About The Firm

Long-Term Approach

Sutton Hill provides investor relations support for private equity firms without in-house investor relations staff or for in-house teams seeking additional resources during peak periods.​ Our clients include firms that are newly founded, making the jump from friends & family to institutional investors, spin-outs of larger funds, or firms managing small or middle market funds.

The firm can provide a fully outsourced solution for anything from occasional needs to comprehensive services, or provide support for in-house teams. Our services range from targeting new investors, to supporting fundraising, to tackling marketing projects, to managing day-to-day investor relations activities.
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Sutton Hill works alongside private equity GPs to add depth, breadth and responsiveness to their investor relations efforts. We provide dedicated bandwidth to ensure that investor matters are handled in a timely and thorough fashion. Sutton Hill is an efficient way for small and middle market clients to deliver large cap caliber investor relations at a fraction of the cost of hiring full-time experienced investor relations professionals.

What We’re Not:

• Salaried employees requiring benefits and expecting a promotion
• Middle layer between LPs and deal partners, but rather support deal partners can leverage to maximize investor interactions
• Firm with a heavy cost structure, so we can take on short-term mandates or variable fee arrangements
• ​Placement agents that take a percentage fee of fund commitments

​Sutton Hill is designed to be a long-term partner that helps maintain a continuum of strong investor relations before, during and after fundraising:

• preservation of institutional memory
• continued momentum with potential LPs who "passed" on a prior fund but want to build a relationship
• cost savings versus hiring an IR person in-house

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Investor Relations Broadly Defined

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​Sutton Hill takes on many of the functions of a placement agent while remaining a long-term extension of staff for the private equity firm.

Our clients “punch above their weight” in terms of LP relations firepower and client service bandwidth.​
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 Key Success Factors We Look for in Clients        

1. ​Solid track record with supported attribution
2. Clear strategy and position in a definable, attractive niche
3. Functional team dynamics
4. Sourcing networks unique to specialty
5. Clear ability and methods to add value​
6. Committed to transparency and open dialogue

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Emerging Trends in Private Equity

#1:  Preference Toward a Lean Organization

Sutton Hill helps minimize organizational creep, keeps costs under control, and enables our clients to focus on sourcing, executing and monetizing investments.

• Our clients “punch above their weight” in terms of investor relations bandwidth
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#2:  LP Empowerment

LPs across the board are trimming their manager rosters.  Therefore, private equity firms need to continually reinforce and broaden the value they're delivering, especially to existing investors.  As part of this effort, it is critical for GPs to address expectations and opportunities in every possible avenue where LPs may want to engage.  Sutton Hill seeks to ensure that our clients' existing investors are strong advocates for the GP and support the next fundraise. 

The following quotes are from three prominent asset owners and highlight the increased vigilance with which LPs are managing their private equity portfolios. 

Source: CIO Magazine