to invest alongside any of the foregoing, are collectively referred to herein as
the “Global Growth Equity Clients,” and investors in the Global Growth Equity Clients are
collectively referred to herein as the “Global Growth Equity Limited Partners.”
B.
GA Credit
GASC APF, L.P., a wholly owned subsidiary of GASC (the “GA Credit Adviser”) manages General
Atlantic’s credit strategy. The GA Credit Adviser is a relying adviser of GASC. GASC serves as an
investment adviser to certain pooled investment vehicles (each, individually, a “GA Credit Fund”
and, collectively, the “GA Credit Funds”). The GA Credit Funds have in the past and may in the
future include pooled investment vehicles that invest in a credit strategy primarily focused on making
investments in publicly-traded or broadly-traded debt, bonds and similar credit products (the “Public
Debt Funds”). In addition to existing and future pooled investment vehicles (which may include
funds-of-one), GASC expects in the future to advise one or more separately managed accounts
(collectively with the GA Credit Funds and the Public Debt Funds, the “GA Credit Clients” and each
a “GA Credit Client”). GASC provides discretionary investment management services to each GA
Credit Client pursuant to separate investment advisory agreements. References herein to GASC shall
be deemed to refer to GASC as a relying adviser of GASC.
While the GA Credit Clients generally seek to primarily make debt investments, certain investments
are also expected to be in the form of, or include a component of, common equity, preferred equity
or warrants, and are further described in the Governing Documents. The investors in the GA Credit
Clients are referred to herein, collectively, as the “Credit Limited Partners.”
Pursuant to the Governing Documents of its Clients, GASC or its affiliates may also establish, sponsor
and manage from time to time one or more investment vehicles or accounts (including, without
limitation, pooled investment funds) managed by GASC or its affiliate and having an investment
focus that is not substantially similar to the investment focus of the GA Core Program (each, a “New
Other Client”). As of the date of this Brochure, the GA Credit Clients are the only New Other
Clients.
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C.
Limited Partner Coinvestment Vehicles
GASC serves as an investment adviser to various co-investment vehicles structured to facilitate
investments by third party co-investors (the “LP Coinvestment Vehicles”) alongside other GA
Clients. The terms of the LP Coinvestment Vehicles vary from the terms applicable to the GA Client.
As of the date of this Brochure, GASC has established numerous LP Coinvestment Vehicles that
participate in investments alongside the other GA Clients described above.
D.
Sponsor Coinvestment Funds
GASC provides investment advisory and management services to pooled coinvestment funds (the
“Sponsor Coinvestment Funds”) in which affiliates, partners, members and employees (and former
partners, members and employees) of General Atlantic and its affiliates and persons who maintain or
previously maintained a professional or business relationship with General Atlantic (including
individuals that serve or formerly served as Senior Advisors to General Atlantic) (the “Sponsor
Coinvestors”) invest their own capital in or alongside other GA Clients. The Sponsor Coinvestment
Funds do not include the Personal Investment Vehicles (described below). GA LP or another General
Partner serves as general partner, manager or managing member (or analogous control person) of the
Sponsor Coinvestment Funds.
The Sponsor Coinvestment Funds invest side-by-side with other GA Clients, or through other GA
Clients, in portfolio companies or investments of the other GA Clients, generally on the same terms
and conditions as the investments made by such other GA Clients in portfolio companies, except that
the Sponsor Coinvestment Funds do not make any performance-based allocations to the General
Partners. Regardless of whether a Sponsor Coinvestment Fund invests through a GA Client or side-
by-side with a GA Client, the Sponsor Coinvestment Fund makes substantially the same investment,
disposition, voting and other decisions with respect to portfolio companies as such GA Client. The
Sponsor Coinvestors do not pay Management Fees to GASC or its affiliates with respect to their
participation in the Sponsor Coinvestment Funds; however, once a Sponsor Coinvestor is no longer
employed by GASC or its subsidiaries, such departed Sponsor Coinvestor will generally bear an
annual administrative charge.
Subject to the terms of the Sponsor Coinvestment Funds, the Sponsor Coinvestors, including the
Balance Sheet as described herein, from time to time monetize their interests in the Sponsor
Coinvestment Funds by, for example, donating or selling their interests to third parties. Many
Sponsor Coinvestors also finance their commitments to the Sponsor Coinvestment Funds. Sponsor
Coinvestors could also from time to time employ preferred financing arrangements whereby a third
party provides liquidity in exchange for the right to receive a return of such amount plus a preferred
return thereon prior to the return of any additional proceeds to the Sponsor Coinvestor, and in
connection therewith, the Sponsor Coinvestor may sell, pledge, securitize, participate or otherwise
encumber such interests.
For closed-ended GA Clients, the Sponsor Coinvestors make a commitment to the Sponsor
Coinvestment Fund for the duration of the GA Client’s investment period. With respect to the GA
Core Program, the Sponsor Coinvestors do not make a five-year commitment to the Sponsor
Coinvestment Funds, and instead have an annual (or shorter) commitment to the Sponsor
Coinvestment Funds. Effective as of January 1 of each calendar year, General Atlantic determines
the persons who may participate as Sponsor Coinvestors in the Sponsor Coinvestment Funds for the
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GA Core Program in such year, and each Sponsor Coinvestor commits an amount of capital that such
Sponsor Coinvestor wishes to invest in the GA Core Program through the Sponsor Coinvestment
Funds during such calendar year. The annual capital commitment amount of each Sponsor Coinvestor
is subject to the approval of General Atlantic, and represents the targeted amount that such Sponsor
Coinvestor will fund to a Sponsor Coinvestment Fund for GA Core Program investments during such
calendar year. The actual amount funded by such Sponsor Coinvestor in the GA Core Program in
such year increases or decreases depending on whether or not the GA Core Program Partnerships and
the Sponsor Coinvestment Funds invest, in the aggregate, an amount more or less or equal to the
Annual Investment Target (as defined below) and depending on the number of follow-on investments
in which such Sponsor Coinvestor participates. During a calendar year, certain eligible new partners
and new employees of General Atlantic and persons who commence a professional or business
relationship (including individuals that become Senior Advisors to General Atlantic) with General
Atlantic will become Sponsor Coinvestors during such year and each such Sponsor Coinvestor makes
a capital commitment to the GA Core Program of the targeted amount that such Sponsor Coinvestor
wishes to invest in portfolio companies during such year (such capital commitment amount subject
to the approval of General Atlantic). In addition, during a calendar year, a Sponsor Coinvestor may
cease to be a partner or employee of General Atlantic or cease to have a professional or business
relationship with General Atlantic and, consequently, GASC may terminate such Sponsor
Coinvestor’s participation pursuant to the Sponsor Coinvestment Policy. In this case, such Sponsor
Coinvestor will no longer have the right to participate in new investments in GA Core Program
portfolio companies notwithstanding that such Sponsor Coinvestor has made a capital commitment
with respect to such year. While they will not make any new commitments to the Sponsor
Coinvestment Funds, former partners, members or employees of General Atlantic will continue to
have an existing interest in the Sponsor Coinvestment Funds and may also continue to be investors in
the Personal Investment Vehicles described under “E. Personal Investment Vehicles” below.
E.
Personal Investment Vehicles
Separate from its advisory services provided to third-party capital and the Sponsor Coinvestment
Funds, General Atlantic Prism, L.P. (“GA Prism”), a relying advisor of GASC, provides investment
advisory and management services to several private investment funds whose investors are members,
partners or employees (or former partners, members or employees) of GASC and its subsidiaries (the
“Personal Investment Vehicles”). The Personal Investment Vehicles make and hold investments
that are Personal Investments (as defined in “Item 11. Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in
Client Transactions and Personal Trading”). The Personal Investment Vehicles do not pay any fees
to GA Prism for its services, but investors reimburse GA Prism for certain costs and expenses. The
Personal Investment Vehicles do not participate in the GA Core Program but they may participate in
another GA Client where permitted under the documents governing such other GA Client. GASC is
also reimbursed by GA Prism for certain overhead utilized by the Personal Investment Vehicles.
As referred to herein, “GA Clients” includes the Global Growth Equity Clients, the GA Credit
Clients, the Continuation Vehicles, the LP Coinvestment Vehicles and the Sponsor Coinvestment
Funds. Investors in the GA Clients, including the Sponsor Coinvestors, are referred to herein
collectively as “Limited Partners.” As noted earlier, please refer to the Actis Brochure for
information about the GA Clients managed and advised by Actis under General Atlantic’s sustainable
infrastructure strategy.
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Each GA Client is governed by, and the terms of each GA Client are as set forth in, the Governing
Documents of each such GA Client. The General Partners have also entered into side letters or other
similar agreements with certain Limited Partners that have the effect of establishing rights under,
supplementing or altering the GA Clients’ Governing Documents or a Limited Partner’s subscription
agreement.
Item 5. Fees and Compensation
A. Management Fees
With respect to the Global Growth Equity Clients, GASC is generally paid Management Fees based
on a percentage of each investor’s commitment amount or the value of each investor’s investments.
The specific payment terms and other conditions of the Management Fees charged to investors in the
Global Growth Equity Clients are set forth in the Governing Documents of the Growth Equity Clients.
The Management Fee rate applicable to a Limited Partner in a Global Growth Equity Client generally
depends on the size of the investor’s commitment and, in the case of the GA Core Program, whether
the Core Program Limited Partner enters into a Five-Year Commitment, an Evergreen Commitment
or participates through a Pooled Managed Account. The Management Fee payable to GASC by an
investor of a Global Growth Equity Client may be paid out of amounts otherwise distributable to such
investor from a Global Growth Equity Client.
For investors in the Core Program and Companion Funds, the maximum Management Fee is 1.60%
of committed capital for the duration of the commitment period. After the commitment period, the
maximum Management Fee rate is 1.60%, and Management Fees are calculated based on the product
of (a) the applicable Management Fee rate and (b) the lesser of (i) committed capital and (ii) the fair
value of the applicable investment portfolio. When a Core Program Limited Partner renews its
commitment, the GA Core Program fee schedule provides for reduced Management Fee rates on such
investor’s prior commitments.
With respect to the Continuation Vehicles, the maximum Management Fee is 1% of actively invested
capital. Some Continuation Vehicles provide for a reduced fee rate after a set period. Certain
investors in the Continuation Vehicles (e.g., investors who “roll” their interests in the underlying
investment) sometimes do not bear any Management Fees with respect to such rolled interests.
For Limited Partners in the GA Credit Clients, the maximum Management Fee rate is 1.50%, and
Management Fees are calculated based on either the aggregate acquisition cost of investments that
have not been disposed of or the net asset value of each GA Credit Limited Partner’s capital account
balance.
While Limited Partners in LP Coinvestment Vehicles do not currently pay Management Fees, LP
Coinvestment Vehicles may in the future pay Management Fees or an administrative charge. The
Sponsor Coinvestors do not pay Management Fees with respect to their participation in the Sponsor
Coinvestment Funds; however, once a Sponsor Coinvestor is no longer employed or engaged by
GASC or its subsidiaries, such departed Sponsor Coinvestor may bear an annual administrative
charge.
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The Management Fees applicable to investors in the GA Core Program are not negotiable for investors
with a commitment of less than $500 million, but the Management Fees of the other GA Clients are
negotiated in the course of negotiating the Governing Documents of those funds. Management Fees
are subject to offsets, and may be subject to fee reductions upon renewal of a commitment by entering
into a renewal Commitment Agreement or by committing capital to a successor fund, and/or fee
credits if certain criteria are met, all as described in the Governing Documents of the GA Clients.
For the purpose of determining the Management Fee rate applicable to a Limited Partner, GASC
typically aggregates the commitment amount of such Limited Partner with the commitment amount(s)
of other Limited Partner(s) to the extent that GASC determines that such Limited Partners are related
parties (which includes being advised or managed by the same investment advisor, consultant or
manager).
Generally, Management Fees are incurred and payable by investors quarterly in advance. GASC may
elect to defer the collection of Management Fees until one or more subsequent quarters. Historically,
in the GA Core Program, GASC would annually waive all or a portion of the Management Fees
otherwise payable by certain Limited Partners in the GA Core Program, and such waived amount was
invested in portfolio companies by such Limited Partners for the benefit of certain designated
affiliates of GASC (each, the “MPI Entity”). Generally, upon disposition of a portfolio company
investment, the MPI Entity receives distributions related to such invested amounts with respect to
such portfolio companies. For more information, please see “Item 11. Code of Ethics, Participation
or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading – B. Participation or Interest in Client
Transaction” herein.
In the GA Core Program, Management Fees are paid by each Core Program Limited Partner (or
Pooled Account Investor) with a Five-Year Commitment until the earlier of the first day of the month
in which the following occurs:
(a)
the date on which both (i) such investor’s unfunded base commitment is zero and (ii) all
investments in which the Limited Partner has an interest have been (1) liquidated or
otherwise disposed of, (2) written down to fair market value of zero or (3) distributed in
kind to such investor, and
(b)
the 13th anniversary of the effective date of such investor’s Commitment Agreement (the
“Fee Termination Date”).
There is no date upon which Management Fees are no longer payable by a Core Program Limited
Partner with an Evergreen Commitment so long as such Core Program Limited Partner continues with
an Evergreen Commitment. If a Core Program Limited Partner with an Evergreen Commitment
converts its Evergreen Commitment into a commitment with a fixed capital commitment and fixed
commitment period, then the obligation of such investor to pay Management Fees will terminate upon
the Fee Termination Date (as described above), except that the 13th anniversary date is measured from
the conversion date of such investor’s Evergreen Commitment to a commitment with a fixed capital
commitment and fixed commitment period.
For Limited Partners other than those in the GA Core Program, Management Fees generally continue
through the end of the term of the fund or until the GA Client has been wound up, but will terminate
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earlier if provided for in the Governing Documents, e.g., upon removal of the General Partner by a
vote of Limited Partners.
See “D. Management Fee Offsets” for information related to Management Fee offsets.
B.
Incentive Compensation
Subject to its Governing Documents, each General Partner (or an equivalent entity) of a Core Program
Partnership or Companion Fund is entitled to a performance allocation (“Performance Allocation”),
also referred to as “carried interest”, generally equal to 20% of the net realized profits (generally also
considering, among other things, realized and unrealized losses) generated by those Clients of which
they serve as general partner. Prior to allocating Performance Allocation from those Limited Partners
to the General Partner, the General Partner has to repay a portion of previously realized losses, and
prior to releasing Performance Allocation to the General Partner, the remaining value of the Limited
Partner’s account has to meet a portfolio value test, which is more fully described in “Item 6.
Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management”.
Subject to its Governing Documents, each General Partner of a Continuation Vehicle is entitled to a
Performance Allocation of up to 20% of the net realized profits (after a preferred return to the Limited
Partners followed by a catch-up of such distributed profits).
Subject to its Governing Documents, each General Partner of a GA Credit Client is entitled to a
Performance Allocation of up to 17.5% of the net realized profits generated by the GA Credit Clients
of which they serve as general partner (after a preferred return to the investors followed by a catch-
up of such distributed profits). Affiliates of GASC are entitled to a portion of any Performance
Allocation generated by a GA Credit Client. Certain GA Credit separately managed accounts will be
subject to a different Performance Allocation percentage and/or preferred return, which may be higher
or lower than other GA Credit Clients.
One or more LP Coinvestment Vehicles may in the future bear a Performance Allocation but they do
not currently.
The Sponsor Coinvestors do not bear any Performance Allocations with respect to their participation
in the Sponsor Coinvestment Funds.
If the Performance Allocation of a GA Client results in an over-distribution of the agreed upon amount
of Performance Allocation to a General Partner, the General Partner is generally subject to an after-
tax “claw back” arrangement.
GASC may agree to reduced Performance Allocation rates for certain Limited Partners. The specific
payment terms and other conditions of the Performance Allocations borne by investors in the GA
Clients are set forth in their Governing Documents. See also “Item 6. Performance-Based Fees and
Side-by-Side Management” herein.
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C.
Expenses
Organizational Expenses
Subject to the applicable Governing Documents, Limited Partners in the Global Growth Equity
Clients (other than those in the GA Core Program), Continuation Vehicles, GA Credit Clients and LP
Coinvestment Vehicles generally bear all reasonable legal and other organizational and offering fees,
costs and expenses incurred in connection with the formation of the applicable GA Client and related
entities (including the general partner and the investment manager) and the offering of the limited
partner interests in such GA Client, including (for certain GA Clients, as permitted in the Governing
Documents) travel, meals and lodging expenses incurred in connection with the organization, funding
and start-up of the GA Client (“Organizational Expenses”). The Governing Documents for certain
of such GA Clients provide for a limit on the amount of Organizational Expenses that are borne by
the Limited Partners.
With respect to the GA Core Program, in connection with the signing of a new or renewal Five-Year
Commitment or a new Evergreen Commitment, each Core Program Limited Partner (other than the
Pooled Managed Accounts) pays to GASC a one-time payment equal to 0.08% of such commitment,
up to a maximum of $200,000. Amendments of existing Five-Year Commitments or existing
Evergreen Commitments typically do not incur such expense. The Organizational Expenses incurred
in connection with the formation of the Core Program Partnerships may be borne by the Core Program
Limited Partners as Partnership Expenses, as described below. The Pooled Account Investors bear
all Organizational Expenses of the Pooled Managed Accounts, generally up to a limit on such
expenses.
Partnership Expenses
Subject to its Governing Documents, each GA Client generally pays or otherwise bears all of the
direct and indirect fees, costs, expenses, liabilities and obligations resulting from or arising in
connection with its operations and investments (collectively, the “Partnership Expenses”). The
Partnership Expenses of a particular GA Client are set forth in its Governing Documents and could
include, without limitation, the following:
taxes which may be assessed against or incurred or payable by any GA Client (except such
amounts as may be specially allocated to a Limited Partner pursuant to the Governing
Documents);
(i) costs and expenses incurred in connection with a GA Client entering into any borrowing
arrangements as permitted under the Governing Documents and interest and/or principal
payable on such borrowings (including entering into, effecting, maintaining, varying,
refinancing or terminating such borrowings and indebtedness and interest arising out of such
borrowings and indebtedness and in respect of customary key principal, “bad acts” or other
performance-related matters) and (ii) costs and expenses incurred by or in connection with a
General Partner or GASC for the benefit of any GA Client, or one or more Investment Fund
Platforms (as defined below), holding vehicles or other subsidiaries of a GA Client entering
into, one or more hedging transactions (including Derivative Contracts (as defined in the
Governing Documents)), including any payments under, and any Margin Expenses (as defined
in the Governing Documents) relating to, such Derivative Contracts;
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fees, costs, expenses, liabilities and obligations attributable to the discovery, investigation,
impact and/or ESG assessment, evaluation, development, diligence, structuring, acquisition,
holding, financing, licensing, organizing, acquiring, originating, valuing, taking public or
private or disposition (whether or not such acquisition or disposition is consummated) of an
investment or potential investment by any GA Client or the monitoring and maintenance or
risk management of such investment, including, but not limited to, legal expenses,
commissions, brokerage fees or similar charges, clearing and settlement and bank charges,
deposits (including earnest money deposits), consent or other third-party fees and payments,
closing, execution and transaction costs, appraisal fees, broker-dealer, finder, underwriting
(including both commissions and discounts), loan administration, private placement costs,
sales commissions, investment banking and other similar costs and fees, administrative fees
and merger fees payable to third parties and broken-deal fees and expenses in respect of
unconsummated investments, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any of the foregoing
amounts incurred prior to the initial closing date of the applicable GA Client;
costs and expenses incurred in connection with obtaining research, benchmarking data and
other information for the benefit of the GA Clients (including through the use of expert
networks and information service subscriptions), as well as the operation and maintenance of
information systems used to obtain such research and other related information;
(including
fund administration,
shadow administration and
fees, costs, expenses and other liabilities incurred in connection with the incurrence or
repayment of leverage and indebtedness of GA Clients (including GA Credit Clients, as
applicable), including borrowings, dollar rolls, reverse purchase agreements, credit facilities
(including subscription facilities), securitizations, margin financing and derivatives and
swaps, and including any principal or interest on GA Credit Clients’ borrowings and
indebtedness (including any fees, costs, and expenses incurred in obtaining lines of credit,
loan commitments, and letters of credit for the account of GA Credit Clients in making,
carrying, funding and/or otherwise resolving the guarantees (including interest or fees on
money borrowed by a GA Credit Fund or GASC or a general partner of a GA Credit Fund on
behalf of a GA Credit Fund); (iii) legal, accounting, auditing, financial advisors,
administration
loan
administration, and the fees, costs and expenses of the GA Client’s third-party administrators);
and any fees, costs or expenses described in the definition of Other Income (as defined herein
in D. Management Fee Offsets below), whether paid to a third party or to GACM (as defined
herein);
impact and/or ESG consulting, arranger or transaction advisory fees and expenses, costs and
expenses of attending conferences in connection with the evaluation of potential investments
or particular sector opportunities, organizational memberships with impact and/or ESG focus
groups and compliance with any impact and/or ESG initiatives or principles, risk management
assessments and analysis of the GA Client’s assets and expenses paid by the GA Client with
respect to investments (and potential investments that are not consummated);
costs and expenses of project-specific investment banking or consulting (provided that no such
costs and expenses will be payable to GA, any affiliate of GA, or any employee of General
Atlantic (or any of its subsidiaries), including (x) compensation and other similar costs and
expenses (including success fees) to industry executives, advisors, consultants, operating
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executives, subject matter experts or other persons acting in a similar capacity who provide
services to the GA Clients or their portfolio companies (including with respect to potential
portfolio investments), including operating consultants, sourcing consultants and impact
and/or ESG consultants or any similar third-party service provider, and (y) finder’s, success
and similar fees to Senior Advisors of General Atlantic who provide services to the GA Clients
or their portfolio companies (including with respect to potential portfolio investments);
provided, however, that, for the avoidance of doubt, Partnership Expenses do not generally
include any retainer or other ongoing non-project specific consulting fees that General
Atlantic (or its subsidiaries) pays to Senior Advisors of General Atlantic or any compensation
paid by a portfolio company to a Senior Advisor of General Atlantic or other person described
in clause (x) above;
fees, costs and expenses paid to legal counsel, accountants, auditors, financial advisors or any
other advisors or experts retained to assist the General Partner, the limited partner advisory
committee, any impact and/or ESG consultant or similar third-party services provider and the
limited partner advisory committee;
costs and expenses of GA, the partners of GA, their respective affiliates, the General Partners
and the partners, members, stockholders, directors, officers, employees and agents of each of
the foregoing, the employees, agents and representatives of any GA Client, and GASC and its
members, managers, officers, employees, agents and representatives relating to litigation or
threatened litigation arising from any GA Clients, investment, proposed investment or any
activities related thereto or otherwise contemplated by the Commitment Agreements
(including, without limitation, any indemnification payment payable by a GA Client pursuant
to its Governing Documents), except to the extent that such expenses or amounts have been
determined to be excluded from the indemnification provided for in the Governing Documents
of such GA Client;
insurance premiums and other insurance costs and expenses incurred in connection with the
activities of the GA Clients, including, without limitation, errors, omissions, fidelity, crime,
general partner liability, directors’ and officers’ liability and similar coverage for a GA
Indemnitee, regardless of whether any such insurance is held directly by the GA Client or is
a part of a larger insurance policy held in respect of GASC;
costs and expenses incurred in connection with purchasing, licensing, leasing, implementing,
maintaining, upgrading and customizing computer software and hardware for (i) GA Clients
accounting and expense allocation, portfolio valuations, reporting (including Limited Partner,
tax, financial, portfolio and regulatory reporting) and other investment-related activities of the
GA Clients (including the communication and distribution of the foregoing to the Limited
Partners) and (ii) providing the Limited Partners with online, electronic or paper access to the
foregoing (collectively, the “Software/Hardware Expenses”), including impact and/or ESG
reporting;
costs and expenses for third-party legal, custodial, depositary, trustee, bank account
maintenance (including deposit and wire transfer fees), accounting, auditing, loan agency,
valuation (including, and as applicable, any and all fees, costs and expenses associated with
advisors, accountants, independent pricing services and third-party valuation consultants),
custodian, depository (including costs and expenses related to appointments or changes of any
15
depositary appointed pursuant to the European Union Directive on Alternative Investment
Fund Managers (2011/61/EU), as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder (“AIFMD”)), and tax preparation services (including costs and expenses related
to the preparation and delivery of all financial statements, tax returns and Schedules K-1 (and
other required schedules to Form 1065)), provided to the GA Client and any entities controlled
by GA or an affiliate thereof through which a GA Client may make and hold investments (an
“Investment Fund Platform”) (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any such services
required in order to comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations, including the Advisers
Act, offering rules under “blue sky” and “world sky” offering rules, the U.S. Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the U.S. Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
amended, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the AIFMD, the
Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (Directive 2014/65/EU), the General Data
Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679) and/or any other applicable data and/or
privacy laws and/or regulations, anti-money laundering and/or counter-terrorist financing
laws and regulations and/or any other applicable laws and regulations and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder);
costs and expenses related to appointments or changes of any persons for services required
under applicable non-U.S. law or regulation in connection with the marketing or sale of
interests in GA Clients;
fees, costs and expenses related to third-party fund administration services (including shadow
administration services, registered office services and financial, accounting, auditing, tax
preparation, tax compliance, regulatory compliance, treasury and investor communication
services) including, but not limited to, costs and expenses related to (x) the preparation and
delivery of Limited Partner reporting statements (such as, for example, capital account
statements, unfunded capital commitment balance statements and valuation statements),
capital call notices, distributions notices, all statements, tax returns and Schedules K-1 (and
other required schedules to Form 1065) for the GA Clients and their Investment Fund
Platforms, and (y) the preparation and filing of Form PF and other filings and reports to be
filed with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission;
subject to the limitations provided for in the Governing Documents of certain GA Clients,
salaries, wages, bonuses and other employee benefits incurred by GASC or its subsidiaries or
the Investment Fund Platforms for in-house employees performing fund administration
services specifically relating to financial, accounting, auditing, tax preparation, treasury and
tax compliance services, including, but not limited to, the preparation and delivery of Limited
Partner reporting statements (such as, for example, capital account statements, unfunded
capital commitment balance statements and valuation statements), capital call notices,
distributions notices, all financial statements, tax returns and Schedules K-1 (and other
required schedules to Form 1065) for the GA Clients and the Investment Fund Platforms
(collectively, the “In-House Fund Administration Expenses”);
costs and expenses of continuing the GA Client’s legal existence and qualifications to do
business in any states or other jurisdictions designated by General Atlantic, and fees, costs
16
and expenses incurred in connection with terminating, winding up, liquidating and dissolving
the GA Client;
costs and expenses relating to the preparation of any impact and/or ESG reporting, the fees,
costs and expenses incurred in connection with assessing and reporting the social and
environmental impact and ESG performance of investments and potential investments
(including fees, costs and expenses payable to any impact and/or ESG consultant or any
similar third-party service provider or otherwise incurred in connection with designing,
implementing and monitoring participation by portfolio companies in compliance and
operational “best practices” programs and initiatives), all reports or information requests for
one or more Limited Partners, any impact and/or ESG consultant or any similar third-party
service provider or the limited partner advisory committee of such GA Client and any
subcommittees thereof (including all fees, costs and expenses incurred to audit such reports);
costs and expenses relating to the preparation of any impact and/or ESG reporting, the fees,
costs and expenses incurred in connection with assessing and reporting the social and
environmental impact and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) performance of
investments and potential investments (including fees, costs and expenses payable to any
impact and/or ESG consultant or any similar third-party service provider or otherwise incurred
in connection with designing, implementing and monitoring participation by portfolio
companies in compliance and operational “best practices” programs and initiatives), including
fees and any other costs and expenses payable to SYSTEMIQ (as defined herein) (or another
advisor engaged for the same purpose) in connection with its services provided to certain GA
Clients, the fees, costs and expenses incurred in preparing reports or responding to all reports
or information requests for one or more Limited Partners, including the fees, costs and
expenses of any impact and/or ESG consultant or any similar third-party service provider or
the limited partner advisory committee (including all fees, costs and expenses incurred to audit
such reports);
costs and expenses reasonably incurred in connection with organizing, maintaining and
operating an Investment Fund Platform, including rent, salaries and ancillary costs of
Investment Fund Platforms and employees who provide services to the Investment Fund
Platform, and costs and expenses of administrators of Investment Fund Platforms and the GA
Clients, and costs and expenses reasonably incurred in connection with organizing,
maintaining and operating an alternative investment fund manager (“AIFM”), including rent,
salaries and ancillary costs of the AIFM and employees who provide services to the AIFM
(“AIFM Expenses”);
costs and expenses incurred in connection with any audit, examination, investigation or other
proceeding by any taxing authority or incurred in connection with any governmental inquiry,
investigation or proceeding, in each case, involving or otherwise applicable to a Limited
Partnership, including the amount of any judgments, settlements, remediation or fines paid in
connection therewith;
costs and expenses relating to defaults by Limited Partners in the payment of any capital
contributions (to the extent not paid by the defaulting Limited Partners);
governmental or regulatory fees;
17
costs and expenses incurred in connection with the valuations conducted by, and other services
provided by, independent valuation firms and other third parties pursuant to GASC’s valuation
policy (including the costs associated with any fairness opinions);
costs and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with (a) (i) Sections 1471 through
1474 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable Regulations, revenue
rulings, notices or other official guidance, (ii) legislation, regulations or guidance enacted in
any jurisdiction that seek to implement the provisions described in clause (i) and/or other tax
reporting and/or withholding tax regimes enacted in any jurisdiction or developed by any
intergovernmental organization that is similar to that described in clause (i) (including the
Common Reporting Standard developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development), and (iii) in each case, similar or successor provisions, regulations or guidance
(“FATCA”), (b) any treaty, convention, understanding or other agreement between or among
governmental authorities to comply with, facilitate, supplement, implement or that is
otherwise related to FATCA, (c) any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted
pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement described in clauses (a) and/or (b), and (d) any
FATCA agreement and costs and expenses with respect to the tax matters partner and
partnership representative’s representation of a GA Client or its Limited Partners;
fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with negotiating and entering into, and
compliance with any side letters or similar written agreements and any “most favored nations”
processes;
(i) reasonable out-of-pocket travel, lodging and meal expenses incurred by the members of
any limited partner advisory committee, if any, in attending meetings of such limited partner
advisory committee called by the applicable General Partner, and (ii) the fees, costs and
expenses of any legal counsel, accountants, auditors, financial advisors or other advisors,
including any impact and/or ESG consultant or similar third-party service provider, selected
by such limited partner advisory committee pursuant to the Governing Documents;
costs and expenses incurred in connection with (x) travel (including airfare, local
transportation, meal, business entertainment and lodging expenses) of the employees of
General Atlantic and its subsidiaries and the Senior Advisors (which may include travel by
way of private or non-commercial planes at rates not in excess of commercial rates for first
class travel) and (y) non-travel business related meals and entertainment of the employees of
General Atlantic and its subsidiaries and the Senior Advisors;
costs and expenses incurred in connection with the formation of a Core Program Partnership
and any amendments, modifications, revisions or restatements to the constituent documents
of any GA Client, any alternative investment vehicle, any other subsidiary and/or any special
purpose entity, as well as any and all fees, costs and expenses related to drafting form transfer
agreements for any GA Client (including legal fees, costs and expenses);
fees, costs and expenses paid to any placement agent or similar person;
the management fees payable by such GA Client;
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costs and expenses related to interim financing, “fronting transactions” or investments of a
temporary nature in portfolio investments or issuers in which a GA Client may invest, with
the intention of transferring, participating out, or selling all or a portion of such investment to
another party (a “Bridge Investment”), including any interest expenses on amounts borrowed
under a GA Client’s subscription facility;
fees, costs and expenses relating to transfers of limited partner interests in a GA Client (and
admission of a substitute limited partner), a permitted withdrawal of a partner (but only to the
extent not paid or otherwise borne by the relevant transferring partner and/or the assignee or
the withdrawing partner, as applicable or other party involved in such transfer or withdrawal)
and any fees, costs and expenses related to drafting form transfer agreements for any of the
foregoing (including legal fees, costs and expenses) or relating to regulatory matters or
disclosure requests pertaining to a partner; and
any of the foregoing costs or expenses applicable to a subsidiary, blocker, special purpose
vehicle or holding vehicle of any GA Client or an Investment Fund Platform, or any alternative
investment vehicle of such GA Client.
At the discretion of a General Partner, Organizational Expenses and Partnership Expenses payable by
a Limited Partner or General Partner may be paid out of amounts otherwise distributable to such
Limited Partner or General Partner.
The MPI Entity only bears Partnership Expenses relating to the investments allocated to it. The MPI
Entity does not bear any other expenses.
Partnership Expenses incurred in connection with any proposed investment that is not consummated
(“Broken-Deal Expenses”) are borne by the investors in the GA Client that was to participate in such
proposed investment. In the GA Core Program, such expenses are borne by the current Core Program
Limited Partners. The Sponsor Coinvestors in the Sponsor Coinvestment Funds are obligated to pay
their proportionate share of Broken-Deal Expenses. Co-investors, in most cases, will not agree to pay
Broken-Deal Expenses. The General Partners of the GA Core Program and the MPI Entity do not pay
Broken-Deal Expenses. The amount of a Limited Partner’s capital used to fund Broken-Deal
Expenses is generally returned in the applicable distribution waterfall to the Limited Partner
(generally on an allocable basis).
Certain types of costs that constitute Partnership Expenses, Organizational Expenses, or other types
of fees, expenses or costs that are borne directly or indirectly by a GA Client can overlap with or
include costs associated with regulatory compliance obligations of GASC. For example, the
Governing Documents of a GA Client typically require the preparation and distribution of audited
annual financial statements, the cost of which is borne by the GA Client as a Partnership Expense,
even though this contractual requirement also to serves as a means for GASC to comply with
requirements that are applicable to GASC under SEC rules relating to the custody of client assets.
Similarly, a GA Client can be expected to bear Organizational Expenses that include costs incurred
by GASC to comply with regulatory standards relating to, among other things, “advertisements” and
other communications with prospective investors under U.S. and non-U.S. rules and regulations.
These and other direct or indirect Partnership Expenses, Organizational Expenses, and other types of
fees, expenses and costs generally will be allocated to the GA Clients to the extent permitted by the
relevant Governing Documents, even though the underlying requirement or activity associated with
19
such fees, expenses or costs may relate, in whole or in part, to requirements that, from a legal or
regulatory perspective, are applicable to GASC, rather than to the GA Client or a portfolio investment.
Travel Expenses
General Atlantic seeks to track travel expenses (including airfare (which may include travel by way
of private or non-commercial planes at rates not in excess of commercial rates for first class travel),
local transportation, meal, business entertainment and lodging expenses) of personnel of General
Atlantic and its subsidiaries and the Senior Advisors (collectively, “Travel Expenses”) on a GA
Client-by-GA Client basis. However, to the extent that Travel Expenses are not tracked by GA Client,
such Travel Expenses are allocated to the GA Clients generally on a pro rata basis, regardless of the
investment to which they relate. Among the Limited Partners, travel expenses are allocated pro rata,
in accordance with the GA Client’s Governing Documents. Certain GA Clients also bear travel,
meals and lodging expenses incurred in connection with the organization, funding and start-up of the
GA Client, as described in “Organizational Expenses” set forth above.
Transfer-Related Expenses
Unless GA determines otherwise, generally a transferring Limited Partner in any GA Client will be
responsible for the payment of all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by GA, GASC and any General
Partner (or, in the case of a Pooled Account Investor, the general partner of such Pooled Managed
Account) in connection with such transfer, including attorneys’ fees and expenses.
Expenses borne by the Sponsor Coinvestment Funds
The Sponsor Coinvestment Funds are allocated their share of Partnership Expenses and Broken-Deal
Expenses and, with respect to certain GA Clients, Organizational Expenses.
Sponsor Coinvestors are generally responsible for the organizational and ongoing expenses of the
Sponsor Coinvestment Funds. However, GASC assumes certain ordinary operating expenses
incurred in managing the Sponsor Coinvestment Funds. Except for those ordinary operating expenses
borne by GASC, the ongoing expenses of the Sponsor Coinvestment Funds are borne by the Sponsor
Coinvestors. General Partners of the Sponsor Coinvestment Funds are not allocated any Partnership
Expenses or Broken-Deal Expenses because the General Partners of the Sponsor Coinvestment Funds
do not participate in the economics of the Sponsor Coinvestment Funds.
Allocation of Expenses among GA Clients
If two or more GA Clients participate in an investment together or incur overlapping expenses, the
General Partners and GASC will seek to allocate expenses among such GA Clients (i) pro rata based
on the amount invested, (ii) pro rata based on committed capital, (iii) based on actual usage or benefit,
(iv) pro rata based on number of investors, (v) pro rata based on which employees utilize the product
or service and how much time they dedicate to each client, or (vi) in such other manner that the
General Partners and GASC determine in their discretion to be fair and equitable under the
circumstances; provided, that expenses specifically attributable to a particular GA Client may be
allocated solely to such GA Client.
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If two or more GA Clients incur overlapping expenses or other obligations, GASC is permitted to
cause one GA Client to pay such expense or obligation and be reimbursed by the other GA Clients
for their share of such expense or obligation, without interest.
Transaction Expenses
Any transaction expenses relating to unconsummated investments generally will be borne by the
relevant GA Client(s), except to the extent borne by co-investors or other third parties. Transaction-
related expenses associated with consummated investments can, in certain circumstances, be charged
to the relevant portfolio company rather than paid by the relevant GA Client(s). Depending on the
circumstances, such transaction-related expenses may be paid directly by the portfolio company or
capitalized into the cost of the transaction. The practice of causing a portfolio company to be bear
transaction-related expenses can have the effect of reducing the overall amount of such expenses
borne by a GA Client (insofar as it results in other investors in the portfolio company, such as co-
investors and management-related investors, bearing a portion of the expenses that might otherwise
be borne solely by the GA Client (and indirectly, by the GA Client’s investors)), but can also result
in an increase in the value of the portfolio company for purposes of calculating the Management Fee
payable to GASC during periods when a GA Client’s Management Fee is calculated on the basis of
actively invested capital. If transaction-related expenses relating to consummated investments are
not paid directly by such portfolio company or capitalized in the manner described above, then they
can be paid by the applicable GA Client(s) and included in the cost of investment, including for
purposes of determining a GA Client’s actively invested capital for Management Fee calculations).
The inclusion of transaction-related expenses in the determination of a GA Client’s actively invested
capital increases the basis upon which Management Fees are calculated, and GASC therefore has a
conflict of interest in determining whether certain expenses are in fact transaction-related and the
extent to which they may be included in the determination of a GA Client’s actively invested capital.
This conflict may, however, be mitigated insofar as the inclusion of such amounts in actively invested
capital increases the value of the GA Client’s interest in a portfolio company for purposes of the GA
Client’s Performance Allocation waterfall and contributes towards the preferred return that must be
received on an investment before the General Partner is able to receive Performance Allocation in
connection with the investment’s realization.
Fees Payable by Investors in Third-Party Feeder Funds
Certain prospective investors that have a relationship with GA will be directed by GA to participate
in GA Clients through feeder funds organized and managed by third parties. GASC will pay fees to
such third parties to administer the investment of such investors in such feeder funds. Other investors
sourced by such third parties may also participate in such third-party feeder funds and will pay fees
at the level of the Client and at the level of the third-party feeder fund. The third-party feeder funds
intend to report the transactions consistent with their form as payment by GASC to such third parties
for U.S. federal income tax purposes, however, there is no authority directly on point and there is no
assurance that a taxing authority would respect such treatment.
D. Management Fee Offsets
In connection with the advisory services that GASC provides to investors in the GA Clients, GASC
and its subsidiaries and/or affiliates, and its or their members, managers, officers, employees or
Advisory Directors (collectively, “GA Affiliates”) from time to time receive from portfolio
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companies or prospective portfolio companies in respect of a GA Client’s investment in such portfolio
companies directors’ fees, monitoring fees (including any accelerated or early termination monitoring
fees), arrangement fees or structuring fees, transaction or closing fees and break-up fees (collectively,
“Fee Income”).
Generally, such Fee Income paid to GA Affiliates, net of any related expenses, that are allocable to
Management Fee-bearing Limited Partners will reduce on a proportional basis the Management Fees
otherwise payable by the Limited Partners participating in such investment, subject to certain
exclusions and limitations including as described below. If more than one GA Client participates in
an investment generating Fee Income, such Fee Income will generally be allocated among such GA
Clients pro rata based on their relative ownership (or anticipated ownership) in such investment
regardless of whether such GA Clients bear Management Fees; provided, that Fee Income attributable
to an investment by the GA Core Program will only offset allocated fees to Limited Partners
participating in such investment that bear Management Fees.
Fee Income generally does not include, among other things:
any salaries, consulting fees, directors fees, sourcing fees or other compensation of any nature
paid by a portfolio company or a GA Client to any individual who is not employed by General
Atlantic (including industry executives, advisors, consultants, operating executives, subject
matter experts, the Senior Advisors or Operating Executives or other persons acting in a
similar capacity)
any amount received by any Person from a portfolio company or another person as a
reimbursement for costs or expenses incurred in connection with an investment (including for
travel arrangements (e.g., travel and accommodation to attend a portfolio company board
meeting)) or amounts paid directly by portfolio companies for such costs, in either case,
including (as applicable) any such amounts paid directly to a GA Client,
any Partnership Expenses or Broken-Deal Expenses,
amounts received as payment for consulting, advisory, agency, loan agent or loan servicing
or similar services provided to a portfolio company or related to any investment in its ordinary
course of business,
(a) any payments, fees, costs, expenses and other liabilities, allocable overhead or other
amounts or compensation (such as arranger, brokerage, placement, syndication, solicitation,
underwriting, agency, origination, sourcing, group purchasing, structuring, collateral
management, special purpose vehicle (including any special purpose vehicle of a portfolio
company), capital markets syndication and advisory fees (including underwriting and debt
advisory fees), or subsidiary management or administration, operation, asset service, advisory,
commitment, facility, float, insurance or other fees, discounts, retainers, spreads, commissions
and concessions or other fees associated with the effectuation of any securities or financing
transactions) earned by or paid (whether in cash or in kind) to a GA Affiliate providing
services or otherwise engaging in activities that give rise to such income (“GACM”), or
another person with respect to services rendered by GACM as described in the Governing
Documents of such GA Client, (b) any fees, costs, expenses or other amounts or compensation
(or types thereof) earned by any person or otherwise borne with respect to investments or
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transactions that are otherwise consented to or approved by the applicable limited partner
advisory committee, and (c) any fees, costs or expenses determined by GA in good faith to be
similar in nature to any of the foregoing and, in each case of the foregoing clauses (a) – (c),
whether or not structured as a fee or as performance-based compensation (“Other Income”),
any fees or income derived from any profit-sharing or similar arrangements between any GA
Affiliate and any third-party service provider to any GA Client (“Service Provider
Revenue”),
any compensation paid to third-party managers (or to any GA Affiliate) of investment and/or
operating structures and/or other similar entities or arrangements in which a GA Client and/or
a GA Affiliate acquires full or partial ownership interests (“Platform Compensation”), or
with respect to a GA Client, any income, compensation or other amounts received by a GA
Affiliate that is primarily dedicated to sponsoring, managing or advising (or, with respect to
GA Affiliates who are individuals, whose role is primarily dedicated to) one or more GA
Acquired Clients (as defined below) and / or New Other Clients in connection with the
provision of services to a portfolio company in which a GA Acquired Client and/or New Other
Client, as applicable, has also invested, and which amounts are of the type that do not offset
or reduce management fees, service fees or similar asset-based fees pursuant to the governing
documents of such GA Acquired Client or Other New Client (“Other Client Amounts”). A
“GA Acquired Client” refers to a GA Client that became (or, in the future, becomes) a GA
Client pursuant to (or as a consequence of) a transaction in which General Atlantic acquires
all or a portion of an investment manager or asset management or other business or in
connection with the purchase of a portfolio of assets by General Atlantic or a similar
transaction.
General Atlantic utilizes a network of Senior Advisors or Operating Executives who are former senior
executives with substantial operating experience and a global network of industry contacts. The Fee
Income described above in this section “D. Management Fee Offsets” does not include (and therefore
does not reduce the Management Fees) any fees or other compensation (including directors’ fees and
performance-based fees) paid by a portfolio company to any Senior Advisor or Operating Executives
who, at the request of GASC or its subsidiaries, is providing services to such portfolio company.
Senior Advisors or Operating Executives also provide consulting services to GASC or its subsidiaries
directly. Except as otherwise described herein, all services provided by Senior Advisors to GASC or
its subsidiaries are paid by GASC. See “Item 5. Fees and Compensation – C. Expenses.” From time
to time, Senior Advisors or Operating Executives receive compensation from a portfolio company,
GASC or a GA Client at the same time, in each case, without reducing the Services Fees otherwise
payable to GASC by the Limited Partners. In addition to the foregoing, a Senior Advisor or Operating
Executive will from time to time invest directly in a portfolio company in the event that such Senior
Advisor or Operating Executive serves on the board of directors of such portfolio company, provides
services to such portfolio company or otherwise provides value-add to such portfolio company. In
addition, a Senior Advisor or Operating Executive also may directly or indirectly separately make an
investment in a portfolio company. Any income resulting from such investments will not reduce the
Management Fees otherwise payable to GASC by the Limited Partners.
In addition to Senior Advisors and Operating Executives, GA Clients from time to time engage
industry executives, advisors, consultants, subject matter experts, operating executives and/or other
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persons acting in a similar capacity to work directly with specific portfolio companies and their
management teams on a project-by-project basis, and any fees paid to such persons are borne by the
GA Client or the portfolio company.
Credit card, airline, lodging, rental car and other points or rebates received by GA or its employees
will not offset Management Fees.
Item 6. Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management
As described in “Item 5. Fees and Compensation – B. Incentive Compensation” above, the General
Partners are generally entitled to receive a Performance Allocation with respect to the Global Growth
Equity Clients and the GA Credit Clients, which Performance Allocation is based on net proceeds of
investments typically above a performance threshold, as specified in the Governing Documents.
The Management Fee and Performance Allocation structure may present actual or perceived potential
conflicts of interest in the valuation of GA Client assets and allocation of investments. For example,
GASC is incentivized to: (i) employ valuation methodologies that improve a GA Client’s track record
or its ability to meet performance thresholds in order to receive Performance Allocations; (ii) defer
recognizing losses from investments that have experienced a permanent impairment that must be
returned prior to a General Partner receiving a Performance Allocation; or (iii) for certain GA Clients,
employ valuation methodologies that give rise to a higher valuation in order to increase fees, such as
in the case of a Management Fee that is calculated based on portfolio value (as described in the
Governing Documents of the applicable GA Client) or as a percentage of the value of such GA
Clients’ assets.
The payment of performance-based compensation may create an incentive for General Atlantic to
make investments that are more speculative than would be the case in the absence of performance
based compensation. In addition, the loss restoration account mechanism for the Global Growth
Equity Clients, as well as the general partner clawback mechanism, may not require General Atlantic
to return to the Limited Partners the same amount of its performance based compensation as would
be the case had General Atlantic had a more traditional private equity structure. Additionally, because
a clawback obligation owed to Limited Partners of a GA Client is generally calculated on an after-tax
basis under the applicable Governing Documents, Limited Partners could not receive their full share
of profits that they would have otherwise received had there been no excess distribution to the General
Partner. Both the fees payable to GASC and the Performance Allocation payable to the General
Partners will reduce the rate of return that Limited Partners will derive from investments under the
GA Clients.
A conflict of interest may arise because a General Partner’s right to distribute to its members or
shareholders the Performance Allocation attributable to the disposition of a Limited Partner’s
investment is restricted based on the value of a Limited Partner’s investments in portfolio companies,
or certain performance hurdles being met, while GASC performs the valuations of portfolio company
investments. GASC may be potentially incentivized to influence or adjust the valuations because
higher valuations may result in distributions of more Performance Allocation. GASC is subject to a
valuation policy to address these potential conflicts, and General Atlantic conducts formal valuations
on all portfolio companies and investments quarterly based on the methodology and processes set
forth in the valuation policy. In addition, valuations are audited annually by an independent audit
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firm as part of the annual audit of the financial statements of the GA Client (or, in the case of the GA
Core Program, the Core Program Partnerships). At the discretion of GASC, from time to time, one
or more independent valuation firms or third parties may be engaged to review GASC’s valuations or
conduct valuations of investments (or a sample thereof), including the valuations for GASC’s
quarterly reports, as well as to provide guidance on GASC’s valuation policy, methodologies and
processes. Where General Atlantic engages an independent valuation firm, the analysis performed
by the independent valuation firm is based upon (i) limited procedures that General Atlantic identified
and requested the independent valuation firm to perform and (ii) data and assumptions provided to it
by General Atlantic and received from third party sources, which the independent valuation firm relies
upon as being accurate without independent verification. General Atlantic is ultimately and solely
responsible for determining the fair value of portfolio investments and for determining and
implementing procedures and policies that are appropriate for General Atlantic.
For the Core Program and Companion Funds, if all or a portion of any Core Program Partnership’s
or Companion Fund’s investment in a portfolio company has been disposed of at a net loss, then a
portion of each Limited Partner’s pro rata share of such loss with respect to such investment is
credited to an account (the “ILRA”) for the benefit of such Limited Partner. In addition, Performance
Allocation is held back in a special account maintained by GASC until the portfolio of such Limited
Partner passes the portfolio value test, which requires the value of remaining investments generally
to equal at least a specified premium to the cost basis of such investments (the “Portfolio Value
Test”). The balance in the ILRA is increased if such Limited Partner’s investment in a portfolio
company has been disposed of at a net loss or if there has been a write-down by General Atlantic to
the fair market value of any investment, the value of which, in General Atlantic’s good faith
discretion, has been permanently impaired (a “Permanent Impairment Write-Down”). As a result
of a valuation, an investment in a portfolio company may be reduced or written down, but General
Atlantic may not make a Permanent Impairment Write-Down of such investment. While this
reduction or write-down will reduce the value of a Limited Partner’s investments in portfolio
companies, may affect such Limited Partner’s Portfolio Value Test and may limit or restrict a General
Partner’s right to distribute to its partners the Performance Allocation, this reduction or write-down
will not increase the balance in the ILRA because it is not a Permanent Impairment Write-Down. A
conflict of interest may arise because even though GASC’s valuation of an investment in a portfolio
company may result in the reduction or write-down of its value, which impacts the timing of the
distribution of the Performance Allocation under the Portfolio Value Test, GASC may be potentially
incentivized not to make a Permanent Impairment Write-Down with respect to such investment
because a Permanent Impairment Write-Down increases the balance in the ILRA and will reduce the
Performance Allocation in the future.
In addition, under the Governing Documents, GASC is afforded discretion to determine the timing
and nature of certain transactions and characterize the proceeds received in respect thereof, and will
at times have a conflict of interest in making such determinations. By way of example, in the event
of a partial disposition of a portfolio investment, GASC has the ability to determine, in an equitable
manner, the portion of the investment that has been disposed of and the capital contributions made by
investors that are attributable to such portion. GASC may have an incentive to make these allocations
in a way that benefits GASC’s ability to receive, or that increases the amount of, Performance
Allocation. In addition, at certain times and in certain circumstances involving transactions that do
not entail the disposition of shares or other securities relating to a portfolio investment, such as certain
recapitalizations, extraordinary dividends or similar events, GASC may elect to treat all or any portion
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of the proceeds of such transactions as a return of capital (and potentially receive a Performance
Allocation on such amounts) while not reducing the amount of actively invested capital upon which
the Management Fee is calculated or otherwise triggering a repayment of losses in the ILRA.
Allocation of Investment Opportunities among the GA Clients
When presented with investment opportunities that fall within the investment objective of more than
one GA Client, GASC will allocate such opportunities among such GA Clients taking into account
such factors as GASC deems appropriate, which may include, without limitation: the size of the
investment opportunity; overall portfolio balance; diversification objectives and limitations; the
sourcing of the transaction; the relative amounts of capital available for investment; the size of the
transaction; investment guidelines; risk profile; contractual prohibitions; the amount of potential
follow-on investing anticipated to be required for such investment and the other portfolio investments
of the applicable GA Clients and the relation of such opportunity to the investment strategy of each
such GA Client; available financing; strategic considerations; legal, tax, regulatory, accounting and
other similar considerations; and any other considerations deemed relevant by GA and GASC.
Certain conflicts of interest may arise from the fact that GA Clients may invest in the same
opportunities in a portfolio company with certain other GA Clients. For example, it is possible that
as a result of legal, tax, regulatory, accounting or other considerations, the terms of an investment
(including with respect to price and timing) for the GA Clients may not be the same. In addition, the
GA Clients may have different expected termination dates and/or investment objectives (including
return profiles) and GASC, as a result, may have conflicting goals with respect to the price and timing
of disposition opportunities or ability to make follow-on investments. If the GA Clients acquire
and/or dispose of securities in any one portfolio company at different times, the performance results
between such GA Clients would likely vary, and such variation may be significant. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, and as further described in the Governing Documents of the GA Core Program, (i) any
Sponsor Coinvestment Fund, LP Coinvestment Vehicle and/or Similar Single Account will make and
dispose of investments in portfolio companies at substantially the same time and on substantially the
same terms as the applicable Core Program Partnerships investing in such portfolio companies, and
(ii) investments are allocated among the Limited Partners in the Core Program Partnerships and the
Sponsor Coinvestment Funds in proportion to their capital commitments (unless otherwise prescribed
in the applicable Governing Documents).
Furthermore, it is possible that a portfolio company, counterparty, lender or other unaffiliated
participant requires facing only one fund entity or group of entities, which may result in one or more
GA Clients being jointly and severally liable for the full amount of such obligation. In such cases,
GA intends to have the applicable GA Clients enter into back-to-back or other similar reimbursement
arrangements. It is not expected that such GA Clients would be compensated (or provide
compensation to the other) for being primarily liable vis-à-vis such counterparty.
Allocation of Investment Opportunities among the GA Core Program and the Actis Funds
All funds managed by Actis are advisory clients of relying advisers of GASC and are deemed “Other
Advisory Clients” for all purposes of the Governing Documents of the GA Core Program. Certain of
the Actis-managed funds have investment programs that have limited overlap with the investment
mandate of the GA Core Program (“Actis Overlap Funds”) and constitute New Focused Clients. As
New Focused Clients, investment opportunities suitable for the GA Core Program (“Eligible
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Investment Opportunities”) that are sourced or developed by investment professionals who are
dedicated to the Actis platform are first offered to the Actis Overlap Funds and are allocated 100% to
the Actis Overlap Funds. To the extent the Actis Overlap Funds do not pursue any such opportunity,
the investment opportunity may be offered to the GA Core Program (or if not suitable for the GA
Core Program, to Other Advisory Clients in accordance with GASC’s investment allocation policy).
Similarly, Eligible Investment Opportunities sourced or developed by investment professionals who
are dedicated to GA’s global growth equity strategy will continue to be offered to the GA Core
Program (and Other Advisory Clients, if applicable) first and will be allocated 100% to the GA Core
Program (and such Other Advisory Clients), in accordance with the allocation policies applicable to
the GA Core Program and such Other Advisory Clients. To the extent the GA Core Program does
not pursue the opportunity, the investment opportunity may be offered to the Actis Overlap Funds (or
if not suitable for the Actis Overlap Funds, to Other Advisory Clients in accordance with GASC’s
investment allocation policy).
Allocations of GA Credit Investment Opportunities
GA Credit Clients may co-invest with each other or with any other GA Client, including any
separately managed account or other GA Client whose purpose may include co-investing alongside a
GA Credit Fund. It is expected that investment opportunities that are consistent with the investment
strategies of any GA Credit Clients and other GA Clients will be allocated among the GA Credit
Clients and such other GA Clients in such proportion as GASC may deem to be fair and equitable.
In certain instances, a GA Credit Client that is a successor to a prior GA Credit Client may invest
alongside its predecessor GA Credit Client; provided, that, for so long as the predecessor GA Credit
Client’s aggregate capital commitments are not fully drawn, committed or reserved (as determined
by the General Partner) during its commitment period, any investment opportunity that falls within
the investment program of the predecessor GA Credit Client and the current GA Credit Client will
first be offered (in whole or in part) to the predecessor GA Credit Client. To the extent that any such
investment opportunity exceeds the predecessor GA Credit Client’s desired allocation amount, all or
a portion of such opportunity will be made available to the current GA Credit Client.
Investment allocation decisions involve several discretionary determinations by GASC, including (a)
whether an investment opportunity is consistent with the investment strategies of GASC, (b) whether
the GA Credit Clients should participate in such investment opportunity and (c) whether the GA
Credit Clients should take up all of such of investment opportunity and, if not, what portion of such
investment opportunity the GA Credit Clients should take up. In making such determinations, GASC
will be faced with certain potential conflicts of interest and there can be no assurance that these
conflicts of interest will not influence GASC’s decision-making process, which could have the effect
of causing the GA Credit Clients to receive a sub-optimal allocation or no allocation of certain
investment opportunities. In allocating an investment opportunity among the GA Credit Clients and
other GA Clients with differing fee, expense and compensation structures, GASC may have an
incentive to allocate investment opportunities to Other Advisory Clients from which GASC may
derive, directly or indirectly, a higher fee, returns or compensation. In particular, the separately
managed accounts, which may eventually comprise a substantial portion of the GA Credit Clients,
will likely be subject to lower fees and Performance Allocations than the other GA Clients.
Because certain GA Credit Clients (notably, separately managed accounts) are expected to have veto
or opt-out rights as it relates to the acquisition or disposition of investments, a GA Credit Client may,
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to the extent that such GA Client(s) decline an investment opportunity, be allocated a larger portion
of such investment opportunity than initially allocated to such GA Credit Client prior to such GA
Client(s) declining the investment opportunity.
Certain Limited Partners, separately managed account investors and investors in other GA Clients
may be referred investment opportunities and may participate in such investment directly, outside of
the GA Credit Clients (in addition to their participation through the GA Credit Fund or such separately
managed account or other GA Client if such GA Credit Client participates in such investment).
GASC may enter into agreements with such Limited Partners and/or investors related to
compensations arrangements (including fees, waivers or reductions in management fees and/or
performance-based compensation that would otherwise have been payable or allocable to GASC or
its affiliates) and may have a conflict of interest in deciding whether to offer such investment
opportunity to the GA Credit Clients.
Investments in which Other GA Clients Have a Different Principal Interest
GA Clients may invest in a broad range of asset classes throughout the corporate capital structure.
These investments could include investments in corporate loans and debt securities, preferred equity
securities and common equity securities. As a result, one GA Client may invest in portfolio
companies in which certain other GA Clients have or will have investments in different parts of the
capital structure of a given portfolio company.
Conflicts of interest arise under such circumstances. If GA Clients were to invest in different parts
of the capital structure of any one portfolio company, the interests of such GA Clients may not be
aligned in all circumstances with one another. The interests of GA Clients investing in different parts
of the capital structure of such portfolio company are particularly likely to conflict in the case such
portfolio company undergoes financial distress. For example, in the event such portfolio company
enters bankruptcy, the GA Client holding securities that are senior in bankruptcy preference is
expected to have the right to aggressively pursue the portfolio company’s assets to fully satisfy the
portfolio company’s indebtedness to such GA Client, and GA might have an obligation to pursue
such remedy on behalf of such GA Client. Conversely, another GA Client holding assets of the same
portfolio company that are more junior in the capital structure might not have access to sufficient
assets of the portfolio company to completely satisfy its bankruptcy claim against the portfolio
company and suffer a loss. In that regard, actions may be taken by one GA Client that are adverse to
the investors in the other GA Client. GA could cause actions adverse to one GA Client to be taken
for the benefit of Other GA Clients that have made an investment more senior in the capital structure
of a portfolio company than such GA Client. It generally will not be feasible for GA to advocate
effectively for the interest of all of its clients to the extent that there are conflicting or competing
interests among holders of different seniorities of debt or other securities. This may result in a loss
or substantial dilution of the first GA Client’s investment, while the second GA Client recovers all or
part of amounts due to it. In such circumstances, GA could, to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, take steps to reduce the potential for conflicts between the interests of each of the
applicable GA Clients, including causing one or more of such GA Clients to take certain actions that,
in the absence of such conflict, it would not take.
In addition, there can be no assurance that the return on a GA Client’s investments in any one portfolio
company will be equivalent to or better than the returns obtained by any other GA Client in connection
with its investment in such portfolio company. In situations in which GA and/or a GA Client hold an
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interest in a portfolio company that differs from that of other GA Clients, conflicts of interest may
arise in connection with, among other things, (i) the nature, timing and terms of each GA Client’s
investment, (ii) the allocation of control and other governance rights among GA Clients, (iii) the
strategic objectives or timing underlying each GA Client’s investments, (iv) differing disposition
rights, views and/or needs for all or part of an investment and/or (v) resolution of liabilities in
connection with an investment among the GA Clients. These conflicts result from various factors,
including, among other things, investments in different levels of the capital structure, different
measurements of control, different risk profiles, different rights with respect to disposition
alternatives, different investment objectives, strategies and horizons and different target rates of return
as well as rights in connection with coinvestors.
In addition, the involvement of GA Clients at multiple levels of equity and debt of the same portfolio
company could inhibit strategic information exchanges among fellow creditors. In certain
circumstances, such GA Clients could be prohibited from exercising voting or other rights, or could
be subject to claims by other creditors with respect to the subordination of their interest. Because of
the different legal rights associated with debt and equity of the same portfolio company, General
Atlantic (including, for this purpose, investment professionals and other personnel) will face a conflict
of interest in respect of the advice they give to, and the actions they take on behalf of, one GA Client
versus another GA Client (e.g., the terms of debt instruments, the enforcement of covenants, the terms
of recapitalizations, and the resolution of workouts or bankruptcies). Such persons or entities could
express inconsistent views on commonly held investments or of market conditions more generally.
Furthermore, investments by more than one GA Client in the same portfolio company also raise the
risk of using assets of one client, such as the GA Core Program, to support positions taken by other
GA Clients, or that a GA Client remains passive in a situation in which it is entitled to vote. For
example, if additional capital is necessary as a result of financial or other difficulties, or to finance
growth or other opportunities, in a portfolio Company of one GA Client, another GA Client invested
in such portfolio Company may or may not provide such additional capital in circumstances where
the other Client is compelled, if not obligated, to make a follow-on investment (or vice versa).
Conversely, if the First GA Client does not have sufficient funds or is otherwise limited in its ability
to make a follow-on investment, General Atlantic can organize another investment vehicle (including
another GA Client), or direct an existing GA Client, to provide all or a portion of the necessary capital.
Such GA Client could have features substantially similar to or otherwise analogous to a GA Client
and be effected on terms and conditions substantially similar to or otherwise analogous to those of a
co-investment alongside the First GA Client.
Such follow-on investments where there is differing participation as between two GA Clients could
give rise to, among other things, conflicts of interest in connection with valuing the securities or
interests being issued or acquired in connection with such investment (to the extent that certain
valuations are more likely than not to benefit the one GA Client over another). There can also be
differences in the timing of entry into, or exit from, a portfolio company for reasons such as
differences in strategy, or existing portfolio or liquidity needs. These variations in timing could be
detrimental to a GA Client. In any event, the application of the Governing Documents and GASC’s
policies and procedures are expected to vary based on the particular facts and circumstances
surrounding each investment with GA Clients in different parts of a portfolio company’s capital
structure (as well as across multiple issuers or borrowers within the same overall capital structure)
and, as such, there is likely to be a degree of variation and potential inconsistencies, in the manner in
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which potential or actual conflicts are addressed. Although General Atlantic will endeavor to resolve
such conflicts of interest in a manner it determines to be fair and reasonable under the circumstances,
and in the collective best interests of all of the relevant GA Client under the circumstances, and over
time, there can be no assurance that such conflicts will be resolved in a manner that is favorable to all
GA Clients and their Limited Partners.
Conflicting Fiduciary Duties to GA Clients
GA Clients include funds that make investments in senior secured loans, distressed debt, subordinated
debt, high-yield securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities, preferred securities and other
debt-like instruments. Subject to the terms of the Governing Documents, these GA Clients could be
offered the opportunity to provide financing to the investments of other GA Clients, including the
Global Growth Equity Clients’ portfolio companies. GASC owes a duty to all GA Clients and will
encounter conflicts in the exercise of these duties. For example, if a GA Client purchases high-yield
securities or other debt instruments of a portfolio company, or otherwise occupies a senior (or other
different) position in the capital structure of a portfolio investment relative to the Core Program
Partnerships, GA will encounter conflicts in providing advice to the Core Program Partnerships and
to these other GA Clients with regard to appropriate terms of such high-yield securities or other
instruments, the enforcement of covenants, the terms of recapitalizations and the resolution of
workouts or bankruptcies, among other matters. Less commonly, the GA Core Program could hold
a portfolio investment that is senior in the capital structure, such as a debt instrument, to another GA
Client. Although measures taken by GA can help to mitigate these conflicts, no measures can be
expected to completely eliminate them. These conflicts will not necessarily be resolved in favor of
the Limited Partners and Limited Partners may not be entitled to receive notice or disclosure of the
occurrence of these conflicts.
Similarly, GA Clients may have the ability to invest in securities of publicly traded companies that
are actual or potential investments of GA Clients or their portfolio companies. The investment
activities of GA Clients may differ from or be inconsistent with activities that are undertaken for the
GA Core Program or its portfolio companies in any such securities. In addition, certain GA Clients,
such as the GA Core Program may not pursue an investment in a portfolio company otherwise within
the investment mandate of the GA Core Program as a result of such investment activities by other
GA Clients.
While GA anticipates that, over time, the overall benefits of permitting multiple clients to participate
in different parts of the capital structure of the same portfolio company could outweigh the potential
disadvantages in particular circumstances, there is no way to predict whether these net benefits will
ultimately be achieved.
Reserves and Givebacks
GA regularly reserves capital from Limited Partners for investments, expenses and fees. The
Governing Documents generally provide that distributions, including final distributions to Limited
Partners, are subject to reserves or holdbacks for estimated accrued expenses, liabilities, and
contingencies. In addition, Limited Partners would in certain instances subject to a GA Client’s
Governing Documents be required to return amounts distributed to them in order to, among other
things, fund indemnification obligations and Partnership Expenses. The applicable laws in certain
jurisdictions require investors that received a distribution in error or in violation of such law to, under
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certain circumstances, re-contribute such distributions to the respective GA Client. As a result,
Limited Partners may be required to contribute more capital than their original commitment amount.
GA Core Program Reserves
When General Atlantic reserves capital from Core Program Limited Partners, the reserved capital
may represent all of the remaining capital that is available for investments in portfolio companies by
such Core Program Limited Partner. If such Core Program Limited Partner does not renew its
commitment to General Atlantic, then it will no longer participate in any new investments in portfolio
companies because all of its capital for portfolio company investments has been funded and reserved,
although such Core Program Limited Partner may participate in follow-on investments. After a Core
Program Limited Partner’s capital commitment under its Commitment Agreement has been initially
fully funded, used or reserved, notwithstanding any subsequent increase of such Limited Partner’s
unfunded capital commitment under its Commitment Agreement, the Limited Partner will cease
participating under its Commitment Agreement in any new investments in portfolio companies (other
than follow-on investments as described below), and any such subsequent increase will be reserved
for follow-on investments, Management Fees and expenses. Unlike with respect to the Core Program
Limited Partners, capital is not generally reserved from the Sponsor Coinvestors by General Atlantic
or the Sponsor Coinvestment Funds under the circumstances described above. Similarly, no portion
of the participation amount attributable to the MPI Entity is reserved from the Core Program Limited
Partners who invested capital for the benefit of the MPI Entity in the investment that gave rise to such
obligation to pay an additional purchase price. Because of these different reserve practices with
respect to different parties that participate in investments together, certain of the Core Program
Limited Partners may have more capital available for follow-on investments than other Core Program
Limited Partners, the Sponsor Coinvestors and with respect to the amount attributable to the MPI
Entity (and in turn, less capital available for new investments).
LP Co-Investments
General Atlantic may, to the extent that it believes in its sole discretion it is appropriate to do so, offer
co-investment opportunities with respect to a portfolio investment by a GA Client to any Limited
Partner of any GA Client. Co-investment opportunities offered to Limited Partners may be made
available through limited partnerships or other entities formed to make such investments.
With respect to coinvestments alongside the GA Core Program (the “Core LP Coinvestment
Policy”), GASC has adopted a policy governing the offer of co-investment opportunities to Limited
Partners and Pooled Account Investors. Under the Core LP Coinvestment Policy, an eligible Limited
Partner is a Limited Partner (a) who, at the time of the applicable co-investment opportunity, has a
commitment to the GA Core Program of at least $250 million (for investors entering into new or
renewal Commitment Agreements, or amended and restated Commitment Agreements, after February
1, 2022; for all other investors, such minimum is $150 million), and (b) whose commitment to the
GA Core Program, at the time of the applicable co-investment opportunity, is current (i.e., committed
funds are available for new portfolio company investments). Under the terms of the Core LP
Coinvestment Policy, (i) General Atlantic has sole discretion to determine whether or not to offer
investment opportunities, how much of a particular investment opportunity to offer as a co-investment
and the terms of any co-investment; (ii) the eligible Limited Partners have the right to accept or
decline participation in any co-investment opportunity offered; and (iii) if a Limited Partner
participates in a co-investment, a GA-sponsored co-investment entity invests side-by-side and on the
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same terms and conditions as the investment being made by the GA Core Program, except that the
eligible Limited Partners participating in such co-investment do not pay any Performance Allocation
or Management Fees with respect to their co-investment interest.
General Atlantic is under no obligation to offer co-investment opportunities. General Atlantic may
also offer co-investment opportunities to Limited Partners, Pooled Account Investors and other
persons (including third-party co-investors) who have current commitments that are less than $250
million.
If a GA Client’s total investment opportunity is greater than the amount that General Atlantic wishes
to invest through such GA Client, then GA may nevertheless determine not to designate a portion of
such investment as a co-investment opportunity for Limited Partners and instead seek to share such
investment with a third party that is not a Limited Partner because such third party may provide
strategic benefits to the potential portfolio company.
For all GA Clients, in determining whether or not to offer a co-investment opportunity to a Limited
Partner or third party, General Atlantic may consider, based on the facts and circumstances of a
potential investment, the Limited Partner’s investment size, strategic value, firm-building value,
speed of execution, experience and knowledge in investing in companies in the same or similar line
of business and/or the same geography as such potential portfolio company, existing relationships
with such potential portfolio company’s management team, business partners and/or customers
(including potential customers) or confidentiality concerns or publicity concerns, among other
considerations. Consequently, such Limited Partner or third party may be well-positioned to improve
the value of such potential portfolio company, the GA Client or the firm as a whole.
Over Commitments. In order to facilitate the acquisition of a portfolio company, a GA Client may
make (or commit to make) an investment in such company with a view to selling a portion of such
investment to co-investors or other persons prior to or within a brief period after the closing of the
acquisition. In such event, the GA Client will bear the risk that any or all of the excess portion of
such investment may not be sold or may only be sold on unattractive terms and that, as a consequence,
the GA Client may bear the entire portion of any break-up fee or other fees, costs, liabilities and
expenses related to such investment, hold a larger than expected investment in such portfolio
company, or may realize lower than expected returns from such investment. The GA Client will also
bear the risk that any co-investors acquiring a portion of a portfolio company after closing may
acquire such interest on terms that may not reflect the then-current value of the portfolio company.
A GA Client may also borrow to fund the portion of an investment that it intends to sell to co-
investors. If the prospective co-investors do not ultimately invest in such investment, such GA Client
will bear the interest and other expenses relating to any such borrowing or investment as well as any
broken-deal expenses. Even if any proposed co-investors do ultimately participate in an investment,
they may not agree to bear the interest and other expenses of the GA Client relating to such
investment, in which case such interest and other expenses will be borne by the Limited Partners that
participate in such investment. Additionally, a GA Client’s position could also be diluted or
subordinated by subsequent investments of co-investors.
Conflicting Interests of Co-Investors. The commitment of co-investors to a portfolio company may
be substantial and such investments may involve risks not present in investments where such co-
investors are not involved. Co-investors will generally bear their pro rata share of fees, costs, and
expenses related to the discovery, investigation, development, acquisition, or consummation,
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ownership, maintenance, monitoring, hedging, and disposition of their co-investments, but in most
cases, co-investors will not agree to pay or otherwise bear fees, costs, or expenses related to
unconsummated co-investments, such as break-up fees or broken deal expenses. Such fees, costs,
and expenses that are not borne by co-investors will be borne by the GA Client(s) that participate (or
would have participated) in such co-investment.
In addition, the GA Clients and co-investors may from time to time enter into joint and several
obligations with respect to obligations as between themselves, on the one hand, and any third party,
on the other hand, that arise in connection with investments entered into by the GA Clients and/or
any co-investors. In such instances, the GA Clients and/or any co-investors, as the case may be, will
contribute to such obligation or promptly reimburse each other for such contribution so that such
obligations are ultimately borne by them on a pro rata basis or in such different proportions that GA
determines in its discretion to be fair and equitable under the circumstances.
Follow-On Investments by Co-Investors. Co-investors are typically entitled to elect to participate in
their pro rata share of any follow-on investments to the initial investment in which they participated.
Because co-investors are not typically obligated to participate in follow-on investments, they will
from time to time elect not to participate in a follow-on investments, in which case the amounts that
would have been allocated to such co-investors will then be reallocated to the Limited Partners who
participated in any prior investment in the portfolio company up to their unfunded capital
commitments (net of any reserves) and the Sponsor Coinvestors who currently commit capital to the
Sponsor Coinvestment Funds and who participated in any prior investment in the portfolio company.
Information Sharing
GASC does not generally employ information walls, and information obtained in connection with
certain GA Clients and their portfolio companies (notably, the Global Growth Equity Clients) could
be shared with other GA Clients, and vice versa. Although GASC believes that this approach
enhances GASC’s overall market knowledge and insights and investment management activities for
all of its advisory clients, GA’s investment professionals or other employees will acquire, in their
capacities as investment professionals or otherwise of one or more GA Clients, non-public
information regarding investment opportunities, business methodologies, strategies and other
proprietary information that is shared with and ultimately used for the material benefit of other GA
Clients, in each case, without compensation or other benefit accruing to the sourcing client or its
investors. For example, information from portfolio companies owned by a Core Program Partnership
could enable GASC to better understand a particular industry and, subject to compliance with law,
execute trading and investment strategies in reliance on that understanding for other GA Clients that
do not own an interest in the portfolio company or issuer, without compensation or benefit to the
relevant Core Program Partnership or the portfolio company. Further, the significance of GA’s assets
under management could have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Core Program
Partnerships to take advantage of investment opportunities that might otherwise have been suitable.
Although GASC will endeavor to ensure that such information sharing and use does not prejudice the
GA Clients, there can be no assurance that such endeavors will be sufficient or successful.
In the event that any employee of General Atlantic obtains material non-public information that could
influence investment decisions, GASC would be restricted in acquiring or disposing of the relevant
investments on behalf of its advisory clients, which could impact the returns generated for such
advisory clients. Notwithstanding that GASC does not maintain information walls among its
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investment management businesses, GASC expects, in certain cases, to manage possible risks
associated with access to material non-public information by maintaining information walls that limit
the dissemination of material non-public information concerning certain GA strategic and other
transactions to a designated group of General Atlantic personnel. Notwithstanding these internal
controls, it is possible that the internal controls relating to the management of material non-public
information could fail and result in General Atlantic buying or selling a security while, at least
constructively, in possession of material non-public information. Inadvertent trading on material non-
public information could have adverse effects on GA’s reputation, result in the imposition of
regulatory or financial sanctions and, as a consequence, negatively impact GA’s ability to provide its
investment management services to the GA Clients.
While GASC currently operates without information barriers among its investment management
businesses, GASC could be required by certain regulations, or decide that it is advisable, to establish
information barriers among its investment management businesses (e.g., between the growth equity
business and GA Credit or Actis). In such event, GASC’s ability to operate as an integrated
investment management business would be impaired, which would limit GASC’s access to certain
General Atlantic personnel and information and could adversely impact its ability to manage the GA
Clients’ investments. The establishment of such information barriers could also lead to operational
disruptions and result in restructuring costs, including costs related to hiring additional personnel as
existing investment professionals are allocated to either side of such barriers, which could adversely
affect GA’s business and the GA Clients.
GA as Lender
GA or an affiliate of GA may from time to time act as lender or other provider of financing to one or
more GA Clients as part of the consortium of lenders or other providers of financing to one or more
GA Clients. Any such transaction will give rise to conflicts of interest between GA or the relevant
affiliated financing provider, on the one hand, and the GA Clients, on the other hand. To mitigate
these conflicts, any such transaction will be made only in accordance with GASC’s policies and
procedures and on overall terms that GA determines in good faith are no less favorable to the GA
Clients, as applicable, than would be obtained in a transaction with an unaffiliated party.
Joint Ventures and Investing with Other Sponsors of Private Funds
The GA Clients, GASC and/or their respective affiliates may enter into joint venture arrangements,
co-invest with third parties or otherwise participate in pooled investment vehicles with others, or may
allocate discrete portions of its assets to other managers to manage on a discretionary or non-
discretionary basis, if GASC determines that such an arrangement represents the appropriate way to
access a particular investment opportunity or otherwise expand the investment expertise available to
the GA Clients. The GA Clients could be subject to various fees and costs relating to such ventures,
including additional performance-based or fixed asset-based fees or allocations payable or allocable
to the promoters, managers, operating partners or sub-advisers of such ventures, and such fees are not
subject to the fee offset provisions described in the Governing Documents.
GA and/or GA Clients could have interests (and in the past have had, and in the future may have
additional interests) in one or more joint ventures or other arrangements with service providers
pursuant to which services are or will be provided by such service providers to such GA Clients, their
portfolio companies, other asset managers (including other private equity fund managers and their
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related investment funds), operators of assets and/or other persons. Such GA Clients may be subject
to various fees and costs and expenses, including annual retainer fees, performance-based or fixed
asset-based fees or allocations in connection with such joint ventures or other arrangements that are
payable to or otherwise accrue to the benefit of, such service providers, including any portion of such
fees, income or other amounts paid or borne by such GA Clients, and GA (and/or its affiliates) and/or
GA Clients may share in such fees, allocations or other income (any such fees, allocations or income
derived from a revenue-sharing, profit-sharing or similar economic arrangements between GASC or
any of its affiliates, on the one hand, and a service provider, on the other hand, the “Service Provider
Revenue” and any such service provider, a “Strategic Service Provider”). To the extent that more
than one GA Client utilizes the services of a Strategic Service Provider, such GA Clients could receive
a larger or smaller proportional benefit with respect to the revenue generated by the Strategic Service
Provider. In cases where GA and/or a GA Client has an interest in or any arrangements with a
Strategic Service Provider, there could be instances where such Strategic Service Provider is invested
in another company that such GA Client is evaluating making an investment in, and vice versa, which
would create a conflict of interest in that GA would be incentivized to recommend that such GA
Client invest in such company. Although GA will seek to ensure that such transactions and
arrangements contain terms that it believes are no less favorable to the GA Clients than are generally
obtainable from unrelated third parties, such arrangements present conflicts of interest since such
agreements or other arrangements may not be negotiated at arm’s length.
The GA Clients, GASC and/or their affiliates may also acquire full or partial ownership interests in
investment and/or operating structures and/or other similar entities or arrangements (each, a
“Platform”). Any compensation of such Platforms paid to third-party managers or to GASC or any
GA person or affiliate (“Platform Compensation”) will not offset fees paid to GASC by the Limited
Partners and such GA Clients.
This full or partial ownership of a Platform creates the potential for certain conflicts of interest. For
example, GASC may cause one or more GA Clients to invest in a Platform in which GASC or its
affiliate has a direct or indirect economic interest, which may be a controlling interest, and in any
such case, GASC may have been incentivized to cause such GA Client to invest in such Platform
partially because of such direct or indirect economic interest therein. To the extent that the GA Clients
invest in a Platform and GASC or any GA person holds an equity interest solely in the management
entity of such Platform, GASC will have a conflict of interest which could affect its decisions vis-à-
vis the Platform and the GA Clients. Additionally, GASC may cause one or more GA Clients to
invest in a Platform to make investments that one or more other GA Clients could otherwise have
invested in (or vice versa) directly where investing indirectly through such Platform results in more
favorable expense treatment or other economic advantages for GASC and/or its affiliates. In addition,
the General Partners, GASC and/or their respective affiliates may have an incentive to arrange the
purchase by the GA Clients of assets from a Platform or services from the associated management
entity (thereby generating profits or fees for the GA Clients that have an interest in such Platform
and/or its management entity). Finally, conflicts could arise if an associated management entity of a
Platform breaches its sale agreement, servicing agreement, consultancy arrangement and/or other
similar arrangement with certain GA Clients or otherwise fails to perform its responsibilities
adequately with respect to the GA Clients, resulting in harm or damages to the GA Clients. In such
circumstances, the General Partner, GASC and/or their respective affiliates may have a conflict in
determining whether to seek appropriate recourse for the affected GA Clients, including through
litigation. The General Partner and GASC intend to resolve all such conflicts using their good faith
judgment, taking into account all factors they deem relevant in their discretion.
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Investment Activities of GA’s Managing Directors
Except as otherwise set forth in the Governing Documents, GA’s Managing Directors are able to
commit a portion of their professional time and attention to matters unrelated to the GA Core Program
or any other GA Client. Subject to any limitations set forth in the Governing Documents, the General
Partners, GASC and their respective affiliates may at any time market, organize, sponsor or act as
general partner or manager or as the primary source for transactions for one or more other GA Clients.
Such activities may raise conflicts of interest for which the resolution may not be currently
determinable. For example, portfolio companies of one or more GA Clients will be in competition
with one or more other GA Clients’ portfolio companies, and GA’s Managing Directors may service
of the boards of potentially competing portfolio companies. Additional conflicts may arise in the
allocation of management resources among the GA Clients. Notwithstanding the foregoing, GA’s
Managing Directors will devote such time and attention to the activities of the GA Clients as is
required for the efficient conduct thereof. GA’s Managing Directors and employees of General
Atlantic may serve as directors of one or more of the portfolio companies in which a GA Client is
invested, and in that capacity, will be required to make decisions that they consider to be in the best
interests of such portfolio companies. In certain circumstances, such as in situations involving
bankruptcy or near insolvency of a portfolio company, actions that may be in the best interests of
such portfolio company may not be in the best interests of the GA Client, and vice versa. Accordingly,
in these situations, there is the potential for conflicts of interest between an individual’s duties as a
partner, officer or employee of General Atlantic and such individual’s duties as a director of a
portfolio company.
Transactions with Continuation Vehicles
In certain circumstances, GASC will determine that it would be in the best interests of a GA Client
to provide an opportunity for underlying investors to obtain liquidity for all or a portion of their
interests or their interests in particular investments while other GA Clients own, and GASC continues
to manage, such investments. Subject to any consents required pursuant to the GA Client’s Governing
Documents, GASC could propose to a GA Client’s advisory board or a GA Client’s investors one or
more transactions that enable investors to monetize or restructure all or a portion of their interests in
a GA Client, including through the use of a new investment fund or similar Continuation Vehicle
(each such transaction, a “Liquidity Event”) that would be advised by GASC and from which GASC
may receive asset-based and performance-based compensation, as determined by GASC. When
making such determination, GASC may take the view that a particular investment: (i) has the potential
for additional value that may require a longer holding period or additional fundings of capital than is
appropriate or permitted for the GA Clients that then own such investment and/or that the optimal
exit from such investment is likely to be achieved as of such later date or (ii) that due to a variety of
circumstances (e.g., prevailing market conditions, a changed risk-return for the asset, the life-cycle
of the GA Client, etc.), the relevant investment is no longer suitable for the GA Client(s) that own it.
As part of the Liquidity Event, the Limited Partners may be given the opportunity to continue their
investment in the relevant assets, in whole or in part. GASC may, but will not be obligated to, offer
the selling Limited Partners the ability to reinvest in the relevant investment through the applicable
Continuation Vehicle via roll-over equity. GASC may seek to require the purchasers to make
commitments to a successor fund and/or its parallel funds advised by GASC or accept the terms of
disposition offered by the new investors for the portfolio company interests. The terms offered to
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selling Limited Partners may or may not accurately reflect fair market value of such interests.
Because GASC will have the opportunity to earn additional asset-based and performance-based
compensation and other economic benefits in respect of such Liquidity Events, and because each
purchaser’s commitment to acquire interests in a successor fund and/or its parallel funds could be
conditioned upon completion of the Liquidity Events, GASC will have conflicts of interest with
respect to any such Liquidity Event, including in determining the terms and participants in connection
with such Liquidity Event. GASC could be subject to other conflicts of interests in connection with
a Liquidity Event, including with respect to investment valuations, allocation of fees and expenses,
and the offering of investment opportunities to GA Clients.
Depending on the elections made by the Limited Partners, the sale of an investment to a Continuation
Vehicle will result in certain Limited Partners disposing of their investments in the underlying assets
at a different time than the non-participating Limited Partners, and otherwise taking actions with
respect to such investment that are different than the actions taken by the Limited Partners that do not
make the same elections. As such, certain Limited Partners, including the relevant general partner
and other related persons of General Atlantic, could ultimately receive a return on their share of the
relevant investment that is higher or lower than the return achieved by other investors in the GA
Client.
Additionally, it is possible that new investors will be subscribing for interests in a Continuation
Vehicle (“New Funding Investors”) alongside underlying investors that will be rolling their interests
in the underlying investments (“Rolling Investors”) and that such New Funding Investors may
participate in any such Continuation Vehicle on terms that are more or less favorable than the terms
offered to Rolling Investors, resulting in additional conflicts of interest between the interests of such
New Funding Investors and such Rolling Investors. In addition, such New Funding Investors in a
Continuation Vehicle may participate on terms that could result in dilution of Rolling Investors’
indirect interests in the relevant underlying investments and could adversely affect returns to such
Rolling Investors. Also, as a consequence of the potential for New Funding Investors to be offered
preferred economics in the Continuation Vehicle, the amount and timing of returns to a Rolling
Investor from a Continuation Vehicle may not be the same as those for the New Funding Investor,
which may be paid in priority to returns to the Rolling Investors. Similarly, the terms applicable to
any underlying investor’s retained interest may be less favorable than the terms applicable to other
interests in the relevant underlying investment that are sold by the GA Client. Rolling Investors may
not contribute additional capital and follow-ons may not be made pro rata.
In the circumstances outlined above, GASC may determine that it is in the interests of the relevant
GA Clients to enter into a cross trade with another GA Client or GA Clients, it being understood that
such cross trade would be completed in accordance with GASC’s policies and procedures with respect
to cross trades and the relevant Governing Documents. See “Item 11. Code of Ethics, Participation
or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading — C. Transactions With Investors, Portfolio
Companies and Other Affiliate Transactions” for more information.
Gift Policy
GASC maintains a policy regarding the giving and receiving of gifts and entertainment. This policy
generally permits employees to give and receive gifts and entertainment, so long as such items are
not lavish or excessive, and do not give the appearance of being designed to influence the recipient.
In general, employees are required, where possible, to obtain approval from GASC’s compliance
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team prior to giving or receiving gifts or entertainment having a value in excess of a threshold amount,
and are required to report all gifts or entertainment valued below that amount, although this policy is
waived from time to time. This creates a conflict of interest, because the receipt of such gifts or
entertainment, and/or the prospect of receiving future gifts or entertainment, can incentivize
employees to direct business to such service providers on a basis other than the cost and quality of
the services offered, even in situations where GASC does not consider such items to be lavish or
excessive or designed to influence the recipient.
Placement Activities
The personnel of GASC involved in offering interests in GA Clients are acting for GASC and not
acting as investment, tax, financial, legal or accounting advisors to potential investors in connection
with the offering of the interests. Potential investors must independently evaluate the offering and
make their own investment decisions. GASC may in the future enter into arrangements with third-
party placement agents to solicit prospective investors. Placement agents that solicit prospective
investors on behalf of GA Clients are subject to a conflict of interest because they will be compensated
by such GA Client and/or GASC in connection with their solicitation activities. Placement agents or
other financial intermediaries may also receive other compensation, including placement fees with
respect to the acquisition of interests by Limited Partners. Such agents or intermediaries may have an
incentive in promoting the acquisition of interests in a GA Client in preference to products with
respect to which they receive a smaller fee. Prospective investors should take the existence of such
fees and other compensation into account in evaluating an investment in a GA Client. Prospective
investors solicited by placement agents will be advised of, and asked to consent to, any compensation
arrangements relating to their solicitation.
Item 7. Types of Clients
A.
Core Program Limited Partners & Core Program Partnerships
As discussed in “Item 4. Advisory Business” above, GASC provides investment advisory and
management services to Core Program Limited Partners who enter into a Commitment Agreement
with GA LP and GASC. Core Program Limited Partners include both investors that enter into such
Commitment Agreements and the Pooled Managed Accounts that enter into such Commitment
Agreements. Core Program Limited Partners participate in the investments of the GA Core Program
by becoming limited partners of the Core Program Partnerships.
The minimum initial Five-Year Commitment by a Core Program Limited Partner pursuant to a
Commitment Agreement is generally $50 million, although General Atlantic has the authority to
accept commitments of any amount from Core Program Limited Partners with a Five-Year
Commitment.
A Core Program Limited Partner with an Evergreen Commitment must commit $100 million or more
to General Atlantic pursuant to its Commitment Agreement.
A Pooled Account Investor invests in the GA Core Program through a Pooled Managed Account.
Unlike the Five-Year Commitments or the Evergreen Commitments, where investors directly enter
into individual Commitment Agreements with GA LP and GASC, investors participate in the Pooled
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Managed Accounts by becoming limited partners of a pooled investment vehicle which enters into an
individual Commitment Agreement with GA LP and GASC.
Each Core Program Limited Partner that enters into a Commitment Agreement, and each Pooled
Account Investor, is required to meet certain suitability qualifications, such as being an “accredited
investor” under Rule 501 of Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and a “qualified
purchaser” as defined in Section 2(a)(51) the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Core Program Limited Partners and Pooled Account Investors include, but are not limited to, high net
worth individuals, pooled investment vehicles, charitable organizations, insurance companies, family
offices, endowments, foundations, trusts and estates, and other corporate entities, institutions and
vehicles.
B.
Other GA Clients
GASC and its affiliates also provide investment advisory and management services to the Companion
Funds, the Continuation Vehicles, the GA Credit Clients, the LP Coinvestment Vehicles, the Sponsor
Coinvestment Funds and, in the future, any Similar Single Accounts and New Focused Clients, all of
which are private funds. The Limited Partners in these private fund Clients include, but are not limited
to, high net worth individuals, pooled investment vehicles, charitable organizations, insurance
companies, family offices, endowments, foundations, trusts and estates, and other corporate entities,
institutions, state pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, private wealth platforms and private fund
vehicles. Each investor in these funds is required to meet certain suitability qualifications, such as
being an “accredited investor” under Rule 501 of Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and a “qualified purchaser” as defined in Section 2(a)(51) the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended. The minimum commitment size for these funds varies.
C.
Personal Investment Vehicles
GA Prism provides investment advisory, administrative, accounting and reporting services to several
Personal Investment Vehicles (other than the Sponsor Coinvestment Funds) whose investors are
members, partners or employees (or former partners, members or employees) of GASC and its
subsidiaries. The Personal Investment Vehicles make and hold investments that are Personal
Investments (as defined in “Item 11. Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
and Personal Trading”). The Personal Investment Vehicles do not pay any fees to GA Prism for
investment or advisory services, but investors reimburse GA Prism for certain costs and expenses.
Item 8. Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
The following is a summary of the investment strategies and methods of analysis employed by GASC
on behalf of the GA Clients. This summary should not be interpreted to limit in any way GASC’s
investment activities. GASC offers advisory services, provides advice with respect to investment
strategies and makes investments, including those that are not described in this Brochure, that GASC
considers appropriate, subject to each GA Client’s investment objectives and guidelines. Specific
descriptions of such strategies and methods are included in each GA Client’s Governing Documents.
There can be no assurance that the investment objectives of any GA Client will be achieved.
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A. Method of Analysis and Investment Strategies of the Growth Equity Business
Global Growth Equity Investment Strategy
The GA Core Program focuses on investing in companies across the growth spectrum that seek to
scale their organizations, expand regionally or globally and build internal capabilities in advance of
an initial public offering and/or trade sale. The GA Core Program primarily invests in later-stage
growth companies and selectively invests in growth buyouts/build-ups, emerging growth companies,
and public and pre-revenue life sciences companies. General Atlantic is typically an active, value-
added investor. The GA Core Program currently targets an annual investment amount of
approximately $7-8 billion and an investment range of $25 to $500 million per company, although
the GA Core Program could invest a greater or lesser amount in a broad range of companies.
General Atlantic’s investment strategy for the GA Core Program is primarily driven by the
development of proprietary investment themes within specific sectors and regions. General Atlantic
seeks proprietary opportunities by evaluating disruptive factors (such as technology and
globalization) within selected industries that drive fundamental market transformations and may
create outsized growth opportunities. The GA Core Program invests in five industry sectors
(Technology, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Financial Services, Consumer and Climate) and the
following geographic regions: United States, EMEA, Latin America, China and India and Southeast
Asia. The industry and geographic sectors that the GA Core Program focuses on may evolve over
time to reflect increasing globalization and other emerging trends.
The investment strategy of the other Global Growth Advisory Clients depends on the type of Global
Growth Advisory Client, as described below.
Companion Funds. Companion Funds co-invest alongside the GA Core Program in all or a
subset of investment opportunities (including follow-on investments) that fall within the
investment focus of the GA Core Program. GASC manages a Companion Fund established
in March 2021 (together with its successor funds, the “Mexico Companion Fund”) to invest
alongside the GA Core Program in new investments in any portfolio company that, at the time
of the investment therein, derives, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of its revenue from
Mexico (“Mexico Investments”). During the commitment period of any such Mexico
Companion Fund and so long as it has capital available for new investments, such Mexico
Companion Fund will generally be allocated 25% of any new Mexico Investments (or such
other percentage or allocation methodology as may be approved by the LP Advisory
Committee with respect to a future Mexico Companion Fund). GASC also manages a
Companion Fund established in December 2021 (together with its successor funds, the “GA
BnZ Companion Fund”) to invest alongside the GA Core Program in new portfolio
companies focused on developing and/or implementing climate solutions or whose business
has the potential to help combat climate change (“GA BnZ Investments”). During the
commitment period of any such GA BnZ Companion Fund and so long as it has capital
available for new investments, such GA BnZ Companion Fund will generally be allocated at
least 75% of any new GA Climate Investments (or such other percentage or allocation
methodology as may be approved by the LP Advisory Committee with respect to a future GA
BnZ Companion Fund. If an investment is within the investment scope of the GA Core
Program and one or more Companion Funds, it will be allocated based on the allocation policy
of the GA Core Program and such Companion Funds. For example, a new GA BnZ
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Investment that is also a Mexico Investment will generally be allocated among the Companion
Funds and the GA Core Program in accordance with the Governing Documents of such
Companion Funds and the GA Core Program.
Similar Single Accounts. Similar Single Accounts have an overall investment mandate that
is the same or substantially similar to that of the GA Core Program and whose total investor
capital commitment to any one such vehicle or account is equal to at least $500 million. As
of the date of this Brochure, GASC does not manage any Similar Single Accounts.
New Focused Clients. The principal objective of any New Focused Clients is to invest in a
subset of investments which would otherwise be suitable for the GA Core Program based on
the overall investment mandate of the GA Core Program at the time such vehicle or account
is being established. The Actis funds are New Focused Clients after closing of the Actis
Transaction described above.
Investment Process
For the Global Growth Equity Clients, GASC seeks to apply the following criteria to identify
attractive growth investment opportunities:
Strong market position and favorable industry structure
High quality, experienced management team with aligned incentives
Deep, addressable and rapidly growing market
Proven and sustainable economic model
A secure competitive advantage, with significant intellectual property and high barriers to
entry
Identifiable levers for value creation and a multi-path exit strategy
Generally, before a new investment is made, GASC typically conducts comprehensive financial, legal
and market due diligence on potential portfolio companies, and extensive management and customer
reference calls. GASC’s industry expertise and broad network of contacts contribute to its ability to
conduct extensive and detailed due diligence when evaluating investment opportunities.
After an investment is made, General Atlantic’s objective is to help the portfolio company accelerate
growth and reduce execution risk as a company scales its organization and operations. Working
alongside management, General Atlantic seeks to provide ongoing strategic, financial and operational
support.
General Atlantic’s Value Creation Group consists of full-time professionals across Growth
Acceleration, Portfolio Human Capital, Capital Markets, and Sustainability and is supported by GA’s
Operating Partners and Senior Advisors. The Value Creation Group is instrumental in sharing best
practices in order to help companies accelerate growth, improve performance and gain access to
global talent, expertise and resources. In looking for such opportunities, the Value Creation Group
focuses on the following areas:
Growth Acceleration: Focused on identifying and accelerating profitable growth via
capabilities including Go-to-Market, Pricing, AI/Data Science, Operational Efficiency, and
Commercial Diligence.
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Portfolio Human Capital: Assist with organizational design, executive recruitment,
compensation systems, and board-building initiatives.
Capital Markets: Support strategic IPO readiness, private placements and debt issuances,
exit-planning initiatives, and facilitate access to financial institutions.4
GA Operating Partners & Senior Advisors: Provide advice on specific functional
knowledge and expertise in operations, finance, technology, human capital, and management,
as well as particular sectors and regions.
Sustainability: Assist portfolio companies with ESG risk management, implement ESG
initiatives as needed, and work alongside investment professionals during GA’s ESG due
diligence process.
Long-Term Investment Horizon and Liquidity
General Atlantic typically seeks to accelerate growth and build companies over a long-term
investment horizon, but maintains flexibility with respect to the ultimate timing of investment
dispositions in order to capitalize on market and exit opportunities. General Atlantic works with
portfolio company management teams to balance building company value and realizing liquidity for
General Atlantic’s investors. General Atlantic typically generates liquidity by selling shares in initial
public offerings, secondary market sales and trade sales.
Investment Strategy of Liquidity Solutions Clients
Continuation Vehicles have as their principal objective at the time of establishment to purchase one
or more existing investments of the GA Core Program from the Core Program Partnerships and the
Sponsor Coinvestment Funds. As of the date of this Brochure, GASC manages four sets of
Continuation Vehicles: (i) a set of Continuation Vehicles established to purchase the GA Core
Program’s investment in Red Ventures; (ii) two different sets of Continuation Vehicles established to
purchase the GA Core Program’s investment in multiple portfolio companies; and (iii) a set of
Continuation Vehicles established to purchase a portion of the GA Core Program’s investment in
multiple portfolio companies based in Latin America.
B. Method of Analysis and Investment Strategy of GA Credit Clients
With respect to the GA Credit Funds, GASC focuses on investing in high quality companies with
stressed capital structures and immediate funding needs. GASC will generally seek to invest in
companies with proven and sustainable business models with large addressable markets. Such
companies may be backed by a private equity sponsor, be publicly traded or privately held. GASC
will not invest in upstream oil and gas companies.
4 As more fully described herein, GACM may be engaged to provide services to portfolio companies or GA Clients,
and may be entitled to receive Other Income in connection with such services.
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Strategic Credit Strategy
GASC’s investment objective is to achieve attractive valuations and risk-adjusted returns by
providing near-term liquidity and satisfying needs for companies experiencing balance sheet stress
while establishing downside protection. While the GA Credit Clients will generally seek to primarily
make debt investments, investments are also expected to be in the form of, or include a component
of, common equity, preferred equity or warrants, and is further described in the Governing
Documents.
GASC is generally focused on companies with operations primarily in the U.S. and Europe, however
company operations may be more global or regional in nature, and has a broad industry focus,
targeting companies across sectors where GASC has deep expertise (Technology, Healthcare and Life
Sciences, Consumer and Climate), and from time to time, also invests in sectors in which members
of the GA Credit team previously have focused. Investments are highly structured and could have
both debt and equity capital. The flexibility of its mandate allows GASC to provide differentiated
solutions across market cycles and throughout the capital structure, further enhancing downside
protection while maximizing optionality. GASC’s origination activities prioritize opportunities that
are less conducive to competing solely on cost of capital. These investments aim to be highly
structured and take the form of senior debt, subordinated debt, preferred equity, common equity, or
some combination thereof.
Investment Process
GASC generally seeks to apply the following criteria to identify attractive investment opportunities:
High quality businesses with track records of profitability in normal market environments
Proven and sustainable business models with recurring revenues and large addressable
markets
Businesses with asset divisibility for capital protection
Seeking to pursue opportunistic M&A transactions
Seeking to pursue offensive and/or defensive refinancings and financings
Operate in sectors where General Atlantic has deep expertise
Public, private or sponsor-owned companies
Before a new investment is made, GASC will employ a rigorous investment due diligence process to
evaluate all potential investment opportunities. The due diligence process will consist of a thorough
business review of the industry, competitive landscape, products, customers, return on capital,
existing capitalization and liquidity needs and the management of a company. This initial assessment
will then be followed by a credit analysis, including asset valuation, financial analysis, cash flow
analysis, legal and accounting review, and comparable credit and equity analyses. The GA Credit
team will also complete a detailed review of the company’s capital structure, credit documents and
related legal documents.
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C.
Risk of Loss of the GA Clients
An investment in any GA Client involves various risks and investment considerations. There is a
significant degree of risk relating to the types of investments contemplated by the GA Clients, and
there can be no assurance that General Atlantic’s investment objectives will be achieved. An
investment in the GA Clients may be deemed a speculative investment and is not intended as a
complete investment program. It is designed for sophisticated investors who fully understand and are
capable of bearing the risk of an investment in the GA Clients. An investor must be prepared to bear
capital losses, even a total loss of such investor’s commitment. The following considerations do not
constitute a complete list of all risks involved in connection with an investment in a GA Client.
All investing involves a risk of loss, and the investment strategies offered by GASC could lose money
over short or even long periods. The description contained below is a brief overview of different
market risks related to the GA Clients.
D.
General Economic and Market Risks
General Economic Conditions and Recent Events. Various sectors of the global financial
markets have been experiencing an extended period of adverse conditions, including recent volatility
as a result of shifts in U.S. foreign investment, trade and taxation, disruptions in global supply chains,
natural disasters due to climate change, high inflation, the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russian
military forces, the Israel-Hamas and Middle East conflict, ongoing geo-political tension between the
United States and China and the deterioration in the bilateral relationship between such countries. In
recent years, market uncertainty globally has increased dramatically. These conditions have resulted
in disruption of the global credit markets, periods of reduced liquidity, greater volatility, general
widening of credit spreads and a lack of price transparency. These volatile and often difficult global
credit market conditions have episodically adversely affected the market values of equity, fixed-
income and other securities and these circumstances may continue or even deteriorate further. The
GA Clients’ investments are expected to be sensitive to the performance of the overall global
economy. A negative impact on economic fundamentals and consumer and business confidence
would likely increase market volatility and reduce liquidity, both of which could have a material
adverse effect on the performance of the GA Clients and these or similar events may affect the ability
of the GA Clients to execute their investment strategies.
Financial Market Conditions and Fluctuations. The GA Clients typically make
investments in securities of private companies without an active trading market. Traditional exit
opportunities for such investments have consisted primarily of initial public offerings, secondary sales
of securities into the market and acquisitions of portfolio companies by publicly traded companies,
sometimes for stock. The ability of the GA Clients to sell securities and realize investment gains will
depend upon favorable market conditions. Initial public offering and merger and acquisition
opportunities may be limited or non-existent for extended periods of time, whether due to economic,
regulatory, or other factors. In addition, general fluctuations in the market prices of securities may
affect the value of the investments held by the GA Clients. Therefore, there is no assurance that the
GA Clients will be able to realize liquidity for such investments in a timely manner, if at all.
Market Disruptions. Certain of the GA Clients’ previous investments have benefited from
favorable borrowing conditions in the debt markets, which historically have been cyclical. The
financing available to the GA Clients from banks and other counterparties is typically reduced in
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disrupted markets. Liquidity opportunities such as initial public offerings and secondary market sales
are also adversely affected by market disruptions. Such a reduction may result in losses to the GA
Clients and may impair, potentially materially, the GA Clients’ ability to make similar distributions.
Market disruptions caused by unexpected political, military, global health and terrorist events may
from time to time cause dramatic losses for the GA Clients and such events can result in otherwise
historically low-risk strategies performing with unprecedented volatility and risk.
Banking Industry Disruption. As a result of increasing interest rates, reserves held by banks
and other financial institutions in bonds and other debt securities could face a significant decline in
value relative to deposits and liabilities which, coupled with general economic headwinds resulting
from a changing interest rate environment, creates liquidity pressures at such institutions, as
evidenced by the bank runs on the Silicon Valley Bank Financial Group (“SVB”) and on Signature
Bank (“Signature”), causing them to be placed into receivership, and the sale of the assets of First
Republic Bank. As a result, certain sectors of the credit markets could experience significant declines
in liquidity, and it is possible that GA (with respect to the GA Clients), and/or the management and
other personnel of the portfolio investments owned by the GA Clients, will not be able to manage this
risk effectively. It is yet to be determined how the bank run on and subsequent receivership of SVB
and Signature and the sale of the assets of First Republic Bank will fully impact other financial
instruments and the broader economy, as well as the overall performance of the GA Clients and their
investments.
Changes to the Regulatory Framework. Many of the investments and investment strategies
employed by General Atlantic are subject to numerous laws and regulations in many jurisdictions. In
addition, GASC, the GA Clients and their affiliates operate in multiple jurisdictions that are governed
by a number of different legal systems and regulatory regimes, some of which are new and evolving.
As a result, GASC, the GA Clients and their affiliates are subject to a number of risks, including
changing laws and regulations, developing interpretations of such laws and regulations, judicial
decisions and scrutiny by regulators. Some of this evolution may result in scrutiny or claims against
GASC, the GA Clients and their affiliates directly for actions taken or not taken by them or result in
ambiguity or conflict among legal or regulatory schemes applicable to their businesses, all of which
could adversely affect the GA Clients or the value of their investments. Further, and in particular in
light of the changing global regulatory climate, the GA Clients may be required to register under
certain foreign laws and regulations, and need to engage distributors or other agents in certain non-
U.S. jurisdictions in order to market Interests to potential investors. The effect of any future regulatory
change on the GA Clients could be substantial and adverse. In addition, as alternative asset managers
are, or are perceived to be influential participants in the U.S. and global financial markets and
economy generally, the private funds industry has been subject to criticism by some politicians,
regulators, market commentators, academics, activists and traditional and social media. It is
anticipated that, in the normal course of business, GA will have contact with governmental authorities
and/or may be subjected to responding to questionnaires or examinations. The GA Clients may also
be subject to regulatory inquiries concerning their positions and trading. Furthermore, various federal,
state, and local agencies have been examining the role of placement agents, finders, and other similar
service providers in the context of investment by public pension plans and other similar entities,
including investigations and requests for information, and in connection therewith, new and/or
proposed rules and regulations in this arena may increase the possibility that GA and their affiliates
may be exposed to claims and/or actions that could require a Limited Partner to withdraw from one
or more GA Clients. Thus, GASC, the GA Clients and their affiliates face the risk of potential
45
litigation and regulatory action. These risks are often difficult or impossible to predict, avoid or
mitigate in advance. The effect on an investor’s investment in a GA Client, or on GASC, the GA
Clients or their affiliates, of any such legal risk, litigation or regulatory action could be substantial
and adverse.
Cybersecurity Threats. General Atlantic and its portfolio companies may face cybersecurity
threats to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information, including, without limitation, information
regarding the Limited Partners and the GA Clients’ investment activities, or to render data or systems
unusable, which could result in significant losses. If such events were to materialize, they could lead
to losses of sensitive information or capabilities essential to the General Partners, GASC, the GA
Clients and/or the portfolio companies’ operations and could have a material adverse effect on their
reputations, financial positions, results of operations, or cash flows, could lead to financial losses
from remedial actions, loss of business, or potential liability, or could lead to the disclosure of Limited
Partners’ personal information.
Cybersecurity attacks are evolving and include, but are not limited to, malicious software, attempts
to gain unauthorized access to data, and other electronic security breaches that could lead to
disruptions in critical systems, unauthorized release of confidential or otherwise protected
information and corruption of data. The controls and procedures, business continuity systems, and
data security systems of the General Partners, GASC or any portfolio company could prove to be
inadequate. These problems could arise in both the internally developed systems of the General
Partners, GASC or a portfolio company and in the systems of third–party service providers.
The use of personal information by the GA Clients and their portfolio companies is regulated by
foreign, federal and state laws, as well as by certain third-party agreements. As privacy and
information security laws and regulations change or as new laws are enacted, the GA Clients and their
portfolio companies may incur additional costs to ensure that they remain in compliance with those
laws and regulations.
Force Majeure. Companies or assets may be affected by force majeure events (i.e., events
beyond the control of the party claiming that the event has occurred, including, without limitation,
acts of God, fires, floods, earthquakes or any other natural disasters, outbreaks of infectious disease,
pandemics or any other serious public health concerns, wars, terrorism and labor strikes). Natural
disasters, epidemics and other acts of God, which are beyond the control of GASC and the General
Partners, may negatively affect the economy, infrastructure and livelihood of people throughout the
world. For example, southeast Asia and many countries in Asia, including China, Japan, Indonesia
and Australia have been affected by earthquakes, floods, typhoons, drought, heat waves or forest fires.
Disease outbreaks have occurred in Asia in the past (including severe acute respiratory syndrome, or
SARS, avian flu, H1N1/09 flu, COVID-19 and other pandemics), and any prolonged occurrence of
infectious disease, or other adverse public health developments or natural disasters, in any country
related to GA’s investments may have a negative effect on the GA Clients. In addition, there are
increased risks relating to GA’s (and its portfolio companies’ and service providers’) reliance on its
computer programs and systems if GA’s personnel are required to work remotely for extended periods
of time as a result of events such as the outbreak of infectious disease or other adverse public health
developments or natural disasters, including an increased risk of cyber-attacks and unauthorized
access to GA’s computer systems. Additionally, there is a risk of terrorist attacks on the United States
and elsewhere, which could cause a significant loss of life and property damage and disruptions in
46
global markets. For example, as a result of any terrorist attack, economic and diplomatic sanctions
may be in place or imposed on certain countries and military action may be commenced. Some force
majeure events may negatively affect the ability of a party (including a GA Client or a counterparty
to a GA Client) to perform its obligations until it is able to remedy the force majeure event. In
addition, the cost to the GA Clients of repairing or replacing damaged assets resulting from such force
majeure event could be considerable. Certain force majeure events (such as war or an outbreak of
infectious disease) could have a broader negative impact on the world economy and international
business activity generally, or otherwise negatively impact any country related to the GA Clients’
investments. Any of the foregoing may therefore negatively affect the performance of the GA Core
Program. Losses resulting from any of the foregoing may either be uninsurable or only insurable at
such high rates as to make such coverage impracticable. If any such a major uninsured loss were to
occur with respect to any GA Client’s investments, such GA Client could incur substantial losses.
The occurrence of an extreme event may result in (and, in the case of COVID-19, has already resulted
in) the closure of offices, the implementation of global or regional work-from-home policies, and/or
travel disruptions or restrictions. Any such actions may increase GA’s, the GA Core Program’s and
their respective affiliates’ and service providers’ dependency on technology systems, result in the
rapid deployment of new and potentially less familiar technology or operations systems or lead to the
utilization of existing systems in a significantly increased scope or unanticipated manner. If a
significant number of GA’s personnel were to be unavailable in the event of a disaster or other event,
GA and GASC’s ability to effectively conduct the GA Core Program’s business could be severely
compromised. All of the above could increase the risk of cybersecurity or business continuity related
losses, all of which could have a material effect on the GA Core Program.
Inflation Risk. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had in the past, and may
in the future have, negative effects on the economies and financial markets, particularly in emerging
economies, but also in more developed economies, including in the U.S. economy which is
experiencing inflation at rates that have not been experienced in decades. For example, wages and
prices of inputs increase during periods of inflation, which can negatively impact returns on
investments, and increases in energy prices will have a ripple effect through the economy. In an
attempt to stabilize inflation, countries may impose wage and price controls or otherwise intervene in
the economy. Governmental efforts to curb inflation often have negative effects on the level of
economic activity. There can be no assurance that inflation will not become a serious problem in the
future and have an adverse impact on the portfolio companies or the GA Clients’ returns. If a portfolio
company is unable to increase its operating income in times of higher inflation, its profitability will
be adversely affected. As inflation rises, portfolio companies will likely incur higher expenses,
including, among others, development and construction costs, which may result in such portfolio
companies lacking sufficient capital to complete their activities; as inflation declines, portfolio
companies might be unable to reduce expenses in line with any resulting reduction in revenue.
Geo-Political Risk. Geopolitical relations between governments may have significant
macroeconomic effects on the global economy (including, but not limited to, currency fluctuations
and/or other adverse effects on international markets, international trade agreements and/or other
existing cross-border cooperation arrangements (whether economic, tax, fiscal, legal, regulatory or
otherwise)). To the extent that existing and/or future geopolitical, trade and/or other disputes develop
between countries, there could be additional significant impacts on the industries and sectors in which
the GA Clients seek to make investments, the jurisdiction of investments and other adverse impacts
on investments or the GA Clients more generally.
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Russian Invasion of Ukraine. Since 2014, there has been an ongoing military conflict
involving Ukraine, Russia and certain non-governmental groups in Eastern Europe. In 2021, Russian
President Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian military to begin amassing thousands of military
personnel and equipment near its border with Ukraine and in Crimea, representing the largest
mobilization of Russian troops since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. In February 2022, Russia
subsequently commenced a full-scale invasion of Ukraine with its pre-positioned forces. Various
governments, including the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom and the European
Union have issued broad-ranging economic sanctions against Russia, including: (i) a prohibition on
doing business with certain Russian companies, large financial institutions, officials and oligarchs;
(ii) a commitment by certain countries and the European Union to remove selected Russian banks
from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications, the electronic banking
network that connects banks globally; and (iii) restrictive measures to prevent the Russian Central
Bank from undermining the impact of the sanctions.
The existing sanctions and the potential for future sanctions (and Russia’s retaliatory responses to
those sanctions, including the potential seizure of foreign owned assets in Russia or territories
controlled by Russia) or an expansion of the military conflict (including the possible involvement of
NATO countries and the potential use of weapons of mass destruction), have negatively affected
Russian assets and are likely to continue to adversely impact the Russian economy (including the
further decline of the value and liquidity of Russian securities, a continued weakening of the ruble
and exchange closures). In addition, global markets, including markets in which some GA Clients
invest from time to time, have been affected and could continue to be affected by the existing
sanctions and could be affected by future sanctions (and Russia’s retaliatory responses to those
sanctions) or an expansion of the military conflict. The duration of ongoing hostilities, the substance
and effects of future sanctions and/or an expansion of the military conflict present material uncertainty
and material risk with respect to global markets and could adversely affect the GA Clients, their
investments and their counterparties and target markets, all of which could have a material negative
effect on the GA Clients’ performance.
Israel-Hamas and Middle East Conflict. In October 2023, Hamas militants and members
of other terrorist organizations infiltrated Israel’s southern border from the Gaza Strip and conducted
a series of attacks on civilian and military targets. Following the attack, Israel declared war against
Hamas and a military campaign against Hamas and other terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip
commenced. There have also have been increasing numbers of attacks and other clashes between
Israel and Hezbollah on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon and in the West Bank. In addition, on
November 19, 2023, Houthi militias in Yemen began attacking shipping vessels it deemed to be
affiliated with Israel that were transiting shipping lanes in the Red Sea, and continues to attack
shipping vessels in the region, which has disrupted the global supply chain and caused a significant
amount of the global container freight market to divert ships away from the Red Sea. In response, the
United States and other countries have launched a series of military actions against Houthi targets,
and the escalating conflict may in the future expand into a greater regional conflict or otherwise
adversely impact other regions. The severity and duration of the conflict and its impact on global
economic and market conditions are impossible to predict. The Israel-Hamas conflict and related
events in the Middle East may significantly exacerbate the normal risks associated with an investment
in a GA Client and result in adverse changes to, among other things: (i) general economic and market
conditions; (ii) shipping and transportation costs and supply chain constraints; (iii) interest rates,
currency exchange rates, and expenses associated with currency management transactions; (iv)
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demand for the types of investments made by such GA Client; (v) available credit in certain markets;
(vi) import and export activity from certain markets and capital controls; (vii) the availability of labor
in certain markets and (viii) laws, regulations, treaties, pacts, accords, and governmental policies.
Such volatility may cause the risk of existing investments to differ significantly from GASC’s initial
risk assessment, and affect GASC’s ability to assess the risk of investments going forward. Any of
the foregoing could seriously and negatively impact the GA Clients and their investments’ operations
and their ability to realize their respective investment objectives. In addition, while GA maintains its
headquarters in New York City, it does have an office in Tel Aviv, Israel and from time to time makes
investments in companies based or operating in Israel. The ongoing conflict in Israel could result in
a loss of GA’s or its portfolio companies’ offices and/or key personnel, which would materially
adversely affect GA’s operations in Israel.
information or misinformation without relying on
Social Media. The use of social networks such as Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter),
TikTok and Instagram, message boards such as Reddit and other internet channels has become
widespread within the U.S. and globally. As a result, individuals now have the ability to rapidly and
traditional media
broadly disseminate
intermediaries. Information often spreads rapidly across large segments of the U.S. and global
population, frequently without any independent verification as to its accuracy, which has led to the
spread of misinformation in many cases. The spread of information or misinformation regarding
General Atlantic, the GA Clients and their portfolio companies or any of their respective affiliates
could result in material and adverse effects on any of the foregoing. Furthermore, certain
administrators of or other service providers to social networks, message boards, app stores, websites
and other internet outlets have taken actions to ban, block, verify or censor the content disseminated
on their networks. Such actions, or similar actions taken by government regulators or courts, could
negatively affect General Atlantic, the GA Clients and their portfolio companies or any of their
respective affiliates (e.g., if a portfolio company were to face public backlash or regulatory penalties
for taking such actions, or if a portfolio company were itself the subject of such a ban).
Purchase or Transfer of LP Interests. Purchase of limited partner interests in any GA Client
should be considered a long-term investment. Subject to the terms set forth in each GA Client’s
Governing Documents, Limited Partners generally may not sell, redeem or transfer their interests in
a GA Client without the consent of the applicable General Partner. Each GA Client is not obligated
to, nor does it intend to, register the interests or create any form of secondary market in order to permit
the resale or transfer thereof by Limited Partners. Because of these restrictions and the absence of a
secondary market for the interests, Limited Partners may be unable to liquidate their investments even
though financial circumstances would make liquidation advisable or desirable. In certain
circumstances, such as when restricting the sale or transfer of interests would result in a risk of default
by a Limited Partner, the General Partner may approve of a purchase or transfer of a particular Limited
Partner’s interests in a GA Client to another Limited Partner, GASC, the General Partner and/or one
or more of the General Partner’s affiliates, as determined in GASC’s or the General Partner’s
discretion. Such transfers, including where the identification of potential transferees is dependent on
GASC or the General Partner, may pose conflicts of interest due to the asymmetrical information that
exists between GASC and the General Partner and the transferring Limited Partner with respect to
the valuation of the relevant GA Client’s interests and the potential that the transferee may obtain the
transferring Limited Partner’s interests for less than fair value.
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Involuntary Withdrawal Of Interests. Subject to any limitations in the Governing
Documents of a Client, GASC and/or its related persons may cause an investor to withdraw all or any
portion of such investors’ interests in a GA Client at any time, with prior written notice, and for any
reason in its discretion, including if the investor’s continued investment is likely to result in an adverse
legal, pecuniary, tax, regulatory, administrative, reputational or other adverse consequence to the GA
Client, any of its Limited Partners, GASC and/or its related persons, including in order to prevent the
assets of the GA Client from being considered “plan assets” under ERISA, or if any litigation is
commenced or threatened against the GA Client, any of its Limited Partners, GASC and/or its related
persons arising out of, or relating to, such investor’s participation in the GA Client. Upon such a
withdrawal, the withdrawn investor will receive an amount (in cash, in-kind or in the form of a note)
equal to the value of its interest in the GA Client (generally, as determined by GASC and/or its related
persons in its discretion) calculated as if the GA Client were wound up and liquidated or dissolved.
This value may not accurately reflect the future value of an investor’s interest in the GA Client. In
the event of such a withdrawal, the withdrawn investor will not participate in the GA Client’s profits
(or losses) following such withdrawal.
Default by Other Investors. In a closed-end commingled GA Client, including the GA Core
Program, if a Limited Partner fails to fund its share of its capital committment or other payment
obligations to the relevant Client when due, and the combination of capital contributions made by
non-defaulting investors and borrowings by the GA Client are inadequate to cover the defaulted
contribution, the GA Client could fail to meet its obligations or complete investments that would
otherwise have been suitable for the GA Client. If the GA Client is subject to penalties as a
consequence, the returns to all investors (including non-defaulting investors) may be materially
adversely affected. If a Limited Partner defaults, it may be subject to various remedies as provided in
the constituent documents of a GA Client, including, without limitation, a forfeiture of its interests
therein, preclusion from further investment in the GA Client and participation in further investments
by the GA Client, reductions in its capital account balance and a forced sale or redemption of its
interest at a discount. GASC or one or more of its affiliates has the ability to draw down additional
capital contributions from the non-defaulting Limited Partners (regardless of whether they are
investors in the specific vehicle to which the default relates) to fund the shortfall caused by the
defaulting investor(s) in amounts in excess of what such investors would have been required to fund
had such defaulting investor(s) not defaulted on their capital contribution obligations. A default by a
Limited Partner may also limit the GA Client’s ability to incur borrowings and avail itself of what
would otherwise have been available credit.
Sanctioned Investors. If after becoming a Limited Partner in a GA Client a Limited Partner
is included on a list of prohibited persons maintained by a relevant regulatory or governmental
authority (including the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control
or equivalent non-U.S. authorities), GASC and/or the General Partner will have the sole discretion to
determine the resolution, remedy and manner of compliance of the GA Client with applicable laws,
including without limitation a “freeze” on distributions and/or capital calls from the relevant Limited
Partner and reporting to the relevant authorities. Adverse actions by any such authorities, including
temporary or permanent stays or holds on the GA Client’s activities, could materially and adversely
affect the GA Client.
Interpretation of Governing Documents. The Governing Documents and related documents
are detailed agreements that establish complex arrangements among the Limited Partners, the GA
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Clients, GASC, the General Partners, and other entities and individuals. Questions will arise from
time to time under these agreements regarding the parties’ rights and obligations in certain situations,
some of which will not have been contemplated at the time of the agreements’ drafting and execution.
In these instances, the operative provisions of the agreements, if any, could be broad, general,
ambiguous or conflicting, and permit more than one reasonable interpretation. At times there will not
be a provision directly applicable to the situation. While the relevant agreements will be construed in
good faith and in a manner consistent with applicable legal obligations, the interpretations adopted
will not necessarily be, and need not be, the interpretations that are the most favorable to the GA
Client or the Limited Partners. If the interpretation of any provision of the Governing Documents is
ambiguous, GASC and/or the General Partners may, but will not be required to, submit such provision
to the GA Clients’ advisory boards for interpretation, and GASC and/or the General Partners shall be
entitled to act in reliance on such interpretation.
Other Income-Related Conflicts. Subject in all respects to the Governing Documents of the
applicable GA Clients, GACM will be engaged as a service provider to, or engage in activities in
respect of, the GA Clients, and their portfolio investments and issuers, coinvestors, the Balance Sheet
and other persons. Arrangements will generally be made for GACM to receive its fees directly from
the portfolio company or issuer, a Participant (as defined below) or a Third-Party Participant for
services rendered (however, if such person will not pay or reimburse such fees, the participating GA
Clients will pay or bear such fees, subject to the terms of the governing documents of such GA
Clients). Such services and activities may include syndication, arranging, structuring, solicitation,
underwriting, agency, origination, sourcing, placement, debt advisory and similar services or
activities, including in respect of co-investments with coinvestors or other persons in transactions or
investments participated in by a GA Client as well as in cases where a GA Client does not participate
in such transactions or investments. As it relates to a given GA Client, other GA Clients, coinvestors,
the Balance Sheet, syndication participants and other third-party investors are collectively referred to
herein as “Participants.” The services that may be provided by GACM have become increasingly
prevalent amongst alternative asset managers given changes in the regulatory environment for banks,
and the rise in need for capital solutions or similar transactions to be directly sourced, syndicated
and/or originated by such alternative asset managers, without the use of traditional, third-party
financial intermediaries. While General Atlantic believes these kinds of transactions are generally
beneficial to the GA Clients, the functions that GACM may perform give rise to a number of conflicts
of interest. References herein to GACM when referring to General Atlantic or GASC (as opposed to
other entities that are affiliated with General Atlantic but are not otherwise engaged as investment
advisers with respect to GA Clients) are limited to General Atlantic or GASC’s capacities as providers
of services that give rise to Other Income, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, their capacities as
investment advisers with respect to GA Clients.
GACM’s syndication services may include, among other things, identifying potential third-party
investors (including potential Participants and/or financing counterparties), assisting in structuring
the transaction so that it will be more marketable to third-party investors and/or financing
counterparties, preparing marketing materials, performing outreach, executing on a syndication and
sell-down strategy, underwriting initial public offerings or similar investments, arranging financing
and providing post-closing support; and GACM is expected to, from time to time, expand the services
that it performs and the activities in which it engages. Any such services could relate to transactions
that could give rise to investment opportunities that are suitable for a GA Client or, alternatively, that
preclude investment opportunities for a GA Client. In such case, the relevant client would typically
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require General Atlantic to act exclusively on its behalf, thereby precluding the GA Client from
participating in such investment opportunities. General Atlantic would not be obligated to decline any
such engagements in order to make an investment opportunity available to a GA Client. It is also
possible that General Atlantic will come into the possession of information through these new
businesses that limits a GA Client’s ability to engage in potential transactions. These services could
be required (and GACM would be compensated for providing them) even in situations where
ultimately there is no allocation, syndication, sell-down to Participants or financing (for example,
when it is unclear at the outset of negotiating a transaction whether such Participants have sufficient
internal capacity (or demand) to provide the full amount of the financing sought by the counterparty).
A GACM entity may become a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and a member of FINRA, and,
in such case, would be authorized to perform, among other things, the following services: (i)
underwriting firm commitment and best efforts offerings on a referral basis; (ii) the resale of securities
pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, on a referral basis; (iii) merger and acquisition
transactions and corporate finance advisory services; (iv) marketing of private funds (affiliated and
unaffiliated alternative investment vehicles, including solicitation activities to qualified purchasers as
defined in the Investment Company Act); (v) private placement of securities; (vi) non-exchange
member arranging for transactions in listed securities by an exchange member, on a referral basis;
(vii) trading securities for its own account; (viii) selling interests in mortgages, receivables or other
asset-backed securities on a referral basis; and (ix) selling corporate debt securities on a referral basis.
Certain GACM entities may provide a variety of services with respect to financial instruments that
are not subject to broker-dealer regulations, such as arranging, structuring and syndicating loans and
providing debt advisory and other similar services.
Subject to the Governing Documents of the GA Clients and the disclosure below under “Conflicts
Related to Syndication Activities,” the offering, placement, syndication, underwriting, solicitation or
similar fees, commissions or other transaction-based compensation (including where structured as a
performance fee), origination, arrangement, structuring, consent, amendment or commitment fees, in
each case, received by GACM (to the extent established), in connection with activities related to a
GA Client or its investments will be Other Income, will not reduce the Management Fees and will
not otherwise be shared with or for the benefit of the GA Clients or the Limited Partners, and no
consent or approval of any limited partner advisory committee or the Limited Partners will be required
in connection therewith. It is possible that GACM or one or more GA Clients may provide financing
as part of a third-party purchaser’s bid for or acquisition of a portfolio investment of another GA
Client. The involvement of GACM or one or more GA Clients (e.g., a GA Credit Client) as a provider
of debt financing in connection with the potential acquisition of portfolio investments by third parties
from another GA Client (e.g., the GA Core Program) will give rise to potential or actual conflicts of
interest, including the possibility of General Atlantic being motivated to cause such disposing GA
Client to agree to terms with a third party with respect to which GACM or one or more GA Clients is
providing such debt financing that are less favorable to the applicable portfolio company and/or such
disposing GA Client than might have been obtained from another third party that did not have access
to such financing, which may adversely impact the disposing GA Client.
GACM’s private placement services are expected to include placement of GA Clients’ (and their
portfolio companies’) securities and other financial interests, and its underwriting services are
expected to include syndicating transactions for existing and potential portfolio investments of GA
Clients. GACM’s underwriting services will be provided to existing and potential portfolio companies
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of GA Clients and existing and potential portfolio investments. Where GACM serves as underwriter
with respect to a portfolio company’s securities, the applicable GA Client will generally be subject to
a “lock-up” period following the offering under applicable regulations or agreements during which
time its ability to sell any securities that it continues to hold is restricted. This could prejudice a GA
Client’s ability to dispose of such securities at an opportune time.
General Atlantic, in its discretion, will determine the compensation to be paid to GACM and, while
General Atlantic will generally seek to ensure that such compensation will be consistent with market
terms or that a third party would not have provided the same services at more favorable rates, there is
no guarantee that this will be the case. Such compensation is generally determined through
negotiations with related parties and not on an arm’s-length basis. No two services that may be
provided by GACM or third parties are identical, and for services that could be customized, variation
on terms associated with such services (including price) could be significant. As such, any “market
terms” that General Atlantic determines, in its discretion, to be a relevant comparison to services that
could be provided by GACM could take into account, among other factors deemed by General
Atlantic to be relevant, prior experience, quality accessibility of the relevant service and ability to
customize the services. However, it could be the case that General Atlantic determines that the
services to be provided by GACM are unique and there are no relevant or a limited set of market
comparisons. These determinations (like many others) that are made by General Atlantic are
subjective, and General Atlantic will face a conflict of interest in making them. In connection with
such arrangements, General Atlantic will make determinations of market rates based on its
consideration of a number of factors, which are generally expected to include General Atlantic’s
experience with non-affiliated service providers as well as benchmarking data and other
methodologies determined by General Atlantic to be appropriate under the circumstances. While
General Atlantic and its affiliates will generally seek to obtain benchmarking data regarding the rates
charged or quoted by third parties for similar services, it is possible that appropriate comparisons are
not available for a number of reasons, including, for example, a lack of a substantial market of
providers or users of such services or the confidential and/or bespoke nature of such services.
Expenses to obtain benchmarking data will be borne by the relevant portfolio company (and indirectly
by the parties participating in the relevant transactions, including the GA Clients) or directly by the
GA Client and/or such other GA Clients, investment vehicles and accounts that invest and/or other
parties.
Moreover, General Atlantic, GACM and their personnel can be expected to receive certain intangible
and/or other benefits and/or perquisites arising or resulting from their activities on behalf of GA
Clients that will not be subject to the Management Fee reduction described in “Item 5. Fees and
Compensation – D. Management Fee Offsets” or otherwise shared with the GA Clients, investors
and/or portfolio companies. For example, airline travel or hotel stays incurred as GA Client expenses
typically result in “miles” or “points” or credit in loyalty/status programs, and such benefits and/or
amounts will, whether or not de minimis or difficult to value, inure exclusively to General Atlantic,
GACM and/or such personnel (and not the GA Clients, investors and/or portfolio companies) even
though the cost of the underlying service is borne by the GA Clients, investors and/or portfolio
companies.
Conflicts Related to Syndication Activities. Subject in all respects to the Governing
Documents of the applicable GA Client, GACM will receive and retain Other Income in connection
with GA Clients’ investments. In cases where a portion of an investment or prospective investment
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(including an originated investment) is allocated, placed and/or syndicated to one or more Participants
(regardless of whether or not a portion of such investment was also allocated to a GA Client), GACM
will receive and retain Other Income when such investment is made by such Participants and such
Other Income will not reduce the Management Fees payable by such GA Client. As a result, in the
case of investments where a GA Client and Participants invest, there is an incentive to syndicate more
of such investments or loans to Participants than would exist in the absence of the possibility to
receive and retain Other Income. Similarly, in the case of investments in which a GA Client would
not invest, there is an incentive to source or arrange such investments with the intent of placing them
with, or syndicating them to, Participants where GACM or another person will be able to receive and
retain Other Income. As such, a conflict of interest exists because General Atlantic and its affiliates
have a financial incentive to originate, arrange and/or syndicate investments other than the incentive
associated with a management fee and performance-based compensation earned from the GA Client.
In the case of investments in which a GA Client will participate, General Atlantic also has an incentive
to find larger investment opportunities than would ordinarily be appropriate for such GA Client alone
in order to generate and retain Other Income. The potential to receive Other Income, together with
the management or performance compensation available to General Atlantic and/or its affiliates with
respect to the GA Clients to which portfolio investments are expected to be syndicated, creates an
incentive for General Atlantic and its affiliates to pursue or favor investments that would result in
Other Income in lieu of factors that may increase the returns to the GA Client during the life of the
investment.
Investments may be syndicated either simultaneously with a GA Client making (or committing to
make) the applicable investment, or at a time thereafter. In the case of syndications that are effected
after the initial investment (or commitment to make the investment), it is possible that all or a portion
of an investment may be temporarily held by the Balance Sheet and/or a Third-Party Participant, and,
when that portion is sold to Participants, GACM and/or another General Atlantic affiliate will receive
and retain Other Income. However, it is anticipated that in most (or all) of the instances in which
Participants do not invest in an investment at such initial stage, then, in order to facilitate such
investment, the applicable GA Client will make (or commit to make) an investment with a view to
selling a portion of such investment to such Participants prior to or after making such investment. In
such event, the GA Client will bear the risk that any or all of the excess portion of such investment
may not be sold or may only be sold on unattractive terms and that, as a consequence, the GA Client
may hold a larger portion than expected in such investment, or may realize lower than expected
returns from such investment and, except as specifically provided otherwise in this section “Conflicts
Related to Syndication Activities,” the terms, risks and conflicts described under the heading “LP Co-
Investments” in “Item 6. Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management” related to sell-
down co-investment transactions will apply to such Bridge Investments (as defined below) mutatis
mutandis, including, without limitation, as it relates to the price that Participants would pay the GA
Client for the Bridge Investment and that if prospective Participants do not ultimately invest in such
investment, the GA Client will bear any broken deal expenses relating to the prospective Participants’
anticipated portion of the investment.
As described above, a GA Client could provide interim financing, engage in “fronting” transactions,
or otherwise make investments that are intended to be of a temporary nature in securities or financial
instruments of, any portfolio company or other issuer in which such GA Client invests with the
intention of transferring, participating out, or selling all or a portion of such investment to Participants
(each, a “Bridge Investment”). Bridge Investments could be syndicated to one or more Participants
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to the extent such Participants were not in a position to participate in the relevant investment
opportunity on or prior to the closing of a GA Client’s investment therein or for any other reason.
Any such transfer, participation out or sale shall occur on such terms and conditions and at such price
as the applicable General Partner (or an affiliate thereof), in its discretion, determines to be equitable,
which determination, with respect to price, may include the original cost price (with or without
interest) or the fair value of such portion of such investment as of the date of such sale or other
disposition.
A GA Client would be expected to fund Bridge Investments using drawdowns under such GA Client’s
subscription credit facility (to the extent available). Such GA Client will bear the interest expenses
on such borrowed amounts and typically will not be reimbursed for such expenses (regardless of
whether the Bridge Investment is successfully syndicated). The facilitation of a Bridge Investment
will therefore, in circumstances where Other Income is not payable in respect of the Bridge
Investment, generally not provide any direct economic benefit to a GA Client (and such GA Client
could incur certain costs, including, without limitation, to the extent that the Bridge Investment is
funded by drawdowns under such GA Client’s subscription credit facility), although it could provide
strategic benefits (for example, when such Bridge Investment facilitates a portfolio investment by a
GA Client).
If Other Income is received by GACM in connection with making a Bridge Investment by a GA Client
and such Other Income is retained by GACM and is not passed on to such GA Client or to the
Participants who acquire the Bridge Investment (in each case, including, without limitation, as part
of investment proceeds from the relevant investment), then the net amount of such Other Income
attributable to such GA Client’s portion of the Bridge Investment (less any amount necessary to
reimburse any General Atlantic person for all unreimbursed costs and expenses incurred by it in
connection with any consummated or unconsummated transactions or in connection with generating
any such fees that would constitute Partnership Expenses or broken-deal expenses) will be treated as
Fee Income and a portion thereof will offset the Management Fees payable by such GA Client as
described herein. The portion of such Other Income that is attributable to the Bridge Investment (and
the portion thereof that will ultimately result in a Management Fee offset), will be determined based
on the same allocation methodology as that applicable to Fee Income as described herein (including
taking into account that employees and affiliates of General Atlantic do not pay Management Fees).
In some cases, General Atlantic may (but is not obligated to) use the Balance Sheet (as defined herein)
to fund and/or Third-Party Participants (as defined below) may participate in all or any portion of an
investment that is expected to be syndicated to Participants or other persons. The determination of
whether the Balance Sheet and/or a Third-Party Participant will do so (in lieu of a GA Client making
a Bridge Investment with respect to such investment or a portion thereof, as the case may be) will be
made by General Atlantic based on the interests of the Balance Sheet and/or such Third-Party
Participant, including, among other factors, the liquidity profile of the Balance Sheet and/or such
Third-Party Participant at the time of the syndication, other syndications in process or expected to be
in process and the need for bridging in those other syndications, the likelihood of successfully
syndicating the investment and the potential for GACM to earn syndication fees in connection with
placing the investment with Participants (which fees will generally not be retained by GACM where
investments are syndicated by a GA Client as Bridge Investments) or, conversely, the risk of a failed
syndication and retention of the investment. As such, the Balance Sheet will have an incentive not to
agree to fund the portion of investments allocated to Participants (and/or General Atlantic will have
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an incentive not to agree to allocate a portion of a co-investment opportunity to a Third-Party
Participant) where the post-closing syndication is expected to be challenging or subject to significant
risk of failure. While General Atlantic may choose on a case-by-case basis to cause the Balance Sheet
to fund all or any portion of the amount of an investment allocated to Participants and/or allocate a
co-investment opportunity to a Third-Party Participant, it is expected that a GA Client will typically
fund such amounts as Bridge Investments. Any such GA Client will therefore bear the risk that
Participants do not purchase some or all of such investment and the risk of a more concentrated
exposure to the relevant investment than was originally desired. Where both a GA Client, the Balance
Sheet and/or a Third-Party Participant fund any portion of an investment that is expected to be
syndicated to Participants, the post-closing syndication to Participants will be apportioned between
such GA Client, the Balance Sheet and/or such Third-Party Participant on a pro rata basis (or on such
other basis as General Atlantic determines to be fair and equitable, including, without limitation,
taking into account any legal, regulatory, tax or similar considerations applicable to such GA Client,
the Balance Sheet and/or such Third-Party Participant). If there is insufficient coinvestor demand and
the full amount bridged by the GA Client, the Balance Sheet and/or a Third-Party Participant in the
aggregate is not syndicated, the GA Client will be left with a more concentrated exposure to the
relevant investment than was originally desired and a more concentrated exposure than it would have
had if the GA Client’s Bridge Investment were transferred to Participants on a priority basis relative
to the Balance Sheet and/or such Third-Party Participant. In addition, where the Balance Sheet, a
Third-Party Participant and/or the GA Client fund any portion of a follow-on investment that is
expected to be syndicated to Participants and any portion of such follow-on investment is not taken
up by the relevant Participants, the Balance Sheet, such Third-Party Participant and/or the GA Client
und may as a result participate in the follow-on investment on a non-pro rata basis relative to their
share of the original investment. Financial, strategic or other third-party participants with which
General Atlantic (and/or its affiliates) have a business, personal, political, financial or other
relationship, and in which General Atlantic (and/or its affiliates) has an investment or with whom
General Atlantic (and/or its affiliates) otherwise has entered into a revenue share or other economic
arrangement (including for example banking institutions and other asset managers) are collectively
referred to herein as “Third-Party Participants.”
In connection with a GA Client’s investments, one of the GA Client, the Balance Sheet (or another
General Atlantic affiliate) or a Third-Party Participant may be party to legal documentation related to
a commitment or investment by any or all of the foregoing persons. In such cases, each of the relevant
participants’ allocable interest in the investment would be documented by way of internal memoranda
and/or such participants may enter into one or more contribution or similar agreements in respect of
such interests to seek to ensure that the participant facing the issuer as a contractual matter, would not
bear more than its applicable portion of the relevant investment obligations and to effect such
adjustments and arrangements in connection therewith as the General Partner determines to be fair
and equitable. In connection therewith, the allocation of Fee Income and Other Income among such
participants would be based on the actual allocation and direct or indirect participation in the
applicable investment by the relevant participants, taking into account any such back-to-back
arrangements and/or internal allocation memoranda of General Atlantic and its affiliates, and would
not be based on the amount that a party may be viewed as committing to or investing in such
investment solely by reason of being the party facing the counterparty with respect to such investment
for administrative or other reasons.
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In addition to economic interests, the voting, control and governance rights (to the extent applicable)
with respect to an investment in which GA Clients, the Balance Sheet entities, a Third-Party
Participant and/or other Participants invest can be structured in a number of ways depending upon
various considerations relating to the specific investment and the entities participating, and such
structures may disregard the size of a GA Client’s investment relative to any of the Participants.
Where Participants have interests or requirements that do not align with those of a GA Client,
including in particular differing liquidity needs or desired investment horizons, conflicts will arise
with respect to the manner in which the voting or governance rights (if any) with respect to an
aggregating entity (or similar entity) are exercised, potentially resulting in an adverse impact on such
GA Client. Similarly, in cases where the Balance Sheet, a Third-Party Participant or Other Advisory
Clients make “selldown investments” and the applicable Participants ultimately do not consummate
their proposed investments (and, consequently, the Balance Sheet, such Third-Party Participant and/or
such other GA Clients retain their “selldown investments”), the Balance Sheet, such Third-Party
Participant and/or such Other Advisory Clients may end up holding interest in or with respect to a
portfolio company or issuer in which such GA Client is invested that is in a different part of the capital
structure of such portfolio company or issuer compared to such GA Client’s investment therein,
including that the Balance Sheet, such Third-Party Participant and/or such other GA Clients’ interest
may be senior or junior to that of the GA Client’s interests. Such activities will give rise to the same
or similar conflicts of interest as described under “Investments in which the Other Advisory Clients
Have a Different Principal Interest” in Item 6 which conflicts will be heightened in the case of the
Balance Sheet or a Third-Party Participant as General Atlantic’s own interests and its interests in
relation to such Third-Party Participant could conflict with that of the applicable GA Client.
In addition to bridging an investment as described above, from time to time, a GA Client may enter
into one or more loan transactions (each, a “Participated Loan”) with a view to participating out the
relevant loan to Participants. In such arrangements, the GA Client will have both an ongoing direct
contractual relationship with the obligor under the Participated Loan facility and an ongoing
contractual relationship with the holder of the participating interest (the “Participated Loan
Counterparty”), which may be an existing or prospective Limited Partner unaffiliated with General
Atlantic. In such cases, such Limited Partners or other investors necessarily would receive more
information about the underlying Participated Loans than the other Limited Partners. In addition, such
Participated Loan Counterparty will have the right to receive from the GA Client payments of
principal and interest received from the underlying Participated Loan obligor but will typically be
provided with limited or no voting or consent rights attaching to the Participated Loan by the GA
Client. These governance rights will instead be retained by the GA Client. Similarly, the Participated
Loan Counterparty will not have any direct rights or recourse in respect of the underlying collateral,
if any, securing such Participated Loans, which will also be retained by the GA Client. A GA Client
is permitted to enter into Participated Loan arrangements in respect of revolving or delayed draw
credit facilities pursuant to which such GA Client will be subject to the risk of the Participated Loan
Counterparty defaulting on its obligation to make payments to the applicable GA Client of any
amounts required by such GA Client to be paid to the obligor under the Participated Loan facility
subsequent to the closing of the facility. If there is a default by a Participated Loan Counterparty in
such circumstances, such GA Client will have contractual remedies against it pursuant to the
participation agreement. However, exercising such contractual rights could involve delays or costs to
such GA Client and may not be successful or otherwise may not avoid losses for such GA Client. In
the event that a GA Client is required to advance payments due under any Participated Loan
arrangements in advance of receiving the corresponding payments from the Participated Loan
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Counterparty under the corresponding participation arrangement, such advances and the relevant
Participated Loan or portion thereof allocable to such advances, will be treated as a Bridge Investment
by a GA Client with respect to any Other Income associated therewith. Any Participated Loans
otherwise held by a GA Client will to the extent that any amounts payable thereunder have been
funded by the relevant Participated Loan Counterparty, not be treated as “Bridge Investments” or
otherwise as portfolio investments by such GA Client for the purposes of the treatment of Other
Income, the Governing Documents and any investment restrictions. Accordingly, Other Income
allocable to any Participated Loans (other than any Participated Loans that are treated as Bridge
Investments) will not be offset against such GA Client’s Management Fees and will be retained by
GACM.
The potential to receive Other Income in connection with syndication activities creates an incentive
for General Atlantic to allocate all (or at least a larger portion) of an investment to one or more
Participants (thereby reducing the GA Client’s share of the investment) than it would in the absence
of being able to receive and retain Other Income. Additionally, because General Atlantic and/or its
affiliates (and the same personnel who provide services to both General Atlantic and GACM) are
heavily involved in negotiating these originated and similar transactions, they (and GACM) have an
incentive to structure the transactions to generate the types of fees that would not be offset against
management fees with respect to GA Clients (and, consequently, also generate fewer original issue
discounts for the GA Clients). To partially mitigate these conflicts, it is General Atlantic’s policy that
the GA Clients receive their minimum desired allocation before General Atlantic allocates any portion
of an originated investment to other Participants in respect of which General Atlantic would retain
Other Income.
Certain General Atlantic professionals and other persons (including persons associated with GACM)
that are involved in providing origination, sourcing, portfolio management, syndication or other
services to the GA Clients and other persons on behalf of General Atlantic (including General Atlantic
investment professionals dedicated to, among other things, the GA Client and GA Credit) will also
be involved in the business and operations of GACM or devote time to GACM activities (regardless
of the entity through which such GACM activities are conducted, which entities may include GASC),
and their activities are expected to give rise to Other Income that are not subject to any Management
Fee offset, even though such persons are involved in investment-related activities on behalf of such
GA Client and/or Other Advisory Clients. Such persons will face conflicts of interest in dedicating
time and resources to the GA Client, which could have a detrimental effect on a GA Client’s
performance. In addition, GACM can provide services to third parties (including corporate borrowers,
as described below), including third parties that are competitors of General Atlantic or one or more
of its affiliates, other GA Clients or their existing or potential portfolio companies, issuers or portfolio
investments. In such cases, GACM will generally not take into consideration the interests of a GA
Client or its portfolio companies or issuers, but rather will take into account its own interests.
Further, conflicts of interest will arise in connection with GACM’s provision of services to or in
respect of more than one GA Client or an existing or potential portfolio company or issuer of more
than one GA Client on account of, among other things, (i) General Atlantic, together with GACM,
viewing a GA Client or potential or existing portfolio company or issuer as a source of revenue (which
would in most instances not result in a reduction of Management Fees payable by the GA Clients),
(ii) an existing or potential portfolio company or issuer engaging GACM in an effort to obtain equity,
debt or other forms of financing or investment by GA Clients, including in connection with services
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provided or to be provided by GACM in respect of a class, tranche or series within such company’s
capital structure (or such company’s capital structure as a whole) in which such GA Client(s) are not
invested or are not expected to invest (and in such circumstance such GA Clients are invested or are
expected to invest in a different class, tranche or series within such company’s capital structure), (iii)
the sourcing and approval of potential GA Client investments that result in incremental revenue to
GACM (including in circumstances where such revenue would not have existed but for a potential or
existing portfolio company, issuer or portfolio investment’s engagement of GACM), including as a
means to facilitate the engagement of GACM by any such company or investment in connection with
a contemporaneous investment in such company or investment by another GA Client, (iv) General
Atlantic and its affiliates’ internal compensation arrangements with respect to such revenue and (v)
the allocation of a given investment opportunity, including the under- or over-commitment of certain
GA Clients, and/or the inclusion or exclusion of certain other GA Clients (in whole or in part) from
such investment opportunity, as a means to ensure the payment of such revenue. GACM also can
come into possession of information that it is prohibited from acting on or disclosing (including on
behalf of a GA Client) as a result of applicable confidentiality requirements or applicable law, even
though such action or disclosure would be in the best interest of the GA Client or a portfolio company
or issuer.
To the extent GACM is engaged by a portfolio company or issuer and one or more GA Clients expects
to or does participate in the investment opportunity, General Atlantic and its affiliates will face actual
or potential conflicts of interest, in particular if GACM is engaged by a third party (such as a portfolio
company or issuer). Such conflicts include: (i) whether the GACM engagement, including amount of
fees to be paid, is on terms that are not materially less favorable than terms that could be obtained
from a third party with commensurate skill, expertise or experience (to the extent applicable), (ii) the
portfolio company or issuer viewing the total amount of fees, discounts and interest paid for or in
connection with the financing (or similar instrument) as one overall category of remuneration,
whether payable to GACM, as a service provider, GASC or a GA Client, and therefore does not seek
to negotiate the quantum or type of fees, discounts or interest to be paid to GACM, which could result
in reduced fees or other compensation and/or less attractive investment terms for a GA Client (for
example, a transaction may be structured in a manner that results in more structuring, arranger and
syndication fees being payable to GACM and less original issue discount accruing to a GA Client),
(iii) an incentive to pursue investment opportunities with greater fee opportunities for GACM,
whether as a percentage of the investment size or absolute dollar amount, which could adversely
impact the sourcing, diligence and approval process by GASC for a GA Client, or (iv) the under- or
over-commitment of such GA Clients, and/or the inclusion or exclusion (in whole or in part) of certain
GA Clients from such investment opportunity, as a means to ensure the payment of such revenue.
While not expected to materially adversely impact the GA Clients in a direct manner, the involvement
of GACM in an investment opportunity could give rise to various actual or apparent conflicts for
other GA Clients, including (i) causing a lending-related investment opportunity to be treated as an
affiliate loan origination (from a tax perspective) and thereby restricting the ability of certain types of
Other Advisory Clients to participate, (ii) seeking to avoid allocation of these investment
opportunities to other GA Clients where investor consents and/or management fee offsets are required
and (iii) potential screening bias against potential investment opportunities that do not include a
GACM fee component. In addition, a GA Client may not be able to participate in an investment
opportunity if participation in such investment opportunity, taken together with the involvement of
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GACM in such investment opportunity, creates a risk that such GA Client is treated as being engaged
in a trade or business in the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
To the extent investment opportunities for a GA Client arise outside of the U.S., including
opportunities located within the continents of Europe, the General Partner of such GA Client and
GASC will be permitted to structure such opportunities in a manner that takes into account the
engagement of GACM to provide services and earn fees in a manner consistent with the GACM
arrangements described above, subject to such adjustments as determined by General Atlantic, in its
discretion.
Fee Income. GASC and/or General Atlantic may receive Fee Income as described in “D.
Management Fee Offsets” in Item 5. In addition, GASC may seek expense reimbursement from
issuers directly, and such payments would be subject to the reimbursement policies of such
companies, and not the relevant GA Client’s Governing Documents. Conflicts of interest may also
arise due to the allocation of any Fee Income received by GASC and/or General Atlantic to or among
coinvestors. To the extent the receipt by GASC and/or General Atlantic of any such Fee Income
results in an offset of the Management Fee as provided in the Governing Documents of the applicable
GA Client, such Fee Income will be allocated to the GA Client only to the extent of the GA Client’s
relative ownership (or anticipated ownership) of such investment or potential investment on a fully
diluted basis. The amount of such Fee Income allocable to such coinvestors will not result in an offset
of the management fee payable by the GA Client, even if the Coinvestors bear lower or no
management fees, and in some cases may be retained by GASC pursuant to the terms of such vehicles.
Accordingly, a GA Client will, in most cases, only benefit from the Management Fee reduction
described above with respect to its allocable portion of any such Fee Income and not the portion of
any fee allocable to any other person that holds an economic interest in (or, in the case of a transaction
not consummated, would have held an economic interest in) the applicable investment. Furthermore,
as the General Partner and investors affiliated with General Atlantic do not pay the Management Fee,
the amount of any such Fee Income attributable to the General Partner’s or such related parties’
investments in a GA Client will not result in any offset to the Management Fee. The fee potential
(including with respect to Other Fees) inherent in a particular investment or transaction could be
viewed as an incentive for GASC and/or General Atlantic to seek to refer or recommend an
investment or transaction to the GA Client.
While not limited to replacement services, many of the services that give rise to Other Client Amounts
are anticipated to be services provided by an Other Person as third-party replacement services (i.e.,
services that otherwise would have been provided by third-party service providers or consultants,
such as infrastructure-related services, property management, collateral management and other
services). For these purposes, “Other Person” means any General Atlantic person that is primarily
dedicated to sponsoring, managing or advising (or, with respect to General Atlantic persons who are
individuals, whose role is primarily dedicated to) one or more GA Acquired Clients and/or Other
Advisory Clients.
If a partner, member, manager, officer or employee of GASC or its subsidiaries is serving on the
board of directors of a portfolio company and is receiving board compensation from such portfolio
company and during his or her tenure on such board becomes an “Advisory Director” or a “Senior
Advisor” to General Atlantic, then as long as a GA Client holds an investment in such portfolio
company and such individual is an Advisory Director or Senior Advisor, the Management Fees will
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continue to be treated as Fee Income with respect to such GA Client while the individual serves on
the board of directors of such portfolio company and remains an Advisory Director or Senior Advisor.
Once a partner, member, manager, officer or employee of GASC or its subsidiaries is no longer a
partner, member, manager, officer or employee of GASC or its subsidiaries, or an Advisory Director
or Senior Advisor, the directors’ fees received by such individual from any portfolio company board
will not reduce the Management Fees otherwise payable to GASC. In addition, if any Management
Fees are reduced by board compensation from a portfolio investment, then once such portfolio
investment ceases to be a portfolio investment of such GA Client (i.e., such GA Client has fully
disposed of its interest in such portfolio investment), then the Management Fees will no longer be
reduced by the board compensation paid to a member, manager, officer or employee of GASC or its
subsidiaries who continues to serve on the board of directors of the applicable issuer.
Fee Income does not include any fees or other compensation (including directors’ fees and
performance-based fees) paid by a portfolio company to any Senior Advisor or other consultants or
advisors who, at the request of GASC or its subsidiaries, is providing services to such portfolio
company. Senior Advisors also provide consulting services to GASC or its subsidiaries directly.
Except as otherwise described herein, all services provided by Senior Advisors to GASC or its
subsidiaries are paid by GASC as a GASC operating expense. From time to time, Senior Advisors or
other consultants or advisors receive compensation from a portfolio company, GASC or a GA Client
at the same time, in each case, without reducing the Management Fees otherwise payable to GASC
by the Limited Partners. In addition to the foregoing, Senior Advisors from time to time invest directly
in a portfolio company in the event that such Senior Advisor serves on the board of directors of such
portfolio company, provides services to such portfolio company or otherwise provides value-add to
such portfolio company. In addition, a Senior Advisor also may separately make an investment in a
portfolio company through a private equity or alternative asset firm of which such Senior Advisor is
a sponsor or executive. Any income resulting from such investments will not reduce the Management
Fees otherwise payable to GASC by the Limited Partners.
If board compensation is paid by a portfolio company to a Senior Advisor or consultant or advisor
who was recommended to join such portfolio company board, then the Management Fees will not be
reduced by the amount of such compensation.
In addition, credit card, airline, lodging, rental car and other points or rebates received by General
Atlantic or its employees will also not be used to offset Management Fees.
Risks Associated with the GA Clients’ Portfolio Companies
Nature of Investments. The Core Program Partnerships, and certain of the other GA Clients,
primarily focus on making investments on a national or global basis in (i) companies with growth
characteristics whose growth is or will be driven by attractive market or industry characteristics,
regional and/or global expansion, acquisitions, superior management, technology, financial resources
and/or access to key clients, customers, decision makers or experts, and (ii) companies driven by
information technology or intellectual property. While such investments offer the opportunity for
significant capital gains, they also involve a high degree of risk that may result in substantial losses.
Portfolio companies in which the GA Clients invest could deteriorate as a result of, among other
factors, an adverse development in their business, a change in their competitive environment, or an
economic downturn. As a result, portfolio companies which were expected to be stable may operate
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at a loss or have significant variations in operating results, may require substantial additional capital
to support their operations or to maintain their competitive positions, or may otherwise have a weak
financial condition or be experiencing financial distress. In some cases, the success of the GA Clients’
investment strategy and approach will depend, in part, on the ability of GASC to effect improvements
in the operations of a portfolio company and/or recapitalize its balance sheet. The activity of
identifying and implementing operating improvements and/or recapitalization programs at portfolio
companies entails a high degree of uncertainty.
There can be no assurance that GASC will be able to successfully identify and implement such
operating improvements and/or recapitalization programs and evaluate the nature and magnitude of
the various factors that could affect the value of such investments. Prices of the investments may be
volatile and a variety of other factors that are inherently difficult to predict, such as domestic or
international economic and political developments, may significantly affect the results of GASC’s
activities. As a result, the GA Clients’ performance over a particular period may not necessarily be
indicative of the results that may be expected in future periods.
Focused Investment Strategy and Limited Number of Investments. As a result of the GA
Clients’ investment focus, investors will not enjoy the reduced risks of a broadly diversified portfolio.
A specific investment focus is inherently more risky and could cause the GA Clients’ investments to
be more susceptible to particular economic, political, regulatory, technological, or industry conditions
or occurrences compared with a fund, or a portfolio of funds, that is more diversified or has a broader
industry focus. The GA Clients could become highly concentrated and a Limited Partner’s aggregate
return may be affected substantially by the performance of a few holdings. In particular, a
Continuation Vehicle or Companion Fund could have only a few investments or even a single
investment. The Limited Partners have no assurance as to the degree of diversification of the GA
Clients’ investments, either by geographic region, asset type or sector. Moreover, because it is not
reasonable to expect all of the GA Clients’ investments to perform well or even return capital, for the
GA Clients to achieve above-average returns, one or a few of its investments must perform very well.
There are no assurances that this will be the case.
Need for Follow-On Investments. Following a GA Client’s initial investment in a portfolio
company, the GA Client may be called upon to make one or more follow-on investments in such
portfolio company, i.e., to provide additional funds or to increase its investment in such company,
especially in light of the distress in the public and private marketplace. There is no assurance that the
GA Client will make follow-on investments or that it will have sufficient funds to make all such
investments. Any decision by a GA Client not to make follow-on investments or its inability to make
them may have a substantial negative impact on a portfolio company in need of such an investment,
may diminish such GA Client’s ability to influence the portfolio company’s future development, may
result in missed opportunities for the GA Client, or may result in dilution of the GA Client’s
investment. In the event that the GA Client does not make a potential follow-on investment, such
follow-on investment may be made by one or more other GA Clients, whether or not such fund has
participated in the initial investment in such portfolio company. Further, in the event of a down round
financing or a financing involving punitive terms, such as “pay-to-play” provisions, a GA Client may
be required to invest additional capital to protect its position and relative rights within the company.
Certain conflicts of interest arise when the Core Program makes a follow-on investment in those
scenarios, as a result of the staggered nature of Core Program commitments and the fact that not all
investors who participated in the original investment will participate in the follow-on investment.
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Further, to the extent a Companion Fund participated in the original investment and that Companion
Fund is outside its investment period at the time a follow-on investment is made, a conflict of interest
will arise between the Core Program and the Companion Fund since the Companion Fund will be
unable to fund the follow-on and the Core Program may have to fund 100% of the follow-on capital.
Risks Associated with Non-U.S. Investments. The GA Clients invest in non-U.S. businesses
and do so on a regular basis. Non-U.S. investments involve certain factors not typically associated
with investing in U.S. businesses and securities. For instance, investments in non-U.S. businesses
(a) may require government approvals under corporate, securities, exchange control, non-U.S.
investment and other similar laws and regulations, and (b) may require financing and structuring
alternatives and exit strategies that differ substantially from those commonly used in the U.S. In
addition, such risks of investing in non-U.S. companies may include, in general, risks relating to:
(i) currency exchange matters, including fluctuations in the rate of exchange between the U.S. dollar
and various foreign currencies in which the investments in non-U.S. portfolio companies are
denominated, and costs associated with conversion of investment principal and income from one
currency into another (General Atlantic may hedge foreign currency exposure on its non-U.S.
investments, and has historically done so when calling capital for an investment denominated in a
foreign currency but may also hedge in connection with other known, upcoming events as well);
(ii) differences between the U.S. and non-U.S. securities markets, including potential price volatility
in and relative illiquidity of some non-U.S. securities markets, the absence of uniform accounting,
auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and disclosure requirements and less
governmental supervision and regulation; (iii) certain economic and political factors, including
potential exchange control regulations and restrictions on non-U.S. investment and repatriation of
capital, the risks of political, economic or social instability and the possibility of expropriation or
confiscatory taxation; (iv) the possible imposition of non-U.S. taxes on income and gain recognized
with respect to such securities and withholding taxes on dividends, interest and gains; (v) less
developed corporate laws regarding, among other things, fiduciary duties and the protection of
investors; (vi) the unpredictability of international trade patterns, and the viability of international
trade agreements; (vii) the imposition of restrictions on and/or heightened regulatory burdens with
respect to non-U.S. investments by the U.S. and/or the imposition of tariffs by the U.S. on non-U.S.
goods (e.g., the U.S.’s imposition of tariffs on Chinese goods); (viii) the possibility of non-U.S.
governmental actions such as expropriation, nationalization, confiscatory taxation, the imposition of
restrictions on inbound capital (e.g., from the United States), and/or the imposition of tariffs on U.S.
goods; (ix) the imposition or modification of exchange controls or currency pegs; (x) less developed
compliance infrastructure, regarding, among others, anti-money laundering protections; (xi) less
developed cybersecurity and technology infrastructure and greater risk of misappropriation of
intellectual property and/or personal information; (xii) less developed transportation infrastructure
and supply chain logistics; and (xiii) greater social unrest and market uncertainty. Further, as
compared to U.S. entities, non-U.S. entities generally disclose less financial and other information
publicly, and they are subject to less stringent and less uniform accounting, auditing, and financial
reporting standards. Also, it may be more difficult to obtain and enforce legal judgments against non-
U.S. entities than against U.S. entities. The GA Clients are not obligated to engage in any currency
hedging operations, and there can be no assurance as to the success of any hedging operations that
the GA Clients may implement. Additionally, in some countries there is the possibility of
expropriation of value, including through confiscatory taxation, limitations on the repatriation or sale
of securities, debt obligations, property or other assets of the GA Clients, political or social instability
or diplomatic developments, each of which could have an adverse effect on the GA Clients’
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investments in such non-U.S. countries. In addition, there are certain laws and regulations governing
the use of certain information technology that are different and more restrictive than the laws and
regulations of the United States. Any adverse change to the political, economic, military or social
environments in the host countries of the portfolio companies could have a significant adverse effect
upon the operations or financial performance of the GA Clients. The General Partners and GASC
will analyze risks in applicable countries before making such investments, but no assurance can be
given that the General Partners and GASC will be able to evaluate these risks accurately or that a
political or economic climate, or that particular legal or regulatory risks might not adversely affect an
investment by a GA Client.
Minority Investments. The GA Clients typically make minority investments in companies.
As a minority investor in a portfolio company, the GA Clients are not likely to be able to control or
influence effectively the business or affairs of the portfolio company and may not have full
transparency into its day-to-day operations and business affairs. The GA Clients may have no right
to appoint a director and a limited ability to protect their interests in such companies and to influence
such companies’ management. Such a company may have economic or business interests or goals
that are inconsistent with those of General Atlantic, and General Atlantic may not be in a position to
limit or otherwise protect the value of the investment in the company, although as a condition of
making such investments, it is expected that appropriate shareholder rights generally will be sought
to protect the investors’ investments. There can be no assurance that such minority investor rights
will be available, or that such rights will provide sufficient protection of investors’ interests.
Co-Investments with Third Parties. The GA Clients co-invest in portfolio companies with
financial, strategic, or other third parties. Such investments will involve additional risks not present
in investments where a third party is not involved, including the possibility that the co-investor may
have interests or objectives that are inconsistent with those of the GA Clients, may have financial
difficulties resulting in a negative impact on such investment or may be in a position to take action
contrary to the GA Clients’ investment objectives. In addition, a GA Client may in certain
circumstances be liable for the actions of its third party partners or co-venturers. Investments made
with third parties in joint ventures or other entities also may involve Performance Allocations and/or
other fees payable to such third party partners or co-venturers.
In addition, the GA Clients will be significantly reliant on the existing management and board
of directors of such companies, which may include representation of other financial investors with
whom the GA Clients are not affiliated and whose interests may conflict with the interests of GA
Clients.
As a condition of making such investments, it is expected that appropriate shareholder rights generally
will be sought to protect the investments of the GA Clients; however, there can be no assurance that
such rights will be available, or that such rights will provide sufficient protection of such interests.
Difficulty of Locating Suitable Investments. Although General Atlantic believes that it
should be able to attract suitable deal flow, General Atlantic may be unable to find a sufficient number
of attractive opportunities to meet its investment objectives. General Atlantic expects investment
competition from other entities having similar investment goals and objectives. Potential competitors
include other private investment funds, business development companies, special purpose acquisition
corporations, firms that have historically been limited partners in private equity firms, venture capital
firms, individuals, financial institutions, strategic or scaled acquisition firms, family offices and other
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institutional investors. Some of these competitors may have more relevant experience, greater
financial, technical, marketing, and other resources, more personnel, higher risk tolerances, different
risk assessments, lower return thresholds, lower cost of capital, a greater ability to achieve synergistic
cost savings than the GA Clients, a need to invest expiring capital commitments, a longer investment
horizon than the GA Clients and access to funding sources unavailable to General Atlantic. In
addition, the availability of investment opportunities generally will be subject to market conditions
as well as, in some cases, the prevailing regulatory or political climate. Therefore, identification of
attractive investment opportunities is difficult and involves a high degree of uncertainty, and
competition for such opportunities may become more intense. Some of these competitors may have
more market experience and contacts, greater financial capital and resources and more personnel than
the GA Core Program. There can be no assurance that the General Partner of each GA Client will be
able to identify a sufficient number of investment opportunities for the GA Clients to enable them to
invest fully the capital commitments in opportunities that satisfy the GA Clients’ investment
objectives, or that such investment opportunities will lead to completed investments by the GA
Clients. Likewise, there can be no assurance that the GA Clients will be able to realize upon the value
of their investments or that they will be able to invest all of their committed capital. As such, poor
performance by a few of the GA Clients’ investments could severely affect the total returns to
investors.
Risk Arising from Provision of Managerial Assistance. The Managing Directors of GASC
or its subsidiaries and/or other GASC investment professionals typically serve on the boards of
directors of portfolio companies. The designation of directors and other measures contemplated could
expose a GA Client’s assets to claims by a portfolio company, its security holders and its creditors.
While General Atlantic intends to operate in a way that will minimize exposure to these risks, the
possibility of successful claims by portfolio companies cannot be precluded.
If a GASC investment professional serves as a director of a portfolio company, such individual may
become subject to fiduciary or other duties which could adversely affect the GA Clients. For example,
the GA Clients may be unable to sell portfolio securities if a board member affiliated with GASC is
in possession of inside information relating to the issuer thereof or during “black out” periods.
Nevertheless, investment professionals of GASC typically serve on portfolio company boards of
directors.
Furthermore, the GA Clients may obtain rights to participate substantially in and to influence
substantially the conduct of the management of their portfolio companies which could expose the GA
Clients to claims by portfolio companies, their security holders and their creditors. The exercise of
control over a company imposes additional risks of liability for environmental damage, product
defects, failure to supervise management, violation of governmental regulations and other types of
liability in which the limited liability generally characteristic of business operations may be ignored.
If these liabilities were to occur, investors could suffer losses in their investments and indemnification
risks arising out of litigation.
Dependence on Key Personnel. The success of the GA Clients is dependent on the financial
and managerial expertise of the key personnel of GASC and its subsidiaries. The loss of these
individuals could have a material adverse effect on the performance of the GA Clients. The key
personnel are under no contractual obligation to remain with GASC or any of its subsidiaries for all
or any portion of the term of any Commitment Agreement or GA Client. As a result, the ability of
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GASC to carry on its activities successfully is dependent upon the skill and experience of the
personnel of GASC.
Expedited Transactions. Certain investment analyses and decisions by General Atlantic may
be undertaken on an expedited basis in order for the GA Clients to take advantage of available
investment opportunities. In such cases, the information available to General Atlantic at the time of
an investment decision may be limited, and General Atlantic may not have access to the detailed
information necessary for a full evaluation of the investment opportunity. In these instances, General
Atlantic conducts its due diligence activities in a very brief period and may assume the risks of
obtaining certain consents or waivers under contractual obligations.
Leverage. Investments are expected to include obligors whose capital structures may have
significant leverage. These investments are inherently more sensitive to declines in revenues and to
increases in expenses and interest rates. The leveraged capital structure of these investments will
increase the exposure of such obligors to adverse economic factors such as downturns in the economy
or deterioration in the condition of the obligor or its industry.
The GA Clients intend to use leverage by incurring liabilities to finance a portion of the investments
of such GA Client under one or more leverage facilities. Such leverage facilities may be incurred
directly or indirectly, including through subscription facilities, or any refinancing thereof, and could
be done by the GA Clients through any asset-based facility that remain outstanding without a specific
duration limit. They may take the form of, without limitation, products issued by securitization
vehicles, and other financial instruments described herein, such as derivative instruments that are
inherently leveraged. The use of leverage by a GA Client generally magnifies both its opportunities
for higher returns and its risk of loss from a particular investment. Accordingly, any event that
adversely affects the value of an investment by a GA Client would be magnified to the extent leverage
is used. The cumulative effect of the use of leverage by a GA Client in a market that moves adversely
to the investments could result in a loss to participating Limited Partners that would be greater than
if leverage had not been used. The cost and availability of leverage is highly dependent on the state
of the broader credit markets (and such credit markets may be impacted by regulatory restrictions and
guidelines, among other factors), which state is difficult to accurately forecast, and at times it may be
difficult to obtain or maintain the desired degree of leverage. To the extent that a GA Client engages
in any leveraging, it will be subject to the risks normally associated with debt financing, including
the insufficiency of cash flow to meet principal and interest payments. Leveraging the capital structure
will mean that third parties, such as banks, may be entitled to the cash flow generated by such
investments prior to a GA Client receiving a return.
To the extent that the GA Clients invest in a portfolio company with a leveraged capital structure,
such investment will be subject to increased exposure to adverse economic factors such as a
significant rise in interest rates, a severe downturn in the economy or deterioration in the condition of
such company or its industry. In the event that such a company is unable to generate sufficient cash
flow to meet principal and interest payments on its indebtedness, the principal amount of the GA
Clients’ debt investment will be at significant risk, and the value of any equity portion of the GA
Clients’ investment in such company may be significantly reduced or eliminated. Furthermore,
although portfolio company-level debt is generally expected to be recourse only to the financed
portfolio company, the GA Clients themselves may be required to provide equity commitment letters,
completion guarantees, payment guarantees, environmental indemnities and so-called “non-recourse
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carve out guarantees” (e.g., guarantees of losses suffered by the lender, and in some cases of the full
principal amount of the loan, in the event that the borrowing entity or its equity owners engage in
certain conduct such as fraud, misappropriation of funds, unauthorized transfers of the financed
property or equity interests in the borrowing entity, the commencement of a voluntary bankruptcy
case by the borrowing entity or under other circumstances provided for in such guaranty or
indemnity). Any such agreements or arrangements will not generally be considered a borrowing or
a guarantee for purposes of any limitations on borrowings and/or guarantees set forth in the Governing
Documents even though these agreements pose many of the same risks and conflicts associated with
the use of leverage that the limitations on borrowings and guarantees intend to address.
Subject to certain limitations, the GA Clients will from time to time borrow money, purchase margin
securities, pledge their assets, guarantee or become sureties for the obligations of others and
indemnify lenders and third parties in connection with any such borrowings or other such transactions.
Such borrowings are from time to time made with a capital call bridge facility or its equivalent entered
into by a GA Client for purposes of providing financing to such GA Client to consummate the funding
of investments (and the costs and expenses associated therewith) prior to the call for capital
contributions with respect to such investments. In addition, there may be (i) circumstances in which
a GA Client purchases margin securities, pledges its assets or guarantees the obligations of portfolio
companies and (ii) unique or strategic investment opportunities in which a GA Client incurs
permanent leverage with respect to an investment in a portfolio company (i.e., a permanent loan
facility or its equivalent) by borrowing amounts from a lender to invest in a portfolio company with
the intention of repaying such borrowing from the gains associated with such investment or capital
called from the investors. As described herein, the GA Clients may and may cause or permit any of
their subsidiaries or special purpose vehicles to) take out margin loans or “net asset value loans” (or
“NAV loans”) secured by investments or otherwise enter into transactions having a similar leveraging
effect with respect to investments including for purposes of distributing the proceeds to the GA
Clients for further distribution to the Limited Partners, and may in each case pledge the shares of the
underlying portfolio company (or other asset) as collateral for the loan. Under these arrangements,
the special purpose vehicle would typically be subject to a margin call if the value of the underlying
assets decreases significantly. In order to meet the margin call, the special purpose vehicle will need
additional assets to avoid foreclosure. Even if the margin loan is not recourse to the GA Client, the
GA Client may contribute additional capital to the special purpose vehicle to avoid adverse
consequences to the investment, including foreclosure on the collateral at a lower valuation (see also
“Back Leverage” below). The GA Clients may directly or indirectly take such margin loans or NAV
loans secured by investments for purposes of participating in investments or follow-on investments,
which are not subject to the restrictions on borrowings described above. The GA Clients may directly
or indirectly take such margin loans or NAV loans secured by investments for purposes of
participating in investments or follow-on investments or to accelerate distributions to the Limited
Partners. The indirect interest of a Limited Partner or a co-investor may be used to secure a margin
loan or NAV loan taken out by a GA Client in connection with a follow-on investment, distribution
or other transaction that such Limited Partner or co-investor is not participating in. In such event, for
the avoidance of doubt, such non-participating Limited Partner or co-investor will not bear any costs
or expenses related to such loan. The interests of Limited Partners participating in the investment or
distribution resulting from such loan, on the one hand, and Limited Partners or co-investors not
participating in the investment, distribution or other transaction resulting from such loan, on the other
hand, could diverge in connection with the utilization of such loan where 100% of such GA Client’s
interests in the underlying investment are pledged. Similarly, the interests of participating Limited
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Partners could diverge to the extent that Limited Partners’ interests in the underlying assets differ as
a result of GASC’s investment allocation rules, for example, with respect to follow-on investments.
GA may give co-investors the option to participate in the investment or distribution resulting from a
margin loan or NAV loan secured by such co-investors’ investments, but co-investors may elect not
to so participate, which could reduce the amount of collateral that can be pledged and may adversely
affect the loan terms or availability thereof. If co-investors do so elect to participate, they will be
required to commit to return all or a portion of distributions or make an additional commitment to
cover any potential funding obligations under such margin loan or NAV loan.
In addition to secured financing arrangements, the GA Clients could employ preferred financing
arrangements with respect to some or all of the investments of such GA Client or the GA Core
Program as a whole. In such arrangements, a third party typically provides cash liquidity in exchange
for the right to receive a return of such amount plus a preferred return thereon prior to the return of
any additional proceeds to the GA Client. Subject to the Governing Documents, such arrangements
could be employed to accelerate distributions to the Limited Partners or to provide for additional
capital for new or follow-on investments. These arrangements could result in a GA Client receiving
a lower overall return of distributions than it would otherwise have received if, for example, an
investment is held for a long period of time, resulting in a compounding preferred return in favor of
the third party financing provider, or where the proceeds of the financing are reinvested in investments
that do not perform as well as the original investments that were subject to the financing arrangement.
Such preferred financing arrangements will not be treated as borrowings incurred by the GA Client
for purposes of determining their compliance with the limitations on borrowings set forth in the
Governing Documents.
The General Partners are authorized to cause the GA Clients or their subsidiaries or portfolio
investments to borrow money (including in the form of a margin loan or NAV loan) or otherwise
provide credit support for the purposes of causing the GA Client or any such subsidiary or portfolio
investment to realize proceeds other than in connection with a disposition of the GA Client’s interest
in any such portfolio investment. The General Partners are incentivized to provide liquidity to the GA
Clients and their Limited Partners for purposes of improving the internal rate of return (“IRR”) of the
GA Client and accelerating the return of distributions to the Limited Partners (which could result in
the distribution of Performance Allocation to the General Partners), even if, as stated above, the GA
Client has not actually disposed of or otherwise realized its interest in such portfolio investments. If
any such form of financing is entered into by a GA Client or any such subsidiary or portfolio
investment, there will be associated contingent liabilities that could cause the GA Client or the
subsidiary or portfolio investment to suffer losses and require the Limited Partners to make capital
contributions at any point during the GA Client’s life for purposes of satisfying, for example, margin
calls or other obligations.
The use of a leverage facility by a GA Client will also result in interest expenses, fees and other costs
to a GA Client that may not be covered by interest payments and fees generated by a GA Client from
investments. The use of leverage may impose restrictive financial and operating covenants on a GA
Client, in addition to the burden of debt service, and may impair a GA Client’s ability to operate its
business as desired and/or finance future capital needs. The use of leverage may magnify the volatility
of changes in the value of investments.
The actual use of leverage by GA Clients will depend on a number of factors, including the
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availability of indebtedness on terms that GASC deems are appropriate and GASC’s decision to
utilize any such available leverage, among others. There can be no assurance that a GA Client will be
able to obtain, or will maintain, leverage on favorable terms, leverage that reaches GASC’s
targets/expectations or any leverage at all. To the extent that a GA Client does not employ long-term
leverage (or employs less leverage than originally anticipated when the GA Client was market), such
GA Client’s investment returns may be lower than those that might have been achieved using long-
term leverage.
GA Clients may from time to time enter into agreements to indemnify or provide funds in the event
of breaches of contractual provisions by the GA Clients, the General Partners, GASC, a portfolio
company and/or any of their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, shareholders, members,
employees and/or officers (whether such agreement to provide funds is described as a guarantee
(including a “bad boy,” “big boy” or similar guarantee), performance undertaking or otherwise). In
addition, the GA Clients will (and may cause or permit any of their subsidiaries or special purpose
vehicles to), enter into contractual arrangements, including deferred purchase price payments, staged
funding obligations, earn outs, milestone payments, equity commitment letters and other forms of
credit support that obligate it to fund amounts to special purpose vehicles, portfolio companies or
other third parties. Any such agreements or arrangements will not be considered a borrowing or a
guarantee for purposes of any limitations on borrowings and/or guarantees set forth in the Governing
Documents, even though these agreements and arrangements pose many of the same risks and
conflicts associated with the use of leverage that the limitations on borrowings and guarantees intend
to address.
In addition, a GA Client’s General Partner may have the right to borrow for the purpose of funding
distributions to Limited Partners or to facilitate a follow-on investment. To the extent a General
Partner elects to do so in order to accelerate a distribution that is expected to be made in connection
with a binding agreement or the declaration of a dividend or similar distribution by a portfolio
company (directly or indirectly), the proceeds from such borrowing will be split between the Limited
Partners and such General Partner on the same basis as the proceeds would be distributed upon
consummation of the transaction contemplated by the applicable binding agreement (or dividend
announcement). Accordingly, the General Partner has an incentive to cause the GA Client to borrow
for this purpose in order to accelerate its receipt of Performance Allocation. To the extent an
applicable transaction is not consummated or dividend not made (or, in either case, materially
delayed) the GA Client may be required to call capital or dispose of other assets to repay the applicable
borrowing and the General Partner may be required to repay certain of the losses applicable Limited
Partners.
Back Leverage. Without limitation to the disclosure above under “Leverage,” a GA Client
may (i) create an investment vehicle, contribute such GA Client’s assets to such investment vehicle
(or make such investments directly through such investment vehicle), and cause such investment
vehicle to incur borrowings which may be secured by the investment vehicle’s assets or (ii) cause
multiple such investment vehicles to engage in joint borrowings and/or secure any such borrowings
on a cross-collateralized basis. Any arrangements entered into by such vehicle or entity (and not the
GA Client itself), will not be considered borrowings by the GA Client for purposes of any GA Client-
level limits on borrowings (or any limits on issuing additional interests) by such GA Client that are
set forth in the Governing Documents of the relevant GA Client(s). The use of back leverage
potentially enhances the return profile of these investments and a GA Client overall, but also increases
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the risk of the applicable investment, including the risks associated with collateralized investments
held through the same leverage facilities. If a GA Client were to create one or more of such
investment vehicles, such GA Client would depend on distributions from an investment vehicle out
of such vehicle’s assets, earnings and/or cash flows to enable such GA Client to make distributions
to its Limited Partners. The ability of such an investment vehicle to make distributions could be
subject to various limitations, including the terms and covenants of the debt it issues. For example,
tests (based on loan to value, interest coverage or other financial ratios or other criteria) may restrict
the GA Client’s ability, as the holder of an investment vehicle’s common equity interests, to receive
cash flow from these investments. There is no assurance any such performance tests will be satisfied.
Also, an investment vehicle may take actions that delay distributions to investors in order to preserve
ratings and to keep the cost of present and future financings lower. As a result, there may be a lag,
which could be significant, between the repayment or other realization on a loan to, and the
distribution of cash out of, such an investment vehicle, or cash flows may be completely restricted
for the life of the relevant investment vehicle.
Hedging Policies and Risks. General Partners may engage in derivative or similar
transactions to hedge some or all of the GA Clients’ portfolio exposure to currency exchange rate
fluctuations, but it is not contemplated that the GA Clients will engage in short selling or shorting
transactions other than for purposes of hedging currency exposure. Hedging against a decline in
currency exchange rates does not eliminate fluctuations in the values of related portfolio positions or
prevent losses if the values of such positions decline, but establishes other positions designed to gain
from those same developments, thus seeking to moderate the decline in the portfolio position’s value.
Such hedging transactions also limit the opportunity for gain if relevant currency exchange rates
should increase. In the event of an imperfect correlation between hedging transactions and related
portfolio positions, the desired protection may not be obtained, and the GA Client may be exposed to
risk of loss. In addition, it is not possible to hedge fully or perfectly against all foreign exchange risk,
and hedging entails its own costs. General Atlantic will determine in its sole discretion whether or
not to hedge against certain foreign exchange risks.
Illiquidity of Investments. An investment in the GA Clients requires a long term
commitment with no certainty of return. It is unlikely there will be near term cash flow available to
the Limited Partners. Many of the GA Clients’ investments will be highly illiquid, and there can be
no assurance that the GA Clients will be able to realize such investments at attractive prices or
otherwise be able to effect a successful realization or exit strategy. The ability of the GA Clients to
achieve successful and profitable exits of their portfolio investments may be impacted by a number
of factors prevailing at the time, including general economic conditions, interest rates, availability of
capital, interest levels of strategic and financial buyers and cyclical trends. It is difficult to predict
with any certainty whether there will be a ready and willing market of buyers for any particular
portfolio company at the time a GA Client seeks a realization. Partial or complete sales, transfers or
other dispositions of investments that may result in a return of capital or the realization of gains, if
any, may not occur for a number of years after an investment is made. Further, dispositions of such
investments may require a lengthy time period or may result in distributions in kind to the Limited
Partners. Furthermore, the GA Clients may acquire securities that cannot be sold except pursuant to
a registration statement filed under the Securities Act, or in accordance with Rule 144 promulgated
under the Securities Act. There can be no assurance that private purchasers can be found for the GA
Clients’ investments. The sale of restricted securities often requires more time and results in higher
brokerage charges or dealer discounts and other selling expenses than does the sale of securities
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eligible for trading on national securities exchanges or in the over-the-counter markets. As such,
restricted securities may sell at a price lower than similar securities that are not subject to restrictions
on resale. Such illiquidity may continue even if a GA Client’s portfolio company obtains a listing on
a securities exchange. and/or after the term of a GA Client has ended or a GA Client has commenced
dissolution. In addition, there can be no assurance that the disposition of a portfolio company will
occur in one transaction. If a GA Client effects a disposition of a portfolio company by means of a
multi-step disposition (such as a first-step cash tender offer or stock sale followed by a merger or in
the case of a simultaneous acquisition and concurrent merger of two separate companies), there can
be no assurance that the remainder can be successfully sold. A multi-step disposition may result in a
GA Client holding a non-controlling interest in a portfolio company, which will result in the GA
Client having a limited ability to protect its position in such portfolio company.
Litigation Risks. The portfolio companies are subject to a variety of litigation risks,
particularly in consequence of the likelihood that one or more portfolio companies will face financial
or other difficulties during the term of the GA Clients’ investment. For example, the GA Clients have
historically participated in portfolio company financings at implicit portfolio company valuations
lower than the valuations implicit in preceding rounds of financing. In the event of a dispute arising
from such transaction (or other activities relating to the operation of the GA Clients), it is possible
that partners or members of the General Partners and the investment professionals of GASC and its
subsidiaries serving on the board of directors of portfolio companies may be named as defendants.
Under most circumstances, the GA Clients will indemnify the General Partners and their affiliates
and GASC’s investment professionals for any costs they may incur in connection with such disputes.
Beyond direct costs, such disputes may adversely affect the GA Clients in a variety of ways, including
by consuming substantial amounts of time and attention of GASC and its professionals, and harming
relationships with the portfolio companies or other investors in such portfolio companies.
The GA Clients from time to time invest in public companies or in private companies that become
public companies. In these circumstances, investment professionals of GASC serving on the boards
of directors of such companies may be subject to litigation for violations of securities laws or for
other claims typically brought against directors of public companies. To the extent that there is
insufficient insurance coverage and such directors are liable for damages, the GA Clients or their
investors may have indemnification obligations. In addition, the GA Clients and their investors may
be required to contribute to litigation settlements.
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service or the applicable state, local or non-U.S. tax authorities
(collectively, the “Tax Authorities”) may not accept the tax positions taken by GA Clients or a
Limited Partner. If any Tax Authority successfully contests a tax position taken by a GA Client,
Limited Partners will be liable for tax, interest and/or penalties, and Limited Partners may be required
to file or amend one or more tax returns to reflect such contested positions. In addition, an audit of
any private fund may result in an audit of the returns of some or all of the Limited Partners, which
examination could result in adjustments to the tax consequences initially reported by the Limited
Partners and affect items not related to a Limited Partner’s investment in the GA Client.
Regulated Industries. The GA Clients from time to time invest in companies that operate in
regulated industries. Examples include, without limitation, financial services, healthcare and the
space industry. The operations of such companies will be subject to compliance with applicable
regulations, and such companies may be subject to increased regulations resulting from both new
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requirements and re-regulation of previously de-regulated markets. Prices may be artificially
controlled, and regulatory burdens may increase costs of operations. New or increased regulations
could adversely affect the performance of the companies in which the GA Clients invest.
Additionally, such companies may be highly dependent on government contracts, which could further
increase the risks of investing in such companies.
Relatedly, the GA Clients from time to time may invest in companies that operate in nascent industries
that are not currently highly regulated, but which may come under regulatory scrutiny in the future.
An example is the virtual currency industry. New or increased regulations could adversely affect the
performance of these companies.
Public Companies. A portion of the GA Clients’ investments involves investments in public
companies or taking private portfolio companies public. Investments in public companies may
subject the GA Clients to risks that differ in type or degree from those involved with investments in
privately held companies. Such risks include, without limitation, greater volatility in the valuation of
such companies, increased obligations to disclose information regarding such companies, limitations
on the ability of the GA Clients to dispose of such securities at certain times (including due to the
possession by GASC or its affiliates of material non-public information), increased likelihood of
shareholder litigation against the companies’ board members, which may include GASC’s personnel,
regulatory action by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or foreign regulatory bodies and
increased costs associated with each of these risks.
Private Securities. Most of the GA Clients’ investments are expected to involve private
securities. In connection with an investment in private securities, the GA Clients from time to time
assumes, or acquires, a portfolio company subject to contingent liabilities. These liabilities may be
material and may include liabilities associated with pending litigation, regulatory investigations or
environmental actions, among other things.
Real Estate Investments. Although it is not an investment strategy of General Atlantic to
make investments in real estate assets or businesses, such investments may be made from time to
time. These investments, if any, are expected primarily to involve operating businesses with real
estate components, including significant investments in real estate assets as a result of the
restructuring of operating businesses, and the restructuring or formation of real estate investment
trusts. Real estate investments by their nature involve certain risks, including risks normally
associated with general or local market conditions, environmental risks, risks relating to the high
illiquidity of such investments resulting from among other things intense competition for purchasers
and tenants, and risks related to the cyclical nature of the real estate market.
Early Stage Companies. The GA Clients from time to time invest in early stage companies.
Significant risks are associated with investments in companies in an early stage of development or
with little or no variations in operating results from period to period and companies with the need for
substantial additional capital to support expansion or to achieve or maintain a competitive position.
Investments in such early stage companies typically involve greater risks than those generally
associated with investments in more established companies. For instance, less established companies
tend to have smaller capitalizations and fewer resources and, therefore, are often more vulnerable to
financial failure. Such companies also may have shorter operating histories on which to judge future
performance and in many cases, if operating, will have negative cash flow. Such companies may not
have significant or any operating revenues. Early stage companies often experience unexpected
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issues in the areas of product development, manufacturing, marketing, financing and general
management, which, in some cases, cannot be adequately resolved. A risk also exists that a proposed
service or product cannot be developed successfully with the resources available to an early stage
company. There is no assurance that the development efforts of any such early stage company will
be successful or, if successful, will be completed within budget or the time period originally
estimated. Substantial amounts of financing may be necessary to complete such development and
there is no assurance that such funds will be available from any particular source, including
institutional private placements or the public markets. The percentage of early stage companies that
survive and prosper tends to be small. In addition, less mature companies could be more susceptible
to irregular accounting and/or other fraudulent practices. Furthermore, to the extent there is any
public market for the securities held by a GA Client, securities of less established companies may be
subject to more abrupt and erratic market price movements than those of larger, more established
companies.
Investments Within the Technology Sector. GA Clients regularly invest in portfolio
companies involved in the technology sector. Technology companies face varied specific challenges,
including but not limited to (i) highly competitive and rapidly changing market conditions, (ii) low
barriers to entry spurring unpredictable new market participants and/or competing products, (ii) short
product life cycles, (iii) evolving and constantly changing consumer needs and preferences, and (iv)
a reliance on patents. There is no assurance that a product or service that may have motivated GA to
invest in a technology company will not be adversely affected or rendered obsolete by competitor
advancements in the technology industry. The introduction of new or disrupting technology could
also harm the value of an investment in a technology company by removing the company’s ability to
integrate its offerings into the increasingly complex ecosystem of digital products and services. Even
if innovation does not surpass a given portfolio company’s technology, competition in this sector can
cause downward pressure on pricing and adversely affect the valuation of said portfolio company.
Furthermore, security vulnerabilities and social and ethical issues are especially prevalent in the
software and technology sectors. Artificial intelligence in particular is a rapidly evolving and highly
competitive field that is subject to technological, regulatory, ethical, legal, and social challenges and
disruptions.
Climate Change. The GA Clients may acquire investments that are located in areas which
are subject to climate change. Any portfolio companies located in coastal regions may be affected by
any future increases in sea levels or in the frequency or severity of hurricanes and tropical storms,
whether such increases are caused by global climate changes or other factors. There may be
significant physical effects of climate change that have the potential to have a material effect on the
GA Clients’ business and operations. Physical impacts of climate change may include increased storm
intensity and severity of weather (e.g., floods or hurricanes), sea level rise and extreme temperatures.
As a result of these physical impacts from climate-related events, the GA Clients may be vulnerable
to the following: risks of property damage to the GA Clients’ investments; indirect financial and
operational impacts from disruptions to the operations of the GA Clients’ investments from severe
weather; increased insurance premiums and deductibles or a decrease in the availability of coverage,
for investments in areas subject to severe weather, decreased net migration to areas in which
investments are located, resulting in lower than expected demand for the products and services of the
investments; increased insurance claims and liabilities; increased energy cost impacting operational
returns; changes in the availability or quality of water or other natural resources on which the business
depends; decreased consumer demand for consumer products or services resulting from physical
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changes associated with climate change (e.g., warmer temperature or decreasing shoreline could
reduce demand for residential and commercial properties previously viewed as desirable); incorrect
long-term valuation of an equity investment due to changing conditions not previously anticipated at
the time of the investment and economic distributions arising from the foregoing.
Investments in Emerging Markets. Certain of the GA Clients make investments in
emerging markets throughout the world. Investing in emerging markets involves risks and special
considerations not typically associated with investing in more established economies or markets
including, among other things: (i) higher dependence on exports and the corresponding importance
of international trade; (ii) greater risk of inflation, interest rate volatility, stock market volatility and
lack of financial liquidity; (iii) inability to exchange local currencies for U.S. dollars; (iv) increased
likelihood of governmental involvement in and control over the economy; (v) governmental decisions
to cease support of economic reform programs or to impose centrally planned economies; (vi) less
developed compliance culture; (vii) risks associated with differing cultural expectations and norms
regarding business practices; (viii) longer settlement periods for transactions and less reliable
clearance and custody arrangements; (ix) less developed, reliable or independent judiciary systems
for the enforcement of contracts or claims, including bankruptcy claims; (x) greater regulatory
uncertainty; (xi) maintenance of the investments with non-U.S. brokers and securities depositories;
(xii) greater risks regarding repatriation of income and capital; (xiii) threats or incidents of corruption
or fraud; and (xiv) less developed or reliable capital and credit markets, which may make it more
difficult to acquire, finance or dispose of investments, all of which may adversely affect the return on
investments. Repatriation of investment income, assets and the proceeds of sales by investors foreign
to such markets, such as the GA Clients, may require governmental registration and/or approval in
some emerging markets. The GA Clients could be adversely affected by delays in or a refusal to grant
any required governmental registration or approval for such repatriation or by withholding taxes
imposed by emerging market countries on interest or dividends. In emerging markets, there is often
less government supervision and regulation of business and industry practices, stock exchanges, over-
the-counter markets, brokers, dealers, counterparties and issuers than in other more established
markets. Any regulatory supervision that is in place may be subject to manipulation or control. Some
emerging market countries do not have mature legal systems comparable to those of more developed
countries. Moreover, the process of legal and regulatory reform may not be proceeding at the same
pace as market developments, which could result in investment risk. Legislation to safeguard the
rights of private ownership may not yet be in place in certain areas, and there may be the risk of
conflict among local, regional and national requirements or authorities. In certain cases, the laws and
regulations governing investments in securities may not exist or may be subject to inconsistent or
arbitrary application or interpretation. Both the independence of judicial systems and their immunity
from economic, political or nationalistic influences remain largely untested in many countries. The
GA Clients may also encounter difficulties in pursuing legal remedies or in obtaining and enforcing
judgments in non-U.S. courts.
Risks Associated with Investments in the Healthcare Industry (including Life Sciences).
Certain of the GA Clients make investments in the healthcare industry, which is subject to certain
sector-specific risks and considerations including, among other things: (i) the healthcare industry is
dominated by large multi-national corporations with substantially greater financing and technical
resources than generally will be available to General Atlantic’s portfolio companies; (ii) the public
market for healthcare companies continues to be volatile; (iii) products and technologies produced by
certain of the companies in this industry may become obsolete; (iv) General Atlantic’s life sciences
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portfolio companies may have limited operating histories or histories of net losses and may expect
net losses for the foreseeable future; (v) there are many competitors in the life sciences sector that
have already been funded which will force General Atlantic’s healthcare and life sciences portfolio
companies to compete with more established companies for financing; (vi) the healthcare and life
sciences industries are subject to stringent regulatory regimes; (vii) the investment by a GA Client in
a life sciences company will probably not satisfy the long-term funding needs of a company and, as
a result, a life sciences portfolio company will require substantial additional funds to conduct research
and development activities, clinical trials, and apply for regulatory approvals for any potential
products or services; (viii) the potential products of a pre-revenue life sciences company that has no
products approved for sale could require significant additional development and preclinical and
clinical testing, as well as, in all cases, regulatory approval, which will not be assured; (ix) some pre-
revenue stage life sciences companies in which the GA Clients invest will only have one product
under development and will thus be dependent on that one product for its revenues; (x) in both U.S.
and foreign markets, sales of a healthcare or life sciences company’s products and, consequently, a
company’s overall success, will depend in part on the availability of reimbursement from third-party
payors, including, among others, government health administration authorities such as federal
Medicare and state Medicaid, private health insurers and other organization; (xi) companies in the
healthcare industry (including life sciences companies) are often subject to significant risks related to
litigation, regulatory action and liability for damages and penalties in connection with their
operations, or products or services offered; and (xii) intellectual property rights in the fields of
medical devices, diagnostics, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology are highly uncertain and frequently
involve complex legal and scientific questions.
Virtual Currency Industry. The GA Clients from time to time make investments in
companies that operate virtual currency exchanges or are otherwise engaged in the virtual currency
industry. Virtual currencies (also known as “cryptocurrencies” or “digital currencies”), and similar
assets that utilize blockchain technology, are relatively new, evolving products based upon new and
evolving technologies. An investment in the virtual currency industry is subject to a variety of risks,
including technological, security and regulatory risks as well as associated uncertainties over the
future existence, support and development of such virtual currency. Virtual currencies themselves
may experience significant price volatility. The virtual currency exchanges on which virtual
currencies trade are relatively new and largely unregulated and may therefore be more exposed to
theft, fraud and failure than established, regulated exchanges for other products. Virtual currency
exchanges are appealing targets for cybercrime, hackers and malware. Virtual currency exchanges
may cease operations due to theft, fraud, security breach, liquidity issues, anti-money laundering
issues or government investigation. In addition, banks may refuse to process wire transfers to or from
exchanges. Over the past several years, many exchanges have, indeed, closed due to fraud, theft,
government or regulatory involvement, failure or security breaches, or banking issues.
Digital Assets. To the extent permitted pursuant to the GA Clients’ respective Governing
Documents, the GA Clients may make investments in portfolio companies that issue ownership
interests as digital assets or other instruments that are based on blockchain distributed ledger or similar
technologies (“Digital Assets”). For example, an investment in a decentralized autonomous
organization (a “DAO”) may be made by purchasing tokens in such DAO.
Digital Assets represent a speculative investment and involve a high degree of risk. Several factors
may affect the price of Digital Assets, including but not limited to: supply and demand, investors’
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expectations with respect to the rate of inflation, interest rates, currency exchange rates, overall
market sentiment or future regulatory measures that restrict the trading of Digital Assets and/or
Digital Asset Derivatives or the use of Digital Assets as a form of payment. As relatively new products
and technologies, Digital Assets have not been widely adopted. Rather, a significant portion of the
demand for Digital Assets is generated by speculators and investors seeking to profit from the short-
or long-term holding of Digital Assets.
Digital Assets are loosely regulated and there is no central marketplace for currency exchange. Certain
Digital Assets may be deemed to be securities, certain Digital Assets may be deemed to be
commodities and certain Digital Assets may be deemed to be neither securities nor commodities.
Further, many Digital Assets may not be subject to federal regulatory oversight at all but could be
regulated by one or more state regulatory bodies or a foreign regulatory authority. Such laws,
regulations or directives may impact the price of Digital Assets and their acceptance by users,
merchants, and service providers and, as a result, could significantly impact the value of a GA Client’s
investments in any Digital Asset. To the extent Digital Assets are determined to be a security,
commodity interest, or other regulated asset, or a U.S., state, or foreign government or quasi-
governmental agency exerts regulatory authority over Digital Asset use, exchange, trading and
ownership, the value of a Digital Asset in which a GA Client has invested may be adversely affected.
Valuation. GASC is responsible for valuing the assets of the GA Clients, i.e., the portfolio
companies. Such valuation will affect reported performance and in some cases, the Management
Fees. GASC performs its valuation of portfolio companies pursuant to written policies and
guidelines, which generally involve current market price information. Pursuant to this policy, GASC
conducts a formal valuation of the GA Clients’ investment portfolio quarterly. However, there may
be investments as to which current or reliable market price information may be unavailable, and
consequently, GASC may use its discretion to determine the appropriate means of valuation. There
can be no assurance that the value assigned to an investment at a certain time will equal the value that
an investor is ultimately able to realize. See also “Item 6. Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side
Management” for a discussion of the potential conflicts of interest and how they are addressed with
respect to the valuation of a Limited Partner’s portfolio for purposes of making performance based
allocations.
CFIUS & National Security/Investment Clearance Considerations. Certain transactions
by the GA Clients that involve the acquisition or sale of a business connected with or related to
national security or critical infrastructure may be subject to review and approval by the U.S.
Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”) and/or non-U.S. national
security/investment clearance regulators depending on the beneficial ownership and control of
interests in the entity purchasing such business, in addition to non-U.S. national security/investment
clearance regulators depending on the beneficial ownership and control of interests in the entity
purchasing such business, including with respect to CFIUS, where a co-investor or other partner is a
“foreign person” under applicable regulations. Certain of the Limited Partners are expected to be
“foreign persons,” and in the aggregate, may comprise a substantial portion of the relevant GA
Client’s capital commitments, which may increase the risks of an investment being subject to CFIUS’
jurisdiction and the likelihood of CFIUS imposing restrictions on an investment. CFIUS agency
practice is evolving rapidly, and CFIUS exercises substantial discretion in deciding how to interpret,
apply and enforce the implementation of regulations. As a result, as is the case currently there can be
no guarantee that investments by the GA Clients will not be reviewable by CFIUS and/or non-U.S.
national security/investment clearance regulators or that CFIUS and/or non-U.S. national
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security/investment clearance regulators will not seek to evaluate the GA Client’s investment
activities. In the event that CFIUS or another regulator reviews or would be expected to review one
or more of the proposed or existing investments of the GA Clients, there can be no assurances that
General Atlantic will be able to maintain, or proceed with, such transactions on terms acceptable to
the GA Client, or that such investment would be allocated to, or consummated by, the GA Client
rather than to one or more other GA Clients. CFIUS or another regulator may seek to impose
limitations on or prohibit all or a portion of the transaction. Such limitations or restrictions may
prevent the GA Clients from (i) maintaining or pursuing investments, and/or (ii) disposing of
investments, which could adversely affect the performance of the GA Clients.
Beginning on January 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Outbound Investment Security
Program went into effect, which prohibits or requires notification of certain types of outbound
investments by U.S. persons into certain entities located in or subject to the jurisdiction of China,
Hong Kong, and Macau (as well as certain entities subject to Chinese ownership or control) that are
engaged in the development of certain national security technologies and products (presently, certain
semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum information technologies, and artificial intelligence
technologies), as well as any other countries that are or may be designated under the program’s
regulations. Together, these regulations may affect GA’s business and operations. In the event that
CFIUS, the U.S. Department of Treasury administering the Outbound Investment Security Program,
or a non-U.S. national security/investment clearance regulator reviews one or more of the proposed
or existing investments of a GA Client, there can be no assurances that such GA Client will be able
to maintain, or proceed with, such transactions on terms acceptable to GA. Such regulator may seek
to impose limitations on or prohibit all or a portion of the transaction. Such limitations or restrictions
may prevent the GA Clients from (i) maintaining or pursuing investments in certain jurisdictions
and/or (ii) disposing of investments already made in such jurisdictions, or may increase the cost and
time associated with such activities, which could adversely affect the performance of GA’s
investment vehicles and in turn adversely affect GA’s profitability.
Toehold Investments. The GA Clients may accumulate minority positions in the outstanding
voting stock, or securities convertible into the voting stock, of potential target companies. Any such
GA Client may be unable to accumulate a sufficiently large position in a target company to execute
its strategy. In such circumstances, the GA Client may dispose of its position in the target company
within a short time of acquiring it and there can be no assurance that the price at which such stock is
sold will not have declined since the time of acquisition. This may be exacerbated by the fact that
stock of the companies being purchased may target may be thinly traded and that the position held
may nevertheless have been substantial and its disposal may depress the market price for such stock.
Risk of Multi-Step Acquisitions. In the event that a GA Client chooses to effect a transaction
by means of a multi-step acquisition (such as a first-step cash tender offer or stock purchase followed
by a merger or in the case of a simultaneous acquisition and concurrent merger of two separate
companies), there can be no assurance that the remainder can be successfully acquired. This could
result in such GA Client having only partial control over the investment or partial access to its cash
flow to service debt incurred in connection with the acquisition.
Integration Acquisitions. The GA Client, or any one of their portfolio companies, from time
to time acquires one or more companies with the intent of integrating the business and operations of
such company into such portfolio company. The integration activities associated with any such
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acquisition are complex, and such portfolio company may encounter unexpected difficulties or incur
unexpected costs as a consequence, including, without limitation: (i) the diversion of the attention of
such portfolio company’s management to integration matters; (ii) difficulties in the integration of the
operations and systems of such portfolio company and such acquired companies; (iii) difficulties in
the assimilation of the employees of such portfolio company and such acquired companies; and (iv)
challenges in attracting and retaining key personnel of such portfolio company and such acquired
companies. As a result, the investment professionals at GASC and its subsidiaries and such portfolio
company may be required to devote additional resources to integration activities that would otherwise
be spent on additional investment activities that could benefit the GA Clients.
Environmental, Social and Governance Considerations. General Atlantic seeks to take
into account environmental, social & governance factors, as applicable, in the investment process.
General Atlantic uses commercially reasonable efforts to address material ESG issues at its sole
discretion to the extent applicable in connection with a particular investment. Taking into account
ESG factors in the investment process could result in higher ESG compliance expenses or costs or
the forgoing of certain opportunities. Furthermore, there are no universally accepted ESG standards,
and not all investors may agree on the appropriate ESG standards to apply in a particular situation.
General Atlantic will apply ESG standards in its sole discretion. In either case, an adverse impact on
the results of the GA Clients’ investments cannot be excluded.
The regulatory regimes applicable to ESG standards within the European Economic Area and in other
jurisdictions, and the implementation and development of ESG-related regulatory regimes in the
United States and elsewhere, are evolving and are expected to be subject to substantial future changes.
There is a risk that a significant reorientation in the market due to the implementation and
development of ESG-related regulatory regimes could be adverse to the GA Clients’ investment
businesses, at least in the short term. In this respect, the entry into force of the ESG-related regulatory
regimes and further developments in regulatory expectations and best practices under such regimes,
as well as any subsequent changes to the regulatory frameworks applying to ESG standards, reporting
and compliance obligations, as applicable to GA, the GA Clients and / or their investments, may
impose additional costs on the GA Clients, and the GA Clients may require additional resources to
monitor, report and comply with wide ranging ESG-related requirements. See also “Enhanced
European Regulation and Article 9 Funds” below.
In addition, an anti-ESG sentiment has gained some momentum across the United States, with several
states having enacted or proposed “anti-ESG” policies or legislation, or issued related legal opinions.
For example, (i) boycott bills in certain states target financial institutions that are perceived as
“boycotting” or “discriminating against” companies in certain industries (e.g., energy and mining)
and prohibit state entities from doing business with such institutions and/or investing the state’s assets
(including pension plan assets) through such institutions; and (ii) ESG investment prohibitions in
certain states require that relevant state entities or managers/administrators of state investments make
investments based solely on pecuniary factors without consideration of ESG factors. If prospective
Limited Partners subject to such legislation viewed GA and the GA Clients or their ESG practices as
being in contradiction of such “anti-ESG” policies, legislation or legal opinions, such prospective
Limited Partners may not invest in GA Clients, and GA’s ability to attract investors could be impaired,
which could negatively affect the GA Clients’ ability to carry out their investment strategies.
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Timing of Distributions. In certain circumstances, to maximize the timely distribution of
proceeds from the disposition of investments, the timing of distributions of such proceeds by the GA
Clients to the Limited Partners may not correspond to the timing of the disposition of the underlying
investments. These circumstances include, but are not limited to, the need for additional information
from a portfolio company, tax advisors or others (such as determining the character of the proceeds
as a dividend, a return of basis or a capital gain), the size or profile of a particular disposition or the
complexity of a distribution (such as complying with legal or regulatory requirements for repatriating
the proceeds from the holding company entities through which the GA Clients’ invest in portfolio
companies). Certain terms in the Governing Documents may be impacted by the timing of
distributions as described above.
Distributions. There can be no assurance that the operation of the GA Clients will be
profitable, that the GA Clients will be able to avoid losses or that cash from its investments will be
available for distribution to the investors. The GA Clients will have no source of funds from which
to pay distributions to its investors other than temporary investments, income and gain received on
such GA Clients’ investments in portfolio companies and the return of capital. Investments may not
be liquidated for a long period of time. As a result, Limited Partners may not receive a distribution
for many years, if at all. Under the “Subpart F” rules of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, U.S. investors will under certain circumstances be required to include as ordinary income
for United States federal income tax purposes amounts attributable to some or all of the earnings of a
foreign corporation in which a GA Client makes an investment in advance of the receipt of cash
attributable to such amounts.
Distributions In Kind. It is possible that not all investments in portfolio companies will be
realized by the end of the time period in which a GA Client makes investments. Prior to the
liquidation of a GA Client, distributions by such GA Client will be in the form of cash and/or
marketable securities. Upon liquidation, distributions will be in the form of cash, marketable
securities and/or restricted securities. While the GA Clients have not historically made limited
distributions of securities of portfolio companies (except in the context of Continuation Vehicles), the
GA Clients could distribute securities of select portfolio companies in the future. Consequently, there
may be distributions of securities or other assets of the GA Clients. There can be no assurance that
General Atlantic will be able to dispose of the GA Clients’ investments or that the value of such
investments determined by General Atlantic for purposes of the determination of distributions will
ultimately be realized.
Sponsor Coinvestor “Rollovers” to Continuation Vehicles. The governing agreements of
the GA Core Program provide that, under certain circumstances, the GA Core Program (including the
Sponsor Coinvestment Funds) may form Continuation Vehicles, i.e., investment vehicles with a
principal objective to purchase one or more existing investments of the GA Core Program. If a
decision is made to sell an investment of the GA Core Program to a Continuation Vehicle, the terms
of such sale may require that the Sponsor Coinvestors “roll over” all or a portion of their interests in
such investment, with or without the consent of such Sponsor Coinvestors. In connection with such
transaction, the Sponsor Coinvestors may receive cash proceeds or direct or indirect interests in such
Continuation Vehicle, or a combination thereof.
Business and Regulatory Risk of Investment Funds. Legal, tax and regulatory changes, as
well as judicial decisions, could adversely affect GASC and the GA Clients, particularly those GA
Clients that are private funds. In particular, the regulatory environment relevant to private investment
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funds is evolving and may entail increased regulatory involvement in GASC’s business or result in
ambiguity or conflict among legal or regulatory schemes applicable to GASC’s business, all of which
could adversely affect the investment strategies pursued or the value of investments held by a GA
Client.
During 2023 and 2024, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the
U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) voted to
adopt several new rules and amendments that will affect GASC’s business and the GA Clients. In
addition, during this same time period, the SEC proposed several new rules and amendments that, if
adopted, can be expected to affect GA’s business and the GA Clients:
Recently Adopted Rules:
Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism. In August 2024, FinCEN
adopted a new rule that imposes anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism
(“AML/CFT”) requirements upon certain investment advisers, including SEC-registered
investment advisers and exempt reporting advisers, with certain exclusions. The new rule,
among other things, requires advisers to (i) implement a risk-based and reasonably designed
AML/CFT program; (ii) file certain reports, such as Suspicious Activity Reports and Currency
Transaction Reports with FinCEN; (iii) keep certain records; and (iv) follow certain
information-sharing procedures. FinCEN has delegated its examination authority for the
requirements of this rule to the SEC. Advisers are required to comply with the final rule
beginning on January 1, 2026. Creating or updating an existing AML/CFT program to comply
with the new rule will require significant time and expense. In addition, the new rule will
create the risk of increased regulatory scrutiny by the SEC upon examination and increased
contact from FinCEN in support of law-enforcement investigations.
Beneficial Ownership Reporting Rule Amendments. In October 2023, the SEC adopted rule
amendments governing beneficial ownership reporting under Sections 13(d) and 13(g) of the
Exchange Act. The amendments update Regulation 13D-G to require market participants to
provide more timely information on their positions. Exchange Act Sections 13(d) and 13(g),
along with Regulation 13D-G, require an investor who beneficially owns more than 5% of a
covered class of equity securities to publicly file either a Schedule 13D or a Schedule 13G, as
applicable. Among other things, the amendments (i) shorten the deadline for initial Schedule
13D filings and amendments; (ii) generally accelerate the filing deadlines for Schedule 13G
beneficial ownership reports; (iii) clarify the Schedule 13D disclosure requirements with
respect to derivative securities; and (iv) require that Schedule 13D and 13G filings be made
using a structured, machine-readable data language. Compliance with the revised Schedule
13G filing deadlines went into effect on September 30, 2024. Compliance with the structured
data requirement for Schedules 13D and 13G went into effect on December 18, 2024.
New Proxy Vote Disclosure Requirements for Investment Managers. In November 2023, the
SEC adopted amendments to Form N-PX and adopted new Rule 14Ad-1 under the Exchange
Act, which will require certain “institutional investment managers” (i.e., a person that (1) is
an “institutional investment manager” as defined in the Exchange Act; and (2) is required to
file Form 13F reports under Section 13(f)-1 of the Exchange Act) to publicly disclose
information about their proxy votes regarding certain compensation-related matters (so called
“say-on-pay” votes), absent an exception set out by the rule. The information to be reported
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annually on Form N-PX must include: (1) if the form of proxy in connection with a say-on-
pay matter is subject to Rule 14a-4 of the Exchange Act, a description and ordering of say-
on-pay matters using the same language that is on an issuer’s form of proxy, (2) a standardized
classification, (3) the number of shares voted and number of shares loaned and not recalled
and (4) how shares were voted by the manager. Rule 14Ad-1, and the amendments to Form
N-PX, became effective on July 1, 2024, for votes occurring during the period of July 1, 2023,
to June 30, 2024. The first reports required under the rule and amended Form N-PX were due
by August 31, 2024.
Regulation S-P Amendments. In May 2024, the SEC adopted amendments to Regulation S-P
(which relates to the privacy and protection of consumer financial information) requiring
registered investment advisers, among others, to notify individuals affected by certain types
of data breaches that may put them at risk of harm. The amended regulations (i) require
registered advisers to adopt written policies and procedures for an incident response program
to address unauthorized access to or use of customer information; (ii) require registered
advisers to have written policies and procedures to provide timely notification to affected
individuals whose sensitive customer information was or is reasonably likely to have been
accessed or used without authorization; and (iii) broaden the scope of information covered by
Regulation S-P’s requirements. Larger entities have until December 3, 2025 to comply with
the amendments, and smaller entities have until June 3, 2026 to comply.
Short Position and Short Activity Reporting Rules. In October 2023, the SEC adopted new
Rule 13f-2 and new Form SHO under the Exchange Act, governing short position and short
activity reporting by “institutional investment managers” (as defined in the Exchange Act).
Under Rule 13f-2, managers that meet or exceed certain prescribed reporting thresholds will
be required to report on Form SHO certain short position and short activity data for equity
securities over which the manager has investment discretion. Managers meeting the reporting
thresholds will be required to submit the confidential Form SHO reports on a monthly basis.
The reports on Form SHO will be confidential, and the data collected from managers will
thereafter be aggregated and published by the SEC. The new requirements under Rule 13f-2
and Form SHO create an entirely new, complicated and potentially costly framework for
managers in order to collect the relevant data and will likely result in increased compliance
and monitoring costs. Compliance with Rule 13f-2 and Form SHO will be required on January
2, 2026, with public aggregated reporting to follow 3 months later.
Form PF Amendments. In May 2023, the SEC adopted amendments to Form PF that were
initially proposed in January 2022. The amended Form PF will require registered investment
advisers to private funds to report extensive additional information about themselves, the
funds they advise, and the management, investments and operations of private fund portfolios.
In particular, the amended Form PF will (i) impose quarterly event reporting requirements on
all private equity fund advisers regarding certain triggering events including the removal of a
general partner, certain fund termination events and the occurrence of an adviser-led
secondary transaction; (ii) create additional annual reporting requirements for “large” private
equity fund advisers (i.e., private equity fund advisers with at least $2 billion in private equity
assets under management) including reporting on the occurrence of any general partner
clawback or limited partner clawback, as well more detailed information on fund investment
strategies, fund-level borrowings, events of default, bridge financings to controlled portfolio
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companies and geographic breakdowns of investments; (iii) impose current reporting
requirements on large hedge fund advisers (i.e., hedge fund advisers with at least $1.5 billion
in hedge fund assets under management) within 72 hours of certain triggering events including
extraordinary investment losses, significant margin and default events, terminations or
material restrictions of prime broker relationships, operations events and events associated
with withdrawals and redemptions. The current and quarterly event reporting requirements
became effective in December 2023 and the annual reporting requirements became effective
in June 2024
In February 2024, the SEC and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”)
jointly adopted amendments to Form PF. The amendments will (i) enhance large hedge fund
adviser reporting on qualifying hedge funds (i.e., those with a net asset value of at least $500
million), including how large hedge fund advisers report details including investment
exposures, borrowing and counterparty exposure, market factor effects, currency exposure,
turnover, country and industry exposure, central clearing counterparty exposure, risk metrics,
investment performance by strategy, portfolio liquidity, and financing and investor liquidity;
(ii) require private fund advisers to report additional information about themselves and their
private funds, including identifying information, assets under management, withdrawal and
redemption rights, gross asset value and net asset value, inflows and outflows, base currency,
borrowings and types of creditors, fair value hierarchy, beneficial ownership, and fund
performance; (iii) require advisers to report separately each component fund in complex fund
structures, such as master-feeder arrangements and parallel fund structures; and (iv) remove
the existing Form PF requirement for large hedge fund advisers to report certain aggregated
information about the hedge funds they advise. The compliance and effective dates for the
joint SEC and CFTC amendments to Form PF is June 12, 2025.
Potential Impact. These recently adopted rules are likely to have a significant effect on
GASC, the GA Clients and their operations, including increasing compliance burdens and
associated regulatory costs and enhancing the risk of regulatory action, including public
regulatory sanctions and may result in a change to GASC’s practices and create additional
regulatory uncertainty. The scope and timing of any final rules and amendments is unknown.
These new rules and amendments could increase the risk of exposure of the GA Clients, their
investments and GASC to additional regulatory scrutiny, litigation, censure and penalties for
non-compliance or perceived non-compliance, which in turn would be expected to be
adversely (potentially materially) affect the reputation of GASC and the GA Clients, and to
negatively impact GASC in conducting its business (thereby materially reducing returns to
limited partners) by, for example, discouraging behavior that generates high returns for the
Limited Partners (e.g., by driving GASC personnel to be more risk averse in their decision
making with respect to the GA Clients or its portfolio investments). The cost of implementing
requirements relating to such new rules and amendments is expected to be substantial and
may, to the extent permitted by the relevant Governing Documents and applicable regulations,
be borne by GASC, the GA Clients, and/or portfolio investments of the GA Clients.
Investments in Funds and Fund Managers. General Atlantic from time to time makes
investments in third party fund managers, asset managers and/or funds managed by third parties.
Such investments are generally minority, non-controlling investments and may be made by a GA
Client where permitted pursuant to the Governing Documents or they may be made by GA itself as a
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balance sheet investment, as described in “Item 11. Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client
Transactions and Personal Trading – E. Personal Investments.” Generally, a GA Client or GA will
have limited ability to exert influence over such portfolio company investments, including their
business activities, which are managed by teams that are independent of GA and who retain autonomy
over their day-to-day operations. Further, certain personnel of GA, could also serve on the board of
directors of such portfolio company investments but will generally not participate in management
decisions on their behalf and GA will seek to establish information barriers and other appropriate
controls between GA and these companies, as necessary, to limit any business relationships and
conflicts of interests. In certain cases, the GA Clients will invest in the investment products offered
by such third party manager in addition to, or in connection with, its investment in the third party
manager itself. Any such investments could give rise to potential conflicts of interest, and these
conflicts will not necessarily be resolved in favor of the GA Clients, and Limited Partners may not be
entitled to receive notice or disclosure of the occurrence of these conflicts.
A Limited Partner may be a client of the third-party manager or otherwise invested in investment
funds or accounts that are managed by third parties where a GA Client or GA itself has an interest.
GA may also refer Limited Partners to such third-party managers. Neither GA nor the GA Client will
be entitled to receive any direct compensation in connection with any such referral or introduction,
however, because either GA or the GA Client (as applicable) may be entitled to receive gains
generated by the third party investment manager, and the growth of the third party manager’s client
based would help ensure GA or the GA Client’s investment is successful, GA is more likely to make
the referral or introduction than if the investment did not exist.
Trade Errors. Absent fraud, gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith, GA, GASC,
the General Partners and their respective affiliates will generally not be liable to the GA Clients or
the Limited Partners for any losses resulting from trading errors. GASC will determine in good faith
whether any losses resulting from a given trade error (i) are to be borne by the GA Clients or (ii)
resulted from fraud, gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith and are therefore required to
be reimbursed to the GA Clients. This determination is subjective in nature, and this determination
involves the evaluation of GASC and its personnel’s conduct (often as well as the conduct of third
parties) and the allocation of losses between GASC, the General Partners and the GA Clients. If a
third party causes a trade error that has a negative impact on the GA Clients or the Limited Partners,
GASC will determine whether to attempt to recover the amount of loss from such third party for the
GA Clients or such investors, but GASC does not assume responsibility for compensating such
parties, or making any third party compensate such parties, in those cases.
Disruptions in Supply Chains. Many businesses are currently experiencing significant
disruptions to operations or other difficulties with their supply chains or internalized supply processes
due to, among other factors, COVID-19 exchange rate fluctuations, volatility in regional or
international markets from where materials are obtained, particularly Southeast Asia, changes in the
general macroeconomic outlook, political instability, expropriation or nationalization of property,
climate change, civil strife, strikes, insurrections, acts of terrorism, acts of war or natural disasters.
The failure of a portfolio company to obtain components in a timely manner or to obtain raw materials
or components that meet its quantity and cost requirements could increase its costs, result in project
delays and/or jeopardize its activities, which could reduce returns to the GA Clients.
Research Costs. Subject to the terms and restrictions related to the allocation of investment
opportunities set forth in the Governing Documents, there may be circumstances when GA considers
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a portfolio investment for one GA Client and initially determines not to make an investment in such
proposed portfolio company, but at some later point in time, a GA Client makes an investment in such
portfolio company. In these circumstances, subject to the terms and restrictions related to the
allocation of expenses set forth in the Governing Documents, GA, GA Clients and/or their respective
affiliates may benefit from research by the original investment team researching the investment and/or
from fees, costs and expenses borne by another GA Client in pursuing the investment but will not
necessarily be required to reimburse the Limited Partners of such GA Client for such fees, costs and
expenses.
Limited Partner Advisory Committees. In general, GA Clients have advisory boards that
consist of representatives of certain investors in such GA Clients. Certain GA Clients also have the
ability to create sub-committees of their advisory boards to address certain categories of topics, such
as investment and expense allocations, valuations, and other topics (such as the formation of
Companion Fund and Continuation Vehicles, as described above). An approval or consent given by
a sub-committee may be treated as an approval or consent given by the applicable advisory board.
Any approval or consent given by such advisory boards (or sub-committees) tends to be binding on
such GA Clients and all of their Limited Partners. Members of such advisory boards are also
authorized to give approvals or consents required under the Advisers Act, including in respect of
conflicted transactions (including principal transactions under Section 206(3) of the Advisers Act)
and consents to the “assignment” of a client’s advisory agreement under the Advisers Act.
Members of such advisory boards owe no fiduciary duty to the GA Clients, are under no obligation
to act in the best interests of the GA Clients as a whole, and could choose to act only in the best
interests of the Limited Partner with which such member is affiliated. Although GASC has adopted
policies and procedures designed to manage conflicts among GA Clients, members of the advisory
boards or any sub-committee thereof could themselves have conflicts of interest that do not disqualify
such members from voting or consenting to matters submitted to their advisory boards or sub-
committees for consideration or review.
Among other things, the possibility exists that the respective advisory boards of two or more GA
Clients will have overlapping membership, and such overlapping membership may result in a member
having a conflict of interest. For example, in a cross trade situation where GASC arranges for a Client
to purchase an investment from or sell an investment to another GA Client, if an advisory board (or
a sub-committee) member has an interest in both GA Clients involved in the cross trade, such member
could favor one GA Client over the other if such member’s interests are more aligned with the GA
Client it favors.
As a result, if the member has an interest unrelated to GASC, it could choose not to act in the best
interests of the GA Client that it represents. In such instances, GASC expects that such advisory board
member will act in the best interests of the GA Clients that it represents; however, there is no
assurance that such conflicts of interest will be eliminated. Furthermore, there could arise certain
instances where, notwithstanding that a GA Client’s Governing Documents could suggest that a
particular transaction or conflict of interest ought to be submitted to the advisory board for its review
or consent, GASC could instead defer to the judgment of a portfolio investment’s board of directors
(or equivalent body) with respect to such transaction or conflict of interest, including, for example if
such portfolio investment is publicly traded, if the GA Client does not control such portfolio
investment or if the portfolio investment has its own conflicts committee. Additionally, it is expected
that investors in GA Clients who designate representatives to participate on the advisory boards may,
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by virtue of such participation, have more information about the GA Client and investments in certain
circumstances than other investors generally and may be provided information in advance of
communication to other investors generally.
Transactions with Portfolio Companies. From time to time, GASC and the GA Clients
receive (or could receive) business services from portfolio companies. Such transactions are
generally negotiated at arm’s length. See “Item 11. Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client
Transactions and Personal Trading – C. Transactions with Investors, Portfolio Companies and Other
Affiliate Transactions” for more information.
Selection of Service Providers. GASC will generally select the GA Clients’ service
providers and will determine the compensation of such providers without review by or the consent of
the Limited Partners or other independent party. The GA Clients, regardless of the relationship of
GASC to the person performing the services, will bear the fees, costs and expenses related to such
services. This could create an incentive for GASC to select service providers based on the potential
benefit to GASC rather than to the GA Clients. For example, GASC could engage the same service
provider to provide services to the GA Clients that also provides services to GASC and its
subsidiaries, GA, the GA Managing Directors or employees of General Atlantic or its subsidiaries,
which creates a potential conflict of interest to the extent the interests of such parties are not aligned.
For example, a law firm could at the same time act as legal counsel to the GA Clients, GASC and its
subsidiaries, GA, the GA Managing Directors and/or employees of General Atlantic or its
subsidiaries. In addition, spouses and partners of the members, partners and employees of General
Atlantic and the General Partners could be employed or affiliated with certain service providers
(including accountants, administrators, lenders, bankers, brokers, attorneys, consultants and
investment or commercial banking firms) to General Atlantic, the General Partners, the GA Clients
or their portfolio companies. GASC addresses these conflicts of interest by using reasonable diligence
to ascertain whether each service provider (including law firms) provides its service on a “best
execution” basis, taking into account factors such as expertise, availability, quality of service,
reputation risk and the competitiveness of compensation rates in comparison with other service
providers satisfying GASC’s service provider selection criteria. Despite relying upon reasonable
diligence, such determinations are inherently subjective and will always create a conflict of interest.
General Atlantic or the GA Managing Directors may from time to time enter into informal
arrangements with service providers that provide for fee discounts for services rendered to General
Atlantic, the GA Managing Directors and employees of General Atlantic or its subsidiaries. For
example, certain law firms retained by GASC have in the past offered fee discounts for non-
investment transaction legal services, such as legal advice in connection with estate planning,
residential real estate purchases and related matters. Legal services rendered for investment
transactions, however, are typically charged to GASC on a “full freight” basis.
GASC and/or its affiliates reserve the right to employ or engage personnel with pre-existing
ownership interests in portfolio investments owned by the GA Clients and/or their respective
affiliates. Similarly, GASC, its affiliates and/or personnel maintain relationships with (or invest in)
financial institutions, service providers and other market participants, including, but not limited to,
managers of private funds, banks, brokers, advisors, consultants, finders (including executive finders
and portfolio company finders), executives, attorneys, accountants, institutional investors, family
offices, lenders, current and former personnel, and current and former portfolio company executives,
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as well as certain family members or close contacts of these persons. Certain of these persons or
entities will invest (or will be affiliated with an investor that will invest) in, engage in transactions
with and/or provide services (including services at reduced rates) to, GASC and/or its affiliates and/or
the GA Clients. In other circumstances, these vendors are expected to provide personal banking,
private wealth or lending arrangements (including lending arrangements with respect to personal
investments in or through GASC entities, whether or not relating to financing GASC personnel
obligations to fund general partner capital commitment obligations) to GA personnel and their estate
planning vehicles. GASC expects to be subject to a potential conflict of interest with the GA Clients
in recommending the retention or continuation of a third-party service provider to the GA Clients or
their portfolio companies if such recommendation, for example, is motivated by a belief that the
service provider or its affiliate(s) will continue to invest in one or more GA Clients, will provide
GASC information about markets and industries in which GASC operates (or is contemplating
operations) or will provide other services that are beneficial to GASC or one or more GA Clients. For
example, GASC reserves the right to cause the GA Clients to make payments to investment banks
and/or other intermediaries, all or a portion of which is for the purpose of generating future deal flow
for the GA Client; however, there can be no assurance that such payments will result in future deal
flow, and in certain cases, future deal flow may inure to the benefit of another or a successor fund
rather than the GA Client that is making the payment. GASC expects to be subject to a potential
conflict of interest in making such recommendations, in that GASC has an incentive to maintain
goodwill between it and the existing and prospective portfolio companies for the GA Clients, while
the products or services recommended may not necessarily be the best available to the GA Clients or
their portfolio companies.
Benchmarking Service Providers. With respect to costs associated with GASC’s retention
of service providers to GA Clients or portfolio investments, while GASC may, in its discretion
(subject to a GA Client’s Governing Documents) seek to obtain benchmarking data regarding the
rates charged or quoted by other third parties for similar services, GASC generally is under no
obligation to do so. In the event that GASC does undertake to benchmark the cost of services, relevant
comparisons may not be available for a number of reasons, including, without limitation, as a result
of a lack of a substantial market of providers or users of such services or the confidential or bespoke
nature of such services. In addition, benchmarking data, to the extent available, often is based on
general market and broad industry overviews, rather than determined on a provide-by-provider or
asset-by-asset basis. As a result, benchmarking data typically does not take into account specific
characteristics of individual assets then owned or to be acquired by a GA Client (such as size or
location), or the particular characteristics of services provided or differentiations in the quality of
service (such as reliability, speed of execution, degree of specialization or experience of the service
provider). For these reasons, such market comparisons may not result in precise market terms for
comparable services, and the fact that one service or service provider may be “comparable” to another,
or lower in cost, does not limit GASC from choosing a different and/or higher cost service provider
in the event that GASC believes doing so can be expected to result in services that are of higher
quality or otherwise better suited to the identified need. In many circumstances, GASC can be
expected to determine that third-party benchmarking is unnecessary, for example because in GASC’s
view no comparable service provider offers such good or service (or an insufficient number of
comparable service providers for a reasonable comparison exists), or because GASC has access to
adequate information (including from service providers to GASC, its GA Clients or portfolio
investments) or otherwise believes that it has sufficient experience to select a service provider without
reference to third-party benchmarking. See “Item 11. Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in
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Client Transactions and Personal Trading – C. Transactions with Investors, Portfolio Companies
and Other Affiliate Transactions” for more information.
Risks Associated with GA BnZ Investments
Documentation and Other Legal Risks. Renewable energy and renewable energy
generation and related projects are typically governed by other complex legal agreements. As a result,
there can be a higher risk of dispute over interpretation or enforceability of the agreements. It is not
uncommon for renewable energy generation and related infrastructure assets to be exposed to a
variety of other legal risks including, but not limited to, legal action from special interest groups.
Interest groups may use legal processes to seek to impede particular projects to which they are
opposed.
Land Title Risks. The ownership of renewable energy properties is often highly fragmented
and the land title records can be highly complex and incomplete. Different jurisdictions adopt
different systems of land title, and in some jurisdictions it may not be possible to ascertain definitively
who has the legal right to convey renewable energy interests to a portfolio company. Although
portfolio companies typically utilize the services of experienced land title experts to review land title
records prior to making significant expenditures, they are subject to the risk that failures of title may
not be discovered until after these expenditures have been made. The existence of a material title
deficiency can render a renewable energy interest worthless and adversely impact the financial
condition of a portfolio company. In addition, certain of the properties owned by portfolio companies
are subject to significant land use restrictions, including for example, city ordinances, environmental
restrictions and native tribal jurisdictional rights. As a result, a portfolio company’s rights to conduct
its business on such properties could be subjected to unforeseen delays and costs, and in some cases
severe restrictions or curtailment. While portfolio companies will generally seek to conduct due
diligence as to the nature of existing land use restrictions prior to making significant expenditures to
acquire properties, there can be no assurance that land use restrictions will not be imposed after such
acquisition that could materially and adversely impact the portfolio companies ability to operate on
such properties.
Siting Risks. The GA Clients’ investments may be subject to siting requirements. Siting of
energy projects is frequently subject to regulation by applicable governmental authorities. Proposals
to site an energy project or facility may be challenged by a number of parties, including non-
governmental organizations (“NGOs”) and special interest groups, based on alleged security
concerns, disturbances to natural habitats for wildlife and adverse aesthetic impacts, including the
common “not in my backyard” phenomenon. Concerns may also arise that may require governmental
permits or approvals, the receipt of which may depend, in part, on heightened environmental concerns
and public opposition in some jurisdictions.
Technological Advancements. Technological advances, including in artificial intelligence
and machine learning technology (collectively, “Machine Learning Technology”), continue to
develop rapidly. The full effects of Machine Learning Technology are impossible to predict, but
Machine Learning Technology is expected to disrupt certain business sectors and possibly entire
industries. To the extent GASC or any portfolio company of the GA Clients utilizes Machine
Learning Technology in connection with its business activities, it poses potential risks to GASC, the
GA Clients and/or their portfolio companies. For example, use of Machine Learning Technology by
GASC or a portfolio company could include the input of confidential information (including material
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non-public information)—either by third parties in contravention of non-disclosure agreements, or by
GASC personnel, advisors or affiliates in contravention of GASC’s policies—into Machine Learning
Technology applications, resulting in such confidential information becoming part of a dataset that is
accessible by other third-party Machine Learning Technology applications and users. In addition,
Machine Learning Technology is generally highly reliant on the collection and analysis of large
amounts of data, and it is not possible or practicable to incorporate all relevant data into the model
that Machine Learning Technology utilizes to operate. Certain data in such models will inevitably
contain a degree of inaccuracy and error – potentially materially so – and could otherwise be
inadequate or flawed, which would be likely to degrade the effectiveness of Machine Learning
Technology.
Machine Learning Technology and its applications, including in the private investment and
financial sectors, continue to develop rapidly, and it is impossible to predict the future risks that may
arise from such developments.
Operational and Technical Risks. Investments may be subject to operating and technical
risks, including the risk of mechanical breakdown, spare parts shortages, failure to perform according
to design specifications, failure to meet expected levels of efficiency, availability or output, increases
in costs of fuel or other necessary supplies, pipeline or offtake disruptions, power shutdowns, labor
strikes, labor disputes, work stoppages and other work interruptions, and other unanticipated events
which adversely affect operations. While the GA Clients will seek investments in which creditworthy
and appropriately bonded and insured third parties may bear certain of these risks, there can be no
assurance that any or all such risk can be mitigated or that such parties, if present, will perform their
obligations. The long-term profitability of the assets of the GA Clients’ portfolio companies, once
constructed, is partly dependent upon the efficient operation and maintenance of the assets. Inefficient
operations and maintenance, or limitations in the skills, experience or resources of operating
companies, may reduce returns to investors.
Equipment Failures. The generation and transmission of power requires the use of expensive
and complicated equipment and generating plants are subject to unplanned outages because of
equipment failure. If such an equipment failure occurs while a GA Client or one of its portfolio
companies is party to a power purchase contract, the GA Client or its relevant portfolio company may
be subject to financial penalties to its customers or may be required either to produce replacement
power from potentially more expensive units or purchase power from others at unpredictable and
potentially higher costs in order to supply its customers and perform its contractual agreements.
Equipment failures impacting companies, service providers and customers that have a direct or
indirect relationship with a GA Client could have a material adverse effect on such GA Client. Any
of these results could increase costs materially and adversely affect the amount of funds available for
distribution to limited partners in the GA Clients.
Catastrophic and Force Majeure Events; Availability of Insurance. The GA Clients’
investments may be subject to catastrophic events and other force majeure events, in the construction,
technical and operational phases, such as fires, earthquakes, adverse weather conditions, changes in
law, eminent domain, war, riots, terrorist attacks and similar risks. These events could result in the
partial or total loss of an investment, significant down time resulting in lost revenues, and injury or
loss of life, as well as litigation related thereto, among other potentially detrimental effects. Losses
from such catastrophic events may be either uninsurable or insurable at such high rates that to
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maintain such coverage would cause an adverse impact on the related investments. To the extent
losses related to such events are insurable at all, they may have high deductibles and other important
limitations on coverage. As a result, not all investments may be insured against such events, or such
insurance may be obtained notwithstanding the high cost. Insurance proceeds as may be derived in a
timely manner from covered risks may be inadequate to completely or even partially cover a loss of
revenues, an increase in operating and maintenance expenses and/or a replacement or rehabilitation.
Additionally, the risks and hazards inherent in the oil and gas industries have the potential of causing
widespread and catastrophic environmental disasters. Such disasters could materially and adversely
harm the GA Client and any portfolio company of the GA Client that is directly or indirectly
responsible for causing or exacerbating such disasters. In general, losses related to terrorism are
becoming harder and more expensive to insure against. Most insurers are excluding terrorism
coverage from their all-risk policies. In some cases, the insurers are offering significantly limited
coverage against terrorist acts for additional premiums, which can greatly increase the total costs of
casualty insurance. As a result, it is unlikely that any of the GA Clients’ investments will be insured
against damages attributable to acts of terrorism.
Enhanced European Regulation and Article 9 Funds. The European regulatory
environment for alternative investment fund managers and financial services firms continues to
evolve and increase in complexity, making compliance more costly and time-consuming. In March
2018, the European Commission published an Action Plan on Financing Sustainable Growth (the
“Action Plan”) setting up a sustainable finance strategy for the EU to transform the entire financial
system and reorient capital flows towards sustainable investment.
As part of the original Action Plan, European legislators adopted E.U.’s Sustainable Finance
Disclosure Regulation (2019/2088) (“SFDR”), which took effect from March 10, 2021, and the
Regulation on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment (2020/852) (the
“Taxonomy Regulation”) which took effect from January 2022. The SFDR introduced measures that
clarify asset managers’ duties to integrate ESG factors and risks into the investment-decision making
process, and standardizes transparency duties and ESG reporting requirements. In addition, the
Taxonomy Regulation contains criteria for determining whether economic activities qualify as
environmentally sustainable for the purpose of establishing the degree to which an investment is
environmentally sustainable. All GA Clients need to comply with these regulations to the extent
applicable, but GA BnZ has elected to be treated as a “Article 9” fund, which requires it to provide
certain sustainability related disclosures, which include: (i) publishing information on its website
about its policies on the integration of sustainability risks in its investment decision-making process;
(ii) publishing on its website either: (A) a detailed statement on its due diligence policies with respect
to principal adverse impacts of investment decisions on sustainability factors, taking into account its
size, the nature and scale of their activities, or (B) clear reasons for why it does not consider adverse
impacts, including, where relevant, information as to whether and when it intends to consider adverse
impacts; (iii) publishing on its website and include in its remuneration policy information on how the
policy is consistent with the integration of sustainability risks; and (iv) ensuring that its marketing
communications do not contradict any of the foregoing. The SFDR also requires fund managers to
include sustainability related information in an private fund’s pre-contractual disclosures and periodic
reports and, depending on the strategy of its private fund(s), on its websites.
The Financial Conduct Authority is also developing its own rules on sustainability disclosures and
investment labels for consumer focused funds. If the rules are applicable to the GA Clients, then this
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may mean additional regulatory costs are incurred by the GA Clients.
Compliance with the SFDR, Taxonomy Regulation and other EU or UK ESG-related rules could
expose GASC and/or the GA Clients to conflicting regulatory requirements in other jurisdictions. The
GA Clients will bear the costs and expenses of compliance with the SFDR, the Taxonomy Regulation
and any regulations or legislative initiatives relating to the Action Plan or, more generally, sustainable
finance, including costs and expenses of collecting data and the preparation of any notices,
disclosures, reports and/or filings. In addition, GASC may decide to re-classify a private fund to fall
within the scope of Articles 8 or 9 of the SFDR or other classifications. Such a re-classification will
bring certain obligations and associated costs. It is difficult to predict the full extent of the impact of
the SFDR and the EU Action Plan on GASC and/or the GA Clients. GASC reserves the right to adopt
such arrangements as deemed necessary or desirable to comply with any applicable requirements of
the SFDR and any other applicable legislation or regulations related to the EU Action Plan.
Risks Associated with Mexico
Generally. Investments in Mexican issuers involve risks that are specific to Mexico, including
legal, regulatory, political, currency, security and economic risks. In the past, Mexico has experienced
high interest rates, economic volatility and high unemployment rates. Recent political developments
in the U.S. have potential implications for the current trade arrangements between the U.S. and
Mexico, which could negatively affect the value of securities held by the GA Clients.
Political, Economic and Social Risks. Investments in Mexico may be subject to a greater
degree of economic, political, and social instability, which may result from among other things, wide-
scale economic or political crises. There have been several economic crises in the past three decades
in Mexico. Those economic crises were followed by inflationary inertia and exchange rate
devaluation and affected the population by reducing their income.
On June 2, 2024, general elections for president, Cámara de Diputados (Chamber of Deputies) and
the Cámara de Senadores (Senate) took place, and Claudia Sheinbaum, candidate for the Movimiento
Regeneración Nacional (National Regeneration Movement, or Morena) was elected president.
Following the general elections, Morena and its allies achieved a qualified majority in each of the
Cámara de Diputados and the Cámara de Senadores. The new Mexican Congress assumed office on
September 1, 2024, and the new Mexican president-elect, Claudia Sheinbaum, assumed office on
October 1, 2024. Therefore Morena and its allies have significant power to implement substantial
changes in law, policy and regulations in Mexico, including proposed constitutional reforms (as
described below), which could negatively affect GA, GASC, the GA Clients and their portfolio
companies’ business in Mexico, results of operations, financial condition and prospects. GASC
cannot predict whether potential changes in Mexican governmental and economic policy could
adversely affect Mexico’s economic conditions or the sectors in which GASC operates. GASC cannot
provide any assurances that political developments in Mexico, over which GASC has no control, will
not have an adverse effect on GA, GASC, the GA Clients and their portfolio companies’ business in
Mexico, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.
Moreover, in recent years, Mexico was downgraded by each of the three major credit rating agencies.
In June 2023, Moody’s downgraded Mexico’s debt rating further from Baa1 to Baa2 but changed its
outlook from negative to stable. During the first quarter of 2024, certain ratings agencies downgraded
Petroleos Mexicanos (“Pemex”) credit ratings and their assessment of Pemex’s creditworthiness may
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affect Mexico’s credit ratings. On July 24, 2024, Fitch issued a statement that the wide-ranging
proposed constitutional reforms would negatively affect Mexico’s overall institutional profile while
recognizing that the severity of their impact might become clearer once these are approved and
implemented. Fitch had further stated that weak governance indicators already constrain the sovereign
rating, and are only partly offset by a prudent, credible and consistent macroeconomic policy record.
Mexico’s current ratings and the ratings outlooks currently assigned to it depend, in part, on economic
conditions and other factors that affect credit risk and are outside the control of Mexico, as well as
assessments of the creditworthiness of its state-owned enterprises. There can be no assurances that
Mexico’s or Pemex’s credit ratings will be maintained or that they will not be downgraded, suspended
or cancelled. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has and may continue to disrupt economic
activity, which may intensify the slowdown in the Mexican economy. Any recent or future
downgrades could adversely affect the Mexican economy and, consequently, the investments in
Mexico.
In addition, Mexico is currently experiencing high levels of violence and crime due to the activities
of organized crime. In response, the Mexican government has implemented various measures to
increase security and has strengthened its police and military forces. Despite these efforts, organized
crime (especially drug-related crime) continues to exist and operate in Mexico. These activities, their
possible escalation and the violence associated with them have had and may have a negative impact
on the Mexican economy or on investments in Mexico. The social and political situation in Mexico
could adversely affect the Mexican economy, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on
the value of investments in Mexico.
This social, political, and economic instability significantly increases the risk and could significantly
and adversely affect the value of investments in Mexico.
Relative Volatility of the Mexican Capital Markets. The Mexican securities market is
significantly smaller, less liquid and more concentrated than the world’s major securities markets,
such as those of the United States, Europe or Asia. While the Mexican banking system has not
experienced significant liquidity problems, future market volatility could negatively affect the
Mexican banking system, as well as the Mexican economy and ultimately the performance of the GA
Clients’ Investments.
High Interest Rates in Mexico Could Increase Financing Costs. In the past, Mexico has
experienced several periods of slow or negative economic growth, high inflation, high interest rates,
currency devaluation (in particular with respect to the Mexican peso-U.S. dollar exchange rate),
convertibility restrictions and other economic problems. These problems may worsen or reemerge, as
applicable, in the future and could adversely affect the Fund’s financial performance. GASC cannot
assure that Banco de México’s monetary policies and decisions in the future will not increase its
reference rates and that such possible increases will not adversely affect the results of operations. Due
to the current economic environment, the Mexican Central Bank could increase its benchmark interest
rate in the future. If the Mexican Central Bank effectively increases such interest rate, and a GA
Client, directly or indirectly, incurs Peso-denominated debt in the future, it could be at higher interest
rates than the ones currently in place, which may have an adverse effect on the GA Clients’ financial
performance.
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Risks Associated with Credit Investments
Debt Investments, Generally. GA Credit Clients will invest in senior secured loans and other
debt and debt-related instruments senior to common equity and equity securities, which are subject
to credit and interest rate risks. “Credit risk” refers to the likelihood that an obligor will default on the
payment of principal and/or interest on a debt investment. Financial strength and solvency of an
obligor are the primary factors influencing credit risk. In addition, lack or inadequacy of collateral or
credit enhancement for a debt investment may affect its credit risk. Credit risk may change over the
life of an investment. Debt investments that are rated by rating agencies (potentially including any
investments acquired by GA Credit Clients through syndicated debt markets) are often reviewed and
may be subject to downgrade, which generally results in a decline in the market value of such
investment. “Interest rate risk” refers to the risks associated with market changes in interest rates.
Interest rate changes may affect the value of a debt investment directly (particularly in the case of
investments with adjustable rates) and indirectly (particularly in the case of fixed rate investments).
In general, rising interest rates will negatively impact the price of a fixed rate debt investment and
falling interest rates will have a positive effect on price. Adjustable rate investments also react to
interest rate changes in a similar manner although generally to a lesser degree (depending, however,
on the characteristics of the reset terms, including the index chosen, frequency of reset and reset caps
or floors, among other factors). Interest rate sensitivity is generally more pronounced and less
predictable in investments with uncertain payment or prepayment schedules.
Loan Origination. GA Credit Clients intend to originate loans. Loan origination involves a
number of particular risks that may not exist in the case of secondary debt purchases, including:
when originating loans, GASC will generally have to rely more on its own resources to
conduct due diligence of the borrower, which will likely be more limited than the diligence
conducted for a broadly syndicated transaction involving an underwriter;
loan origination may involve additional regulatory risks given the requirement to hold a
license for certain types of lending in some jurisdictions. GASC will review and take advice
on the loan origination regulations in each relevant country and seek to ensure that GA Credit
Clients’ investments are compliant with such regulations. However, the scope of these
regulatory requirements (and certain permitted exemptions) vary from jurisdiction to
jurisdiction and may change from time to time;
the borrowers may in some circumstances be higher credit risks who could not obtain debt
financing in the syndicated markets; and
in addition, in originating loans, GA Credit Clients will compete with a broad spectrum of
lenders, some of which may have greater financial resources than GA Credit Clients, and some
of which may be willing to lend money on better terms (from a borrower’s standpoint) than
GA Credit Clients. Increased competition for, or a diminution in the available supply of,
qualifying loans may result in lower yields on such loans, which could reduce returns to GA
Credit Clients. The level of analytical sophistication, both financial and legal, necessary for
successful financing to companies, particularly companies experiencing significant business
and financial difficulties is unusually high. There is no assurance that GASC will correctly
evaluate the value of the assets collateralizing these loans or the prospects for successful
repayment or a successful reorganization or similar action.
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Loan Origination Regulation. GA Credit Clients intend to engage in originating, lending
and/or servicing loans, and may therefore be subject to U.S. state, federal and additional regulation
(including but not limited to Directive (EU) 2024/927 of the European Parliament and of the Council
of 13 March 2024 (known as “AIFMD II”)), borrower disclosure requirements, limits on fees and
interest rates on some loans, U.S. state lender licensing requirements and other regulatory
requirements in the conduct of its business as they pertain to such transactions. GA Credit Clients
may also be subject to consumer disclosures and substantive requirements on consumer loan terms
and other U.S. federal and non-U.S. regulatory requirements applicable to consumer lending that are
administered by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other applicable regulatory
authorities. These U.S. state, federal and non-U.S. regulatory programs are designed to protect
borrowers.
Loans to Private and Middle-Market Companies. GA Credit Clients intend to make
investments in the securities and/or other obligations of private and middle-market companies.
Investing in private and middle-market companies involves risks that may not exist in the case of
large, more established and/or publicly traded companies, including:
these companies may have limited financial resources and limited access to additional
financing, which may increase the risk of their defaulting on their obligations, leaving
creditors, such as GA Credit Clients, dependent on any guarantees or collateral that they may
have obtained;
these companies frequently have shorter operating histories, narrower product lines and
smaller market shares than larger businesses, which render such companies more vulnerable
to competition and market conditions, as well as general economic downturns;
there will not be as much information publicly available about these companies as would be
available for public companies and such information may not be of the same quality;
these companies are more likely to depend on the management talents and efforts of a small
group of persons; as a result, the death, disability, resignation or termination of one or more
of these persons could have a material adverse impact on these companies’ ability to meet
their obligations;
these companies generally have less predictable operating results, may from time to time be
parties to litigation, may be engaged in rapidly changing businesses with products subject to
a substantial risk of obsolescence, and may require substantial additional capital to support
their operations, finance their expansion or maintain their competitive position; and
these companies may have difficulty accessing the capital markets to meet future capital
needs, which may limit their ability to grow or to repay their outstanding indebtedness upon
maturity.
In addition, the negotiation process of a private loan may stall or be abandoned for reasons other than
GASC’s lack of interest in the investment itself. If this happens after a GA Credit Client has
committed, such GA Credit Client may receive smaller allocations or no allocation, or may receive
allocations on different terms than expected. Private loans may be illiquid, may require issuer or
borrower consent to trade and may involve GASC (on behalf of themselves and GA Credit Clients)
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obtaining material non-public information that restricts further trading in the issuers to which such
material non-public information relates.
Capital Structure Leverage. GA Credit Clients’ investments are expected to include
transactions with businesses whose capital structures may have significant leverage. Such investments
are inherently more sensitive to declines in revenues and to increases in expenses and interest rates.
Leverage often imposes restrictive financial and operating covenants on a business, in addition to the
burden of debt service, and may impair its ability to finance future operations and capital needs. The
leveraged capital structure of such investments will increase the exposure of such companies to
adverse economic factors such as downturns in the economy or deterioration in the condition of a
company or its industry.
Dynamic Investment Strategy. GASC may pursue additional investment strategies and may
modify or depart from its initial investment strategy for GA Credit Clients, investment process and
investment techniques as it determines appropriate. GASC may pursue investments outside of the
industries and sectors in which General Atlantic has previously made investments.
Bank Debt Ratings. The ratings that may be assigned by various credit rating agencies to
loans or other debt instruments that may be acquired by GA Credit Clients reflect only the views of
those agencies. Explanations of the significance of ratings should be obtained from such credit rating
agencies. No assurance can be given that ratings assigned will not be withdrawn or revised downward
if, in the view of such credit rating agency, circumstances so warrant.
Public Company Holdings. Investments may include securities issued by publicly held
companies, which may be sensitive to movements in the stock market and trends in the overall
economy. Such investments may subject GA Credit Clients to risks that differ in type or degree from
those involved with investments in privately held companies. Such risks include, without limitation,
greater volatility in the valuation of such companies, increased obligations to disclose information
regarding such companies, limitations on the ability of GA Credit Clients to dispose of such securities
at certain times, increased likelihood of shareholder litigation and insider trading allegations against
such companies’ board members, including the members of the Credit Investment Committee and/or
other representatives of GASC or GA Credit Clients, and increased costs associated with each of the
aforementioned risks.
Prepayment Risk. Loans are generally prepayable in whole or in part at any time at the option
of the obligor at par plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, and occasionally plus a prepayment
premium. Prepayments on loans may be caused by a variety of factors which are often difficult to
predict. Consequently, there exists a risk that loans may experience a capital loss as a result of such a
prepayment. When credit market conditions become more attractive to obligors, the rate of
prepayment of GA Credit Clients’ loans would be expected to increase as obligors refinance to take
advantage of such improved conditions, which may negatively impact GA Credit Clients.
Borrower Fraud. Of paramount concern is the possibility of material misrepresentation or
omission on the part of the borrower. Such inaccuracy or incompleteness may adversely affect the
valuation of the collateral underlying the investments or may adversely affect the ability of GA Credit
Clients to perfect or effectuate a lien on any collateral securing the investment. GA Credit Clients
will rely upon the accuracy and completeness of representations made by borrowers to the extent
reasonable when it makes its investment decisions, but cannot guarantee such accuracy or
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completeness. Under certain circumstances, payments to GA Credit Clients may be reclaimed if any
such payment or distribution is later determined to have been a fraudulent conveyance or a preferential
payment. The due diligence process may occur on an expedited timeline and there can be no assurance
that GASC will have adequate time to detect potential fraud prior to the consummation of the
investment.
Breach of Covenant. GA Credit Clients will generally seek to obtain structural, covenant and
other contractual protections with respect to the terms of its investments as determined appropriate
under the circumstances. There can be no assurance that such attempts to provide downside protection
with respect to its investments will achieve their desired effect and potential investors should regard
an investment in GA Credit Clients as being speculative and having a high degree of risk.
Leveraged Loans, Generally. GA Credit Clients’ investments may comprise leveraged
loans, which have significant liquidity and market value risks since they are not generally traded on
organized exchange markets but are traded by banks and other institutional investors engaged in loan
syndications. Because loans are privately syndicated and loan agreements are privately negotiated
and customized, loans are not purchased or sold as easily as publicly traded securities. Historically
the trading volume in loan markets has been small relative to high yield debt securities markets. In
addition, leveraged loans have historically experienced greater default rates than has been the case
for investment grade securities. There can be no assurance as to the levels of defaults and/or recoveries
that may be experienced on leveraged loans, and an increase in default levels could have a material
adverse effect on GA Credit Clients.
Nature of Investment in Senior Debt. GA Credit Clients’ investments may include first lien
and second lien senior secured debt. Such debt may (i) include term loans and revolving loans, (ii) pay
interest at a fixed or floating rate and (iii) be acquired by way of purchase or assignment in the primary
and secondary markets. The purchaser of an assignment typically succeeds to all the rights and
obligations of the assigning institution and becomes a contracting party under the legal documentation
with respect to the debt obligation, although its rights can be more restricted than those of the
assigning institution.
The factors affecting an issuer’s first and second lien loans, and its overall capital structure, are
complex. Some first lien loans may not necessarily have priority over all other unsecured debt of an
issuer. Second lien senior loans are also expected to be more illiquid than first lien senior secured
loans for this reason. Moreover, there is less likelihood that GA Credit Clients will be able to sell
participations in second lien loans that it originates or acquires, which would expose GA Credit
Clients to higher risk with respect to the issuer.
Mezzanine and Other Subordinated Investments. Certain investments may comprise loans,
securities and/or other instruments, or interests in pools of securities and/or other instruments that are
subordinated or may be subordinated in right of payment and ranked junior to other securities and/or
instruments issued by, or loans made to, obligors. Mezzanine and other subordinated debt investments
involve a high degree of risk with no certainty of any return of capital. Although subordinated debt is
senior to common stock and other equity securities in the capital structure, it may be subordinated to
large amounts of senior debt and is often unsecured.
Covenant-Lite Loans. There may be instances in which a GA Credit Client’s investments do
not have maintenance financial covenants in the related loan documentation (“Covenant-Lite
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Loans”). An investment in a Covenant-Lite Loan may potentially hinder the ability to re-price credit
risk associated with an issuer’s performance and reduce the creditors’ ability to restructure a non-
performing loan and mitigate potential loss. These flexible covenants (or the absence of covenants)
could cause obligors to experience a significant downturn in their results of operation without
triggering any default that would permit holders of directly originated senior secured loans (such as
GA Credit Clients) to accelerate indebtedness or negotiate terms and pricing. As a result, GA Credit
Clients’ exposure to losses may be increased, which could result in an adverse impact on GA Credit
Clients’ return to the investors.
Concentration of Investments, Generally. The GA Credit Clients may participate in a
limited number of investments and, as a consequence, the aggregate return of such GA Credit Client
may be substantially adversely affected by the unfavorable performance of any single investment.
Limited Partners have no assurance as to the degree of diversification of GA Credit Client’s
investments, either by geographic region, asset type or sector. If a GA Credit Client is unable to sell,
assign or otherwise syndicate out loan, bond or other positions that it holds that are greater than such
GA Credit Client target position sizes, such GA Credit Client will be forced to hold its excess interest
in such investments for an indeterminate period of time. To the extent any GA Credit Client
concentrates investments in a particular obligor, industry, security or geographic region, its
investments will become more susceptible to fluctuations in value resulting from adverse economic,
political, regulatory and business conditions with respect thereto. Furthermore, with respect to the
Credit Funds, to the extent that the capital raised is less than GASC’s target, a Credit Fund may be
overweight in certain investments made prior to the final closing of such Credit Fund and may acquire
fewer investments than it would ordinarily target and thus be less diversified.
Short Sales. Certain of the GA Credit Clients may engage in short selling as part of their
investment strategy. Short selling involves selling securities that may or may not be owned by the
seller and borrowing the same securities for delivery to the purchaser, with an obligation to replace
the borrowed securities at a later date. In addition, the GA Credit Clients must pay any dividends or
interest payable that accrues on a security sold short until it is replaced and the GA Credit Clients
may also pay transaction costs and borrowing fees in connection with short sales. These payments
will reduce the profitability of the GA Credit Clients and may cause the GA Credit Clients to incur
significant losses. Short selling allows the investor to profit from declines in the value of securities.
The GA Credit Clients, however, will incur a loss as a result of a short sale if the price of the security
increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the GA Credit Clients replace the
security sold short. A short sale creates the risk of a theoretically unlimited loss, in that the price of
the underlying security could theoretically increase without limit, thus increasing the cost of buying
those securities to cover the short position. Purchasing securities to close out a short position can itself
cause the price of the securities to rise further, thereby exacerbating the loss, perhaps to a material
degree. There can be no assurance that the security necessary to cover a short position will be
available for purchase. In addition, there may be occasions on which the cost to borrow a particular
security increases sharply and suddenly or where the ability to borrow a particular security is abruptly
curtailed. Further, many regulators, including the SEC and the United Kingdom Financial Conduct
Authority, have imposed restrictions and reporting requirements on short selling. These restrictions
and reporting requirements may prevent the GA Credit Clients from successfully implementing their
investment strategy and provide transparency to GA’s competitors as to its positions, thereby having
a detrimental impact on a short sale’s returns. The short selling of GameStop Corp. and certain other
securities in early 2021, along with related “short squeezes” have increased regulatory scrutiny of
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short selling. In October 2023, the SEC adopted a short sale disclosure rule and Form SHO reporting,
requiring investors to increase reporting on short selling activity. If new restrictions and/or
requirements are enacted, this could inhibit a GA Credit Client’s ability to successfully implement its
investment strategy.
Post-Reorganization Securities. The GA Credit Clients may invest in companies that have
just experienced a reorganization or restructuring. The GA Credit Clients may experience losses if
the expected outcome proves incorrect. Post-reorganization securities may be illiquid, subject to
heavy selling and/or downward pricing pressure after completing a reorganization or restructuring.
Commercial Paper. The GA Credit Clients may invest in commercial paper, which
represents short-term unsecured promissory notes issued by banks or bank holding companies,
corporations, finance companies, state and local governments, and by public authorities, agencies and
instrumentalities. In the event the issuer cannot generate adequate cash flow, a GA Credit Client may
suffer a partial or total loss of capital invested. In addition, the lack of security presents some risk of
loss to the GA Credit Client since, in the event of an issuer’s bankruptcy, unsecured creditors are
repaid only after the secured creditors out of the assets, if any, that remain.
Effects of Bankruptcy Laws. The GA Credit Clients may make investments in issuers that
are or may become the subject of voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy proceedings under applicable
jurisdictional bankruptcy laws. Certain risks faced in bankruptcy cases that must be factored into the
investment decision include, without limitation, the potential total loss of any such investment. Upon
confirmation of a plan of reorganization under applicable bankruptcy laws, or as a result of a
liquidation proceeding, the GA Credit Clients could suffer a loss of all or a part of the value of its
investment in an issuer. A bankruptcy filing may adversely and permanently affect an issuer. The
issuer could lose market position and key employees, and the liquidation value of the issuer may not
equal the liquidation value that was believed to exist prior to the making of the initial investment. In
general, bankruptcy laws may be expected to have a variety of adverse impacts on the value of the
GA Credit Clients’ investments and the timing and amount of any distributions the GA Credit Clients
are able to receive therefrom. In addition, investments in restructurings may be adversely affected by
statutes related to, among other things, fraudulent conveyances, voidable preferences, lender liability
and the bankruptcy court’s discretionary power to disallow, subordinate or disenfranchise particular
claims or recharacterize investments made in the form of debt as equity contributions.
Inside Information. From time to time, the General Partners, General Atlantic or their
affiliates may be in possession of material, non-public information concerning a business in which
the Fund has made an investment, or in which it intends to make an investment. The possession of
such information may limit the ability of GA Clients to buy or sell such investments regardless of
whether such information was obtained in the context of the investment activities of an Other
Advisory Client of General Atlantic. Accordingly, the Fund may be required to refrain from making
such investments at times when GA Credit or members of the GA Credit team might otherwise believe
that the Fund should make such investments (see — “Other Risks” — “Material Non-Public
Information” below). Notwithstanding the foregoing, GA Credit may determine, in its sole discretion
at any time, that such information could impair its ability to effect certain transactions on behalf of
GA Clients, whether for legal, contractual, or other reasons. Accordingly, GA Credit may elect not to
receive such information. Lack of access to any such information may adversely affect GA Clients’
investments that in some cases may have been avoided had GA Credit had such information.
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Derivatives, Generally. Derivative instruments, or “derivatives,” include futures, options,
swaps, structured securities and other instruments and contracts that are derived from, or the value of
which is related to, one or more underlying securities, financial benchmarks, currencies, indices or
other assets. Derivatives allow the GA Credit Clients to hedge or speculate upon the price movements
of a particular security (or other asset), financial benchmark currency or index at a fraction of the cost
of investing in the underlying asset. The value of a derivative depends largely upon price movements
in the underlying asset. Therefore, many of the risks applicable to trading the underlying asset are
also applicable to derivatives of such asset. However, there are a number of other risks associated
with derivatives trading. For example, because many derivatives are “leveraged,” and thus provide
significantly more market exposure than the money paid or deposited when the transaction is entered
into, a relatively small adverse market movement can not only result in the loss of the entire
investment, but may also expose the GA Credit Clients to the possibility of a loss exceeding the
original amount invested. Derivatives may also expose the GA Credit Clients to liquidity risk, as
there may not be a liquid market within which to close or dispose of outstanding derivatives contracts,
and to counterparty risk. The counterparty risk lies with each party with whom the GA Credit Clients
contract for the purpose of making derivative investments, including the clearinghouse if the
derivative contract is centrally cleared. In the event of the counterparty’s default, the GA Credit
Clients will only rank as an unsecured creditor and risks the loss of all or a portion of the amounts it
is contractually entitled to receive. These investments are all subject to additional risks that can result
in a loss of all or part of an investment such as interest rate and credit risk volatility, event risk, world
and local market price and demand, and general economic factors and activity. Derivatives may have
very high leverage embedded in them, which can substantially magnify market movements and result
in losses greater than the amount of the investment. Some of the markets in which the GA Credit
Clients intend to effect derivative transactions are over-the-counter or interdealer markets. This
exposes the GA Credit Clients to the risks that a counterparty will not settle a transaction because of
a credit or liquidity problem or because of disputes over the terms of the contract.
Item 9. Disciplinary Information
GASC and its management persons have not been involved in any legal or disciplinary events in the
past 10 years that would be material to a client’s or a prospective client’s evaluation of GASC’s
advisory business or the integrity of GASC or its management persons.
Item 10. Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
The General Partners and certain of GASC’s Managing Directors manage and control the Core
Program Partnerships, the Pooled Managed Accounts, the Sponsor Coinvestment Funds and the other
GA Clients, as applicable. GASC’s Form ADV Part 1 identifies the existing GA Clients, the Actis
Clients and other private funds managed by GASC as of the date of this Brochure.
GASC’s Form ADV Part 1, Schedule R identifies GA LP, GAP (Bermuda) L.P., other General
Partners, GASC BnZ, L.P., GASC APF, L.P., GASFM (defined below) and GA Prism, each of which
is under common control with GASC, as “relying advisers” of GASC.
GASC’s Form ADV Part 1, Schedule R also identifies Actis LLP, Actis GP LLP, Neoma Manager
(Mauritius) Limited, Actis EU Management S.a.r.1, and Actis UK Advisers Limited, each of which
is ultimately owned by GA Partners, and certain managing directors, operating partners and other
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professionals of GASC, as “relying advisers” of GASC. Actis LLP, is authorized and regulated by
the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom and the Financial Sector Conduct Authority
in South Africa. Actis GP LLP, is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the
United Kingdom and the Financial Sector Conduct Authority in South Africa. Neoma Manager
(Mauritius) Limited, is authorized and regulated by the Financial Services Commission in Mauritius
and the Financial Sector Conduct Authority in South Africa. Actis EU Management S.à. r.l, is
authorized with the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier in Luxembourg. Actis UK
Advisers Limited, is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United
Kingdom.
General Atlantic Singapore Management Pte. Ltd. (“GASFM”), a wholly owned subsidiary of GASC,
holds a Capital Markets License issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore to provide investment
management services.
GASFM is also identified as a “relying adviser” of GASC, although it only manages internal funds
and not third-party capital.
General Atlantic (UK) LLP, a subsidiary of GASC, is authorized with the Financial Conduct
Authority in the United Kingdom.
General Atlantic Asia Limited, a subsidiary of GASC, has a Type 1 license from the Securities and
Futures Commission of Hong Kong.
General Atlantic Gulf Limited (“GAGL”), a wholly owned subsidiary of GASC, holds a Type 4
License issued by Financial Services Regulatory Authority of the Abu Dhabi Global Market. GAGL
is a service company to GASC.
GASC is registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission as a foreign company
and has received exemptive relief from the requirement to hold an Australian financial services
license.
Actis has additional registrations, which are set forth in the Actis Brochure.
Item 11. Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client
Transactions and Personal Trading
A.
Code of Ethics/Insider Trading
GASC and its subsidiaries have adopted a written Code of Ethics (the “Code”) designed to address
and avoid potential conflicts of interest as required under Rule 204A-1 of the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”).
GASC’s Code requires, among other things, that employees:
Act with integrity, competence, dignity, and in an ethical manner when dealing with the
public, investors, prospective investors, investment prospects, their employer, and their fellow
employees;
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Place the interests of investors and the interests of GASC ahead of the employee’s own
personal interests;
Adhere to the fundamental standard that an employee should not take inappropriate advantage
of their position;
Adhere to the highest standards with respect to any actual or potential conflict of interest;
Conduct all personal securities transactions in full compliance with the Code;
Act in a dignified manner and not engage in risky activity or improper behavior; and
Comply with applicable provisions of the federal securities laws.
The Code also requires employees to either set up an electronic brokerage feed through a web-based
compliance monitoring system that is utilized by General Atlantic’s Legal and Compliance
Department, or send broker account statements or otherwise report personal securities transactions on
at least a quarterly (or more frequent) basis. Employees are also required to provide GASC with a
summary of certain holdings both initially upon commencement of employment and annually
thereafter over which such employees have a direct or indirect beneficial interest. A copy of the Code
will be made available to any Limited Partner or prospective Limited Partner upon request. A copy
of the Code is also provided to the Sponsor Coinvestors upon request.
B.
Participation or Interest in Client Transaction
The Sponsor Coinvestment Funds buy or sell securities that GASC also recommends to the GA
Clients, as applicable. The Sponsor Coinvestment Funds invest side-by-side with (or through), and
on the same terms and conditions as, the applicable GA Clients except that the Sponsor Coinvestment
Funds do not make any performance-based allocation to the General Partners and the Sponsor
Coinvestors in the Sponsor Coinvestment Funds do not pay Management Fees to GASC. See also
“Item 6. Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management” for a discussion of the potential
conflicts of interest and how they are addressed with respect to investments made by the GA Sponsor
Coinvestment Funds.
Pursuant to the Governing Documents of the GA Core Program, prior to January 1, 2023, GASC had
historically waived a portion of the Management Fees payable by the Core Program Limited Partners,
and that amount was invested in portfolio companies by the Core Program Limited Partners for the
benefit of the MPI Entity (the “MPI Program”). Although the MPI Program ceased in 2023, a portion
of the Management Fees that were waived prior to December 31, 2022, had not been fully funded in
portfolio companies by January 1, 2023, and the uninvested amount continues to roll over to the
succeeding calendar years (the “MPI Rollover Amount”). Although the MPI Program has wound
down, an MPI Rollover Amount continues to be available for investment in portfolio companies in
the 2025 calendar year.
GASC may engage in principal transactions (i.e., transactions in which GASC or an investment fund
affiliated with GASC (including Personal Investment Vehicles) is deemed to be acting for its own
account by buying a security from, or selling a security to, GA Clients and the Sponsor Coinvestment
Funds). This may arise if GASC, an affiliate of GASC, an investment fund affiliated with GASC
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(including Personal Investment Vehicles) or a member or employee of General Atlantic or its
subsidiaries makes a Personal Investment (as defined below under “Personal Investments”) and after
such investment, a GA Client makes an investment in the same company in which such Personal
Investment was made. At the time of such investment by such GA Client, General Atlantic will make
a determination as to whether or not such Personal Investment should be sold or transferred to the
GA Client. These transactions introduce a potential conflict of interest between the interests of
GASC, investment funds affiliated with GASC (including Personal Investment Vehicles) and
members or employees of General Atlantic or its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the interests of
the Limited Partners, Pooled Account Investors and the Sponsor Coinvestors, on the other hand.
GASC will conduct any such principal transactions in accordance with the provisions of Section
206(3) of the Advisers Act and the Governing Documents of the GA Clients.
C.
Transactions with Investors, Portfolio Companies and Other Affiliate Transactions
Certain advisors, research providers, custodians, insurance providers or other service providers, or
their affiliates (including, without limitation, accountants, administrators, lenders, bankers, brokers
or other deal “sourcers,” attorneys, consultants, custodians, investment or commercial banking firms,
valuation agents and certain other service providers, advisors and agents) provide goods or services
to GA Clients and/or their portfolio companies, or have business, personal, financial or other
relationships with GASC, its affiliates, employees and its portfolio companies. Certain service
providers, including insurance brokers and fund administrators, are owned by GA Clients, including,
for example, Howden Group and Gen II Fund Services (“Gen II”). Additionally, certain GASC
employees may have ownership interests in certain service providers to GA Clients and/or other GA
Affiliates. Limited Partners or affiliates of Limited Partners may provide services to GASC or GA
Clients, such as a bank that may serve as a lender to a GA Client and also raise a “private wealth
platform” feeder fund for the GA Client, or an insurance company that providers general partner
liability insurance to GA Clients.
Such service providers or their affiliates may be (i) investors in an GA Client, (ii) affiliates of a GA
Affiliate, (iii) sources of investment opportunities, (iv) coinvestors or counterparties or (v) entities in
which GASC and/or a GA Client has an investment, and payments by a GA Client and/or such
portfolio company may indirectly benefit GA and/or such other GA Client or entity. These
relationships and the potential for leveraging the relationships could create conflicts of interest
because they may influence GASC in deciding whether to select or recommend such a provider (or
affiliate thereof) to perform services for such GA Client or a portfolio company (the cost of which
will generally be borne directly or indirectly by the GA Client or such portfolio company, as
applicable). Further, the service provider may be more willing to provide services to GA or GA
Clients rather than other fund managers. Both GA and the service provider may be more likely to
agree to approve of such arrangements and agreements, given the existing relationship and
investment. In addition, if there is a portfolio company that sells goods or retail products to consumers,
GASC and its subsidiaries and their employees may receive discounts to purchase such products.
Managing Directors and employees of General Atlantic and its affiliates may serve on the boards or
committees of institutions of higher education, charitable organizations or non-profit or for-profit
institutions or organizations that are Limited Partners or affiliated with Limited Partners. In all such
instances, GASC seeks to negotiate these arrangements at arm’s length. The investment in the GA
Clients of the affiliated Limited Partner is made on the same terms applicable to other Limited
Partners. See “Item 8. Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss — D. General
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Economic and Market Risks — Risks Associated with the GA Clients’ Portfolio Companies —
Selection of Service Providers” for more information.
Limited Partners or other third parties could invest in GA itself and hold equity or other types of
interests in GA or its affiliates. Accordingly, any such investor would have a share of fee and carry
revenues related to one or more GA Clients and could be entitled to information about GA’s business
operations.
A tax-exempt non-profit foundation that is an affiliate of GASC may make contributions, or match
charitable contributions made by employees of General Atlantic and its subsidiaries, to Limited
Partners (or their affiliates) that are charitable, educational or non-profit institutions or organizations,
as well as to charitable events or causes sponsored by Limited Partners or portfolio companies. Such
contributions are made pursuant to the foundation’s mission statement. Certain employees of General
Atlantic and its subsidiaries are expected to spend some or all of their business time on matters related
to the foundation.
In connection with identifying parties who may participate as a buyer, lender or other counter-party
in a potential sale of all or a portion of a GA Client’s stake in a portfolio company, a potential debt
financing to be raised by a portfolio company or General Atlantic with respect to an investment in a
portfolio company or a similar transaction relating to a portfolio investment, GASC has in the past,
and will in the future, offer all or a portion of the transaction to a Limited Partner (or its affiliates) or
another portfolio company. In determining whether to offer an opportunity to a Limited Partner (or
its affiliates), General Atlantic may consider a variety of factors, including (a) whether such Limited
Partner has previously notified General Atlantic that such Limited Partner (or its affiliates) is
interested in participating directly in portfolio company transactions, which may include (i) direct
investments as an investor alongside a GA Client in the applicable portfolio company and/or as the
ultimate buyer of a GA Client’s stake in such portfolio company and/or (ii) providing loans to the
applicable portfolio company or a GA Client, (b) regardless of whether or not such Limited Partner
has previously provided such notification to General Atlantic, General Atlantic’s evaluation of the
capabilities of such Limited Partner (or its affiliates) to participate in such transactions, including,
(i) the history, experience and knowledge of such Limited Partner (x) in the type of transaction being
contemplated, (y) in transactions in or with companies in the same or a similar line of business as the
applicable portfolio company and/or (z) in the region(s) in which the applicable portfolio company
operates and/or (ii) the relationships that such Limited Partner (or its affiliates) may have with such
portfolio company and its management team, stakeholders, business partners and/or customers
(including potential customers), (c) General Atlantic’s evaluation of the ability of such Limited
Partner (or its affiliates) to pay the purchase price for the applicable portfolio investment, fund
potential future financing needs of the portfolio company and/or provide value add assistance to the
applicable portfolio company in the future, (d) the purchase price offered by the Limited Partner (or
its affiliates) and/or the willingness or ability of such Limited Partner (or its affiliates) to accept the
transaction terms required by General Atlantic and/or the applicable portfolio company and its
management team, board of directors and other stakeholders, meet transaction timing needs and/or
whether such Limited Partner’s participation may or may not require regulatory approvals or delay
or expedite the particular transaction, (e) the acceptability of such Limited Partner (or its affiliates) to
the applicable portfolio company’s management team, board of directors and/or other stakeholders
and the evaluation by the applicable portfolio company’s management team, board of directors, other
stakeholders and/or General Atlantic of the benefits that such Limited Partner (or its affiliates) may
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provide to such portfolio company and (f) General Atlantic’s overall evaluation of the benefits to the
GA Client of engaging in a transaction with such Limited Partner (or its affiliates). Although the
relationship between a Limited Partner and General Atlantic may present a potential conflict of
interest, when General Atlantic is selecting third parties who will participate in portfolio company
transactions (including, but not limited to, buyers of portfolio companies) for its portfolio investments
(whether they are Limited Partners or otherwise) the decision is made by General Atlantic based on
the best interests of the GA Core Program and the other GA Clients under the circumstances
applicable at such time. General Atlantic is not obligated to offer any Limited Partner (or its affiliates)
the opportunity to participate as a buyer, lender or other counter-party in any portfolio company
transaction, regardless of whether or not General Atlantic elects to offer such opportunity to any other
Limited Partner (or its affiliates).
GASC and its subsidiaries may also introduce one portfolio company to another portfolio company
and, as a result, one portfolio company may provide goods and/or services to another portfolio
company. If a portfolio company provides goods and/or services to another portfolio company, the
terms and conditions of such transaction are negotiated directly between the portfolio companies.
GASC and its subsidiaries and the GA Clients do not receive any fees or benefits as a result of such
introductions or commercial relationships between portfolio companies. In addition, GASC and its
subsidiaries may introduce vendors to its portfolio companies and recommend that its portfolio
companies use certain vendors (such as, for example, software implementation or technology
hardware procurement), and such vendors may agree to give such portfolio companies preferential
pricing. GASC and its subsidiaries and the GA Clients do not receive any fees or benefits as a result
of such introductions and recommendations.
Consistent with applicable law and internal policies regarding, among other things, anti-corruption
and the protection of proprietary information, GASC or its affiliates may, from time to time, hire
short- or long-term personnel or interns who are relatives of or otherwise associated with one or more
investors, portfolio companies or service providers, or provide extended training sessions or similar
educational opportunities to such relatives or associates. GASC has adopted policies and procedures
designed to mitigate the potential conflicts of interest that could be associated with any such
relationships; however, there can be no guarantee that GASC’s internal policies can fully mitigate all
possible conflicts of interest that could arise with respect to such activity and, in some circumstances,
the appearance of a conflict of interest will exist.
Moreover, there is an ongoing trend in the private funds industry of fund sponsors offering liquidity
to investors in existing funds through a structured or stapled secondary process where purchasing
investors would, as a condition to participating in such purchase from existing investors, also make a
commitment to a new fund being raised. GA could be incentivized to engage in such a process for the
GA Clients (or any investments therein) to the extent doing so could be expected to improve GASC’s
ability to raise additional capital for the GA Clients and to form and attract capital to existing or future
GA Clients (e.g., by securing an agreement from the purchasing investors participating in the process
to make commitments to such funds or, more generally, by positively impacting the performance
information for the relevant fund that is presented to prospective investors in GASC’s fundraising
materials).
GASC maintains a policy regarding the giving and receiving of gifts and entertainment. This policy
generally permits employees to give and receive gifts and entertainment, so long as such items are
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not lavish or excessive, and do not give the appearance of being designed to influence the recipient.
In general, employees are required, where possible, to obtain approval from GASC’s compliance
team prior to giving or receiving gifts or entertainment having a value in excess of $500, and are
required to report all gifts or entertainment valued at a threshold amount, and are required to report
all gifts or entertainment valued below that amount, although this policy is waived from time to time.
This creates a conflict of interest, because the receipt of such gifts or entertainment, and/or the
prospect of receiving future gifts or entertainment, can incentivize employees to direct business to
such service providers on a basis other than the cost and quality of the services offered, even in
situations where GASC does not consider such items to be lavish or excessive or designed to influence
the recipient.
GASC from time to time causes GA Clients to engage in “cross trades” (i.e. the sale of securities or
other obligations by one or more GA Clients and/or Sponsor Coinvestment Funds to one or more
other GA Clients and/or Sponsor Coinvestment Funds). In such circumstances, if GASC determines
in good faith that the cross trade is in the best interest of the relevant GA Client(s) and/or Sponsor
Coinvestment Funds, the securities or other obligations may be transferred, and GASC will receive
no commission in connection with such transfer. GASC will conduct any such cross trades in
accordance with the relevant provisions of the Advisers Act, and the guidance thereunder, and the
Governing Documents. The Core Program Partnerships have engaged in cross trades with
Continuation Vehicles in which GA transferred specific, long-held assets from the GA Core Program
to such Continuation Vehicles, and GA currently anticipates that the Global Growth Equity Clients
will engage in similar cross trade transactions with Continuation Vehicles in the future. Similarly,
GA may cause a GA Client to “warehouse” and sell down all or a portion of an investment to another
GA Client. GA may also cause the GA Core Program to sell a portfolio company investment and
simultaneously buy interests in the same portfolio company as a new investment as part of the same
transaction, which results in a cross trade between the Core Program Partnership(s) selling the
company and the Core Program Partnership(s) making the new investment.
See also “Other Income-Related Conflicts” in Item 8.
D.
Secondary Transfers of Interest
Subject to the terms set forth in the Governing Documents, GASC and/or its affiliates may identify a
limited number of persons to potentially acquire interests in a GA Client that a Limited Partner desires
to transfer, including (i) other investors in GA Clients; (ii) investors or entities that are not investors
in any GA Clients (but could in the future become investors in GA Clients); (iii) one or more affiliates
of GASC; and/or (iv) GA Clients (including entities that primarily engage in the purchase of fund-
related interests in the secondary market), and could take into consideration a variety of factors as it
deems necessary in exercising its discretion with respect to a secondary transfer of interests in such
GA Client, including its own interests. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, GASC, GA
Clients or other entities in which GA, a GA Client or affiliates of the foregoing own an interest
(including a controlling interest) could employ strategies that include acquisition of interests in
private funds such as GA Clients on the secondary market. To the extent one or more affiliates of
GASC or a GA Client acquires an interest in a GA Client via a secondary transfer, conflicts of interest
could arise such as: (i) an additional layer of fees and incentive compensation in the case of an
acquisition by a GA Client; (ii) the acquirer of such interests would have additional information about
the interests being purchased (including the fact that a Limited Partner is seeking to sell or dispose of
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its interests) compared to third parties interested in such acquisition, which could allow GASC to
offer a more competitive or informed offer to acquire such interests; (iii) an increased indirect
economic investment for GASC that could impact the portfolio management of GA Clients; and (iv)
an incentive to adjust the portfolio management of GA Clients in a manner that is primarily for the
benefit of the purchaser in the secondary transfer. Given the applicable General Partner’s right
pursuant to the terms set forth in each GA Client’s Governing Documents to consent to any proposed
transfer, Limited Partners seeking to sell an interest in a GA Client may seek to sell such interest to
GASC, a GA Client or affiliates of the foregoing before seeking to sell to third parties. The applicable
General Partner is under no obligation to offer to or otherwise notify Limited Partners of any such
secondary offer or transaction or provide the Limited Partners with the same or similar liquidity
option.
E.
Personal Investments
Pursuant to the Commitment Agreements, outside of the Sponsor Coinvestment Funds as described
above, there are certain limitations on the ability of General Atlantic, General Atlantic’s affiliates and
General Atlantic’s Managing Directors and Operating Partners to make investments that are within
the investment strategy of the GA Core Program. However, these limitations do not apply to: (i) a
passive investment by GA LP, any affiliate of GA LP or any GA LP Managing Directors and
Operating Partners in their individual capacity in securities of a person that are publicly traded, so
long as the investment in such person by General Atlantic, such affiliate of General Atlantic or such
General Atlantic Managing Directors and Operating Partners in their individual capacity does not
exceed 5% of the outstanding securities of such class of securities of such person, (ii) an investment
by GA LP, any affiliate of GA LP or any GA LP Managing Directors and Operating Partners in any
person if (a) the aggregate equity investment by General Atlantic, affiliates of General Atlantic,
General Atlantic’s Managing Directors and Operating Partners in such person is not greater than $20
million, (b) such investment is passive, and (c) such investment is not a Sponsor Coinvestment, or
(iii) a passive investment by General Atlantic, any affiliate of General Atlantic or any General
Atlantic’s Managing Directors and Operating Partners in their individual capacity in a class of
securities of a pooled investment fund (including, without limitation, a mutual fund, hedge fund or
private equity fund), whether or not publicly traded, if the aggregate amount of such investment by
General Atlantic, such affiliate of General Atlantic or such General Atlantic’s Managing Directors
and Operating Partners in their individual capacity does not exceed at any time 10% of the outstanding
securities of such class of securities of such pooled investment fund (collectively, “Personal
Investments”).
Consequently, affiliates, partners, members and employees of General Atlantic and its subsidiaries,
including Managing Directors and Operating Partners, from time to time individually make and hold
Personal Investments and partners, members and employees of General Atlantic and its subsidiaries,
including Managing Directors and Operating Partners, from time to time, together with other
members or employees of General Atlantic and its subsidiaries, make and hold investments in private
investment funds (other than Sponsor Coinvestment Funds) outside of the GA Core Program,
including the Personal Investment Vehicles and other investment funds or vehicles that are affiliated
with GASC or such members, employees, Managing Directors and Operating Partners, which make
and hold Personal Investments. In addition, interests or shares in portfolio companies may be owned
by hedge funds or private equity funds in which partners, members and employees of General Atlantic
or its subsidiaries, including Managing Directors and Operating Partners, Personal Investment
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Vehicles and other investment funds that are affiliated with GASC or such members, employees,
Managing Directors and Operating Partners (other than Sponsor Coinvestment Funds) hold passive
interests (i.e., limited partnership or analogous interests) as Personal Investments.
By way of example, GASC is infrequently presented with an investment opportunity that is offered
first to the Core Program Partnerships, but declined by the Core Program Partnerships because the
aggregate investment amount is $20 million or less, or the opportunity does not satisfy the investment
criteria of the GA Core Program (a “Non-Qualifying Investment”). These Non-Qualifying
Investments are “Personal Investments” under the Commitment Agreements. GASC and its affiliates
and its and their partners, members and employees in their individual capacities or investment funds
that are affiliated with GASC and its partners, members and employees, including Personal
Investment Vehicles, may then elect to participate alone in the Non-Qualifying Investment.
In addition, the Commitment Agreements permit GA, GASC, GA’s affiliates and GA’s Managing
Directors and Operating Partners to (a) serve as the general partner (or equivalent) of any investment
vehicle formed to facilitate an investment pursuant to the LP Coinvestment Policy, (b) invest a
nominal amount of capital in any investment vehicle described in clause (a) to the extent deemed
advisable for purposes of satisfying any requirements under applicable tax or other regulations,
(c) “warehouse” and sell down investments to an investment vehicle formed to facilitate an
investment pursuant to the LP Coinvestment Policy and (d) cause a Core Program Partnership to
“warehouse” and sell down investments to one or more other Core Program Partnerships.
In addition, the Governing Documents of other GA Clients may permit General Atlantic employees,
Managing Directors and Operating Partners to make the type of personal investments described
above; provided, however, that such personal investments may only be made in accordance with
GASC’s policies and procedures in effect from time to time.
GA from time to time uses its balance sheet (including any non-advisory account or proprietary
account or business of GA or its affiliates, the “Balance Sheet”) as a source of capital to further grow
and expand its business, increase its participation in existing businesses and further align its interests
with those of its investors, including investors in GA Clients and other stakeholders. The Balance
Sheet includes general partner capital commitments to, and limited partnership interests in, the
Sponsor Coinvestment Funds and GA Clients, proprietary investment vehicles and accounts, co-
investments in certain portfolio companies and interests in other third-party fund managers. The
Balance Sheet also holds other assets used in the development of GA’s business, including seed
capital for the purpose of developing, evaluating and testing potential investment strategies, products
or new strategies. Investments made by the Balance Sheet are subject to the terms of the Governing
Documents, and generally constitute Personal Investments. The Balance Sheet holds a significant
interest in the Sponsor Coinvestment Funds and, as described under “Sponsor Coinvestments” above,
may from time to time monetize those interests, including to expand GA’s business lines, acquire new
business lines or raise capital for GA Clients. The Balance Sheet may monetize its interests in the
Sponsor Coinvestment Funds, Performance Allocation from the GA Clients and its Management Fee
revenues by selling, pledging, securitizing, participating or otherwise encumbering such interests.
Such transactions and arrangements have the effect of decreasing the Balance Sheet’s exposure to the
GA Clients’ investments and revenue streams.
Personnel of GASC can be expected to have friendships or other personal relationships with personnel
and other individuals associated with entities with which GASC does or may seek to do business,
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including individuals who serve as directors, principals or employees of investors, GA Clients, and
existing and prospective portfolio investments, as well as service providers to the foregoing. Personal
relationships may develop out of business-related or other professional interactions, or vice versa.
The existence of personal relationships may serve to benefit GA Clients (for example, by providing
networking opportunities through which General Atlantic personnel could be introduced to potential
service providers for GA Clients) but also create a potential conflict of interest, by giving rise to
incentives for the parties to share business or other professional opportunities, including those relating
to the business of GASC, investors, GA Clients and portfolio companies, in order to enhance or
otherwise further their personal relationship, or vice versa, even when doing so may not be in the best
interest of the GA Client. While GASC generally expects conflicts of interest of this nature to be
mitigated by GASC’s Code of Ethics, which generally requires supervised persons of GASC to act in
the best interest of GA Clients, without regard to an individual’s own interest, and imposes certain
approvals and notice for outside investments, business activities and conflicts, it is unlikely that the
potential for conflicts of interest relating to personal relationships can be fully mitigated.
Item 12. Brokerage Practices
A.
Selecting or Recommending Broker-Dealers
Best Execution
GASC’s principal objective in selecting broker-dealers and entering trades is to obtain best execution
for client transactions. GASC recognizes that the analysis of execution quality involves a number of
factors, both qualitative and quantitative. To consider all of these factors, GASC will follow a process
in an attempt to ensure that its employees are seeking to obtain the most favorable execution under
the prevailing circumstances. GASC will evaluate the quality and cost of services received from
broker-dealers on a periodic and systematic basis. In an effort to ensure that it is seeking to obtain
the most favorable execution when placing trades on behalf of its clients, GASC will consider all of
these factors. GASC may not always select a broker-dealer based on the best price, but may take a
variety of factors into account, including market capitalization, whether the broker has international
or local presence or its perceived ability to sell the stock easily. When necessary, GASC will address
all conflicts of interest by disclosure or other appropriate action. GASC does not consider, in selecting
or recommending broker-dealers, whether GASC or a related person receives client referrals from a
broker-dealer or third party.
Research and Other Soft Dollar Benefits
GASC executes its investment transactions through various investment banks. As a client of such
investment banks, GASC receives certain industry-standard research reports at no cost. GASC does
not formally commit to invest any particular level of commissions to brokers who provide research
services, and such services generally benefit all GA Clients. Research work product may include
research reports on particular industries and companies, economic surveys and analyses,
recommendations as to specific securities, online quotations, news and research services, participation
in broker-dealer sponsored research and capital introduction conferences and other services providing
lawful and appropriate assistance to GASC in the performance of its investment advisory and
management services. GASC does not consider, in selecting or recommending investment bankers
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or in executing client transactions, whether GASC or a related person receives additional benefits
from an investment bank or third party.
B.
Trade Aggregation
The Sponsor Coinvestment Funds buy or sell securities of portfolio companies that GASC also
recommends to the GA Clients. The GA Clients and Sponsor Coinvestment Funds invest side-by-side
and on the same terms and conditions, except that, as noted above, the Sponsor Coinvestment Funds
do not pay any performance-based allocation to the General Partners and the investors in the Sponsor
Coinvestment Funds do not pay Management Fees or management fees to GASC.
At the time public portfolio securities are sold, an investor in a Sponsor Coinvestment Fund may
request (which request is subject to the approval of the applicable General Partner in its sole
discretion) such Sponsor Coinvestment Fund to make a distribution of such investor’s allocable share
of the portfolio company securities being sold (in lieu of their sale for cash) so that the Sponsor
Coinvestor can contribute such securities to a charity or charitable foundation. To the extent that such
charity or charitable foundation sells such securities after the GA Clients, the charity or charitable
foundation may receive a different price for its securities than the price received for the securities
sold by the GA Clients.
Item 13. Review of Accounts
The accounts of each Limited Partner, each GA Client and each Sponsor Coinvestment Fund are
maintained and supervised by investment professionals who are members or employees of General
Atlantic or its subsidiaries. Potential investments are reviewed semi-monthly or more frequently, if
necessary, by the Investment Committee for that GA Client. In addition, portfolio company
investments are reviewed by the Portfolio Committee (for the Global Growth Equity strategy) and the
GA Credit Investment Committee (for GA Credit).
Each Limited Partner in the Global Growth Equity Clients is provided semi-annual reports by
March 31 and September 30 of each year. Such reports include (i) an update on the status and
financial condition as of the end of the preceding fiscal reporting period of the portfolio investments
in which the Limited Partner has participated through its direct or indirect interest in the GA Clients
and (ii) a valuation summary that lists the portfolio investments in which the Limited Partner has
participated and the fair market value of each such portfolio investment as of the preceding quarterly
valuation date.
Within 120 days of the end of each fiscal year of a GA Client, GASC provides each Limited Partner
participating in such GA Client the audited financial statements of such GA Client for the previous
fiscal year (which audited financial statements may be presented on a combined basis). Included in
such audited financial statements are statements of changes in the Limited Partner’s capital account
balances for such fiscal year. The audited financial statements are prepared in accordance with
accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S.
Aside from statements of changes in the Sponsor Coinvestors’ capital account balances in each fiscal
year, the terms of financial reporting provided to Sponsor Coinvestors is the same as it is for GA
Clients.
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Each Limited Partner and Sponsor Coinvestor receives by April 30 of each year, or as soon as
available, a relevant Schedule K-1 tax form (and other required schedules to Form 1065), as
applicable.
The GA Credit Funds deliver quarterly financial statements within ninety (90) days after the end of
each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year. The GA Credit Funds deliver audited
financial statements on an annual basis, one hundred and twenty (120) days after the end of the
applicable GA Credit Fund’s fiscal year end (or as soon as commercially practicable thereafter). The
audited financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles.
Each Credit Limited Partner receives by June 30 of each year, or as soon as reasonably practical
thereafter, a relevant Schedule K-1 tax form (and other required schedules to Form 1065).
Item 14. Client Referrals and Other Compensation
GASC and its affiliates from time to time receive from portfolio companies or prospective portfolio
companies Fee Income. Generally, such Fee Income paid to GA Affiliates, net of any related
expenses, that are allocable to Management Fee-bearing Limited Partners will reduce on a
proportional basis the Management Fees otherwise payable by the Limited Partners participating in
such investment subject to certain exclusions and limitations including as described below with
respect to GA Clients. If more than one GA Client participates in an investment generating Fee
Income, such Fee Income will generally be allocated among such GA Clients pro rata based on their
relative ownership (or anticipated ownership) in such investment; provided, that Fee Income
attributable to an investment by the GA Core Program will only offset allocated fees to Limited
Partners participating in such investment that bear Management Fees. See “Item 5. Fees and
Compensation – D. Management Fee Offsets.”
GASC and/or its affiliates may from time to time enter into arrangements with firms or placement
agents to provide services that include the introduction to GASC of potential Limited Partners. The
fee(s) associated with such services is typically related to the amount of capital invested in the GA
Client by any investor who is referred to GASC by such firm or placement agent. To date, all such
placement fees and related expenses are paid by GASC and not by any GA Client. However, to the
extent a placement agent also forms a “feeder fund” to aggregate investors and invest in the GA Client
(such as a private wealth manager), an affiliate of the placement agent may administer or monitor that
feeder fund and the fees associated with such administration or monitoring may be borne by the
investors in that feeder fund or may be shared by all Limited Partners who invest in that GA Client.
Such arrangements are made in compliance with Rule 206(4)-1 of the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission, the “Marketing Rule”.
GASC and/or its affiliates may from time to time enter into arrangements with individuals to provide
services that include the introduction to GASC of potential investors in the GA Clients. Such
arrangements provide for a flat retainer, which compensation will be paid regardless of whether any
potential investor introduced by such person decides to invest with GASC. Such fees and related
expenses are paid by GASC and not by any GA Client, Pooled Managed Account, investor in a GA
Client, Pooled Account Investor or Sponsor Coinvestor. Such arrangements are be made in
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compliance with Rule 206(4)-1 of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the “Marketing
Rule”.
Item 15. Custody
Securities of the GA Clients are held in custody by unaffiliated broker-dealers or banks. However,
GASC has access to client accounts because its affiliates serve as the General Partners. The Limited
Partners, Pooled Account Investors and Sponsor Coinvestors do not receive statements from the
custodian. Instead, all GA Clients are subject to an annual audit. See “Item 13. Review of Accounts.”
GASC generally will not act as custodian or otherwise take or retain possession, custody, title or
ownership of holdings of GA Credit Clients that are separately managed accounts. In such cases,
GASC will not be authorized to receive any GA Credit Client assets and, notwithstanding anything
in the relevant investment advisory agreement, the custody agreement(s) and/or other constituent
documents to the contrary (including any authority granted to GASC pursuant to such documents),
GASC intends to not be deemed to maintain custody of such GA Credit Client’s assets, as the term
“custody” is defined in Rule 206(4)-2 under the Advisers Act. However, GASC, may nonetheless be
deemed to have access to such GA Credit Clients’ custody accounts where authorized pursuant to an
investment advisory agreement.
The securities of the Personal Investment Vehicles are held in custody by unaffiliated broker-dealers
or banks. The Personal Investment Vehicles may choose to undergo an annual surprise examination
by an independent public accountant to verify client assets in lieu of providing audited financial
statements to the Personal Investment Vehicle investors.
Item 16. Investment Discretion
GASC and the General Partners, collectively, have complete discretionary authority with regard to
the acquisition and disposition of investments, without obtaining specific consent from the
GA Clients or Limited Partners.
GASC provides investment advisory and management services to the GA Clients.
The services provided by GASC include (i) assistance in connection with the identification,
investigation and analysis of potential investments and the management, monitoring and disposition
of investments, (ii) exercising rights, powers, privileges and other incidents of ownership or
possession with respect to the GA Client, investments and other property and funds held or owned by
the GA Client and voting (or exercising consent with respect to) securities, participation in
arrangements with creditors, institute and settle or compromise suits and administrative proceedings
and other similar matters as GASC deems advisable, (iii) supervision of the preparation and review
of all documents required to complete (or dispose of) each investment, (iv) selecting brokers, dealers,
banks, advisers, sub-advisers, custodians, depositories, administrators and other intermediaries by or
through whom any transactions will be executed or carried out, (iv) administrative and accounting
services, (v) borrowing money or entering into other transactions having a similar leveraging effect
and (vi) such other services as may from time to time be required in connection with the management
of the assets of the Limited Partners, the other GA Clients, the Pooled Managed Accounts, the Sponsor
Coinvestment Funds and the Personal Investment Vehicles.
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The investment, disposition, voting and other decisions of the GA Clients with respect to the portfolio
companies are the responsibilities of and made by the applicable General Partners, each of which is
an affiliate of GASC. The Sponsor Coinvestment Funds make the same investment, disposition,
voting and other decisions with respect to investments as the GA Client it invests alongside.
GASC and the General Partners are authorized, without the approval of the Limited Partners, to enter
into side letters or similar written agreements with a Limited Partner or a Pooled Account Investor
that have the effect of establishing rights or obligations under, or supplementing the terms of, the
applicable Governing Documents. Rights and obligations that may be established and terms that may
be established or supplemented include, without limitation, rights and terms relating to greater
information reporting, the right of an investor to opt out of investments in portfolio companies that
such investor may be prohibited by law, regulation or internal policy from holding as a result of the
primary business conducted by such portfolio company (for example, companies engaged in the
business of producing alcohol, tobacco products and firearms or military related equipment or
services) and the obligation of General Atlantic to minimize certain adverse tax consequences to an
investor in connection with the structuring of investments in portfolio companies. Such excuse or
exclusion rights applicable to particular investments or terms relating to withdrawal from the
investment vehicle, including without limitation, as a result of an investor’s specific policies or certain
violations of federal, state or non-U.S. laws, rules or regulations may materially increase the
percentage interest of other investors in, and their contribution obligations, with respect to future
investments and expenses, and reduce the overall size of the overall fund.
GASC also provides investment advisory, administrative, accounting and reporting services to the
Personal Investment Vehicles. Because the Personal Investment Vehicles do not participate in the
GA Clients, the discussions herein of the GA Core Program and the other GA Clients and their related
risks and conflicts are not relevant to investors in the Personal Investment Vehicles.
Item 17. Voting Client Securities
GASC does not have the authority to vote securities held by any GA Client. Such authority to vote
the proxies is held by the General Partner of each GA Client. GASC has developed a written policy
and procedures governing proxies to which the General Partner of each GA Client must adhere. In
general, the policy requires the General Partners to vote proxies in the interest of maximizing
shareholder value. To that end, the General Partners vote in a way that they believe, consistent with
their fiduciary duties, will cause the value of the issuer to increase the most or decline the least.
Consideration is given to both the short- and long-term implications of the proposal to be voted on
when considering the optimal vote. GASC or its affiliates maintain a record of all proxy votes cast
on behalf of the Limited Partners. Limited Partners may contact GASC for a copy of its policy and
procedures or information with respect to a specific proxy vote.
The Sponsor Coinvestment Funds make the same voting decisions with respect to portfolio companies
as the GA Client they participate with in such portfolio investment.
GASC’s proxy voting policy is only applicable to investments made by the GA Clients in publicly
listed securities. The General Partners are not required to vote every proxy, and there may be times
when GA determines that refraining from voting is in the best interests of the Limited Partners. This
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may occur where, for example, GA determines that the cost to the Limited Partners of voting the
proxy exceeds the expected benefit to the Limited Partners.
Item 18. Financial Information
GASC has never filed for bankruptcy and is not aware of any financial condition that is expected to
adversely affect its ability to manage client accounts.
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