1026-00001
· Briarwood Family Office LLC · LPA & PPM Review
mfn-provision-comparison-matrix.xlsx
DOCUMENT
Funds
[sheet: Cover]
| Field | Value |
| Document Title | MFN Provision Comparison Matrix — Market Precedents |
| Document Type | Internal Working Paper — PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL |
| Matter Name | Briarwood Family Office LLC — Side Letter Negotiation, Meridian Peak Capital Partners Fund IV, L.P. |
| Matter Number | 1026-00001 |
| Prepared By | Owen Fischer, Working Associate, Funds & Asset Management |
| Reviewed By | Theresa Kim, Lead Associate, Funds & Asset Management |
| Supervising Partner | Pamela Cross, Responsible Partner, Funds & Asset Management |
| Date Prepared | February 5, 2024 |
| Firm | Calderwood & Harkness LLP, 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10017 |
| Client | Briarwood Family Office LLC |
| Client Contact | Sandra M. Whitfield, General Counsel; Derek T. Calloway, Director of External Investments |
| Purpose | Benchmark the MFN provision proposed in the Fund IV side letter against recent market precedents to inform negotiation strategy |
| Fund | Meridian Peak Capital Partners Fund IV, L.P. (Delaware LP) |
| Fund Sponsor | Meridian Peak Capital Advisors LLC |
| GP | Meridian Peak Capital Partners GP IV LLC |
| GP's Counsel | Ashford Crane & Hewitt LLP (Harrison K. Drummond, Partner) |
| Proposed BFO Commitment | $75,000,000 |
| Fund Target Size | $1,500,000,000 |
| Fund Hard Cap | $1,750,000,000 |
| Governing Law (Fund IV LPA & Side Letter) | State of Delaware |
[sheet: MFN Comparison Matrix]
| Row # | Fund / Transaction | Fund Strategy | Fund Target Size | LP Commitment | LP Commitment as % of Target | MFN LP Commitment Threshold | MFN Threshold as % of Target | Anchor Investor Carve-Out Threshold | Anchor Threshold as % of Target | MFN Election Period | MFN Summary Delivery Period | Excluded Categories | Sunset / Expiration Provision | MFN Applies to Subsequent Closes? | Governing Law | Notes / Observations |
| 1 | Meridian Peak Capital Partners Fund IV, L.P. (Proposed — BFO) | Value-add / Opportunistic Real Estate, RE Operating Cos, Asset Mgmt Platforms | $1,500,000,000 | $75,000,000 | 5.00% | $50,000,000 | 3.33% | $200,000,000 | 13.33% | 20 business days after receipt of redacted side-letter summary | 15 business days after applicable close | (i) Terms granted to Anchor Investors ($200M+); (ii) Regulatory accommodations for ERISA, tax-exempt, or governmental plan investors; (iii) Terms for GP affiliates | None specified — MFN available at each close at which BFO admitted | Yes — summary delivered after each close | Delaware | BFO proposed terms as of Feb 5, 2024. MFN threshold at $50M. Anchor carve-out at $200M (13.33% of target). Election period of 20 biz days. Three excluded categories. MFN right entitled BFO to elect any economic or governance term granted to any other LP committing $50M+. |
| 2 | Crestline Realty Partners Fund VI, L.P. | Core-Plus / Value-Add Real Estate | $2,000,000,000 | $100,000,000 | 5.00% | $75,000,000 | 3.75% | $250,000,000 | 12.50% | 15 business days after receipt of summary | 20 business days after final close only | (i) Anchor investors ($250M+); (ii) ERISA/governmental plan accommodations; (iii) GP/sponsor co-invest vehicles; (iv) Seed/first-close investors | MFN expires 30 days after final close | No — summary delivered only after final close | Delaware | Higher MFN threshold ($75M) and anchor carve-out ($250M) than Fund IV. Narrower window — only final close. Includes seed/first-close investor carve-out not present in Fund IV. |
| 3 | Thornfield Capital Growth Equity Fund III, L.P. | Growth Equity / Technology | $1,200,000,000 | $50,000,000 | 4.17% | $40,000,000 | 3.33% | $150,000,000 | 12.50% | 20 business days after receipt of summary | 15 business days after each close | (i) Anchor investors ($150M+); (ii) Tax-exempt / governmental plan investors; (iii) GP-related persons | None — available at each close | Yes — after each close | Delaware | Lower anchor threshold ($150M) given smaller fund. Similar MFN election period to Fund IV (20 biz days). No sunset. |
| 4 | Harborview Infrastructure Partners Fund II, L.P. | Infrastructure / Real Assets | $3,000,000,000 | $150,000,000 | 5.00% | $100,000,000 | 3.33% | $500,000,000 | 16.67% | 30 business days after receipt of summary | 20 business days after applicable close | (i) Anchor investors ($500M+); (ii) Sovereign wealth fund accommodations; (iii) ERISA accommodations; (iv) GP affiliates | MFN election right expires 60 days after final close | Yes — after each close, but election only once (at final close) | Delaware | Larger fund with much higher anchor carve-out ($500M). Longer MFN election period (30 biz days). Single election opportunity at final close despite interim summaries. |
| 5 | Redwood Secondaries Fund V, L.P. | Private Equity Secondaries | $1,800,000,000 | $60,000,000 | 3.33% | $50,000,000 | 2.78% | $200,000,000 | 11.11% | 15 business days after receipt of summary | 10 business days after each close | (i) Anchor investors ($200M+); (ii) ERISA / benefit plan accommodations; (iii) GP affiliates and employees | None specified | Yes — after each close | Delaware | MFN threshold matches Fund IV at $50M. Anchor carve-out also at $200M — directly comparable. Shorter summary delivery (10 biz days) and election period (15 biz days). |
| 6 | Ashmore Opportunistic Credit Fund IV, L.P. | Distressed / Opportunistic Credit | $1,000,000,000 | $40,000,000 | 4.00% | $25,000,000 | 2.50% | $100,000,000 | 10.00% | 20 business days after receipt of summary | 15 business days after applicable close | (i) Anchor investors ($100M+); (ii) ERISA / governmental plan; (iii) Strategic co-investors; (iv) GP affiliates | MFN expires 45 days after final close | Yes — after each close | Delaware | Lower thresholds across the board given smaller fund size. Includes 'strategic co-investor' carve-out — broader exclusion than Fund IV. |
| 7 | Northstar Value-Add Real Estate Fund VII, L.P. | Value-Add Real Estate | $1,500,000,000 | $75,000,000 | 5.00% | $50,000,000 | 3.33% | $175,000,000 | 11.67% | 20 business days after receipt of summary | 15 business days after each close | (i) Anchor investors ($175M+); (ii) Tax-exempt entities; (iii) GP affiliates | None specified | Yes — after each close | Delaware | Closest comparable to Fund IV: same fund size, same LP commitment, same MFN threshold. Anchor carve-out slightly lower ($175M vs. $200M). Provides good benchmark. |
| 8 | Pinnacle Ridge Private Equity Fund III, L.P. | Mid-Market Buyout | $2,500,000,000 | $125,000,000 | 5.00% | $75,000,000 | 3.00% | $300,000,000 | 12.00% | 25 business days after receipt of summary | 20 business days after final close only | (i) Anchor investors ($300M+); (ii) ERISA / governmental plans; (iii) GP affiliates; (iv) Advisory board members | MFN expires upon final close election deadline | No — final close only | Delaware | Includes advisory board member carve-out. Longer election period (25 biz days). MFN only at final close. |
| 9 | Cascade Capital Ventures Fund IV, L.P. | Venture Capital / Late-Stage Growth | $800,000,000 | $35,000,000 | 4.38% | $25,000,000 | 3.13% | $100,000,000 | 12.50% | 15 business days after receipt of summary | 15 business days after each close | (i) Anchor investors ($100M+); (ii) Tax-exempt / governmental plan accommodations; (iii) GP affiliates | None specified | Yes — after each close | Delaware | Smallest fund in data set. Lower absolute thresholds but consistent as % of fund size. Three standard exclusions. No sunset. Good lower-bound comparator. |
[sheet: Summary Statistics]
| Metric | Market Precedents Range | Market Precedents Median | Fund IV Proposed | Fund IV vs. Median |
| Fund Target Size | $0.8B – $3.0B | $1.65B | $1.5B | Below median |
| LP Commitment | $35M – $150M | $67.5M | $75M | Above median |
| LP Commitment as % of Target | 3.33% – 5.00% | 4.58% | 5.00% | Above median |
| MFN LP Commitment Threshold | $25M – $100M | $50M | $50M | At median |
| MFN Threshold as % of Target | 2.50% – 3.75% | 3.17% | 3.33% | Slightly above median |
| Anchor Investor Carve-Out Threshold | $100M – $500M | $187.5M | $200M | Slightly above median |
| Anchor Threshold as % of Target | 10.00% – 16.67% | 12.25% | 13.33% | Slightly above median |
| MFN Election Period | 15 – 30 business days | 20 business days | 20 business days | At median |
| MFN Summary Delivery Period | 10 – 20 business days | 15 business days | 15 business days | At median |
| Number of Excluded Categories | 3 – 4 | 3 | 3 | At median |
| Sunset Provision | None to 60 days post-final close | Varies — 3 of 7 have sunset | None specified | Favorable to LP (no sunset) |
| MFN Available at Each Close | Yes: 5 of 7; No (final close only): 2 of 7 | Yes | Yes | At market |
[sheet: Excluded Categories Detail]
| Exclusion Category | Fund IV Proposed | Crestline VI | Thornfield III | Harborview II | Redwood V | Ashmore IV | Northstar VII | Pinnacle Ridge III | Prevalence | Market Standard? |
| Anchor Investor terms (commitment above specified threshold) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8/8 | Universal — included in all MFN provisions |
| ERISA / benefit plan investor accommodations | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 6/8 | Market standard |
| Tax-exempt / governmental plan accommodations | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6/8 | Market standard |
| GP affiliate / related person terms | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8/8 | Universal |
| Seed / first-close investor terms | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | 1/8 | Uncommon |
| Sovereign wealth fund accommodations | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | 1/8 | Uncommon — seen in large infrastructure funds |
| Strategic co-investor terms | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | 1/8 | Uncommon — potentially overbroad |
| Advisory board / LPAC member terms | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | 1/8 | Uncommon |
| GP employee / co-invest vehicle terms | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | 2/8 | Occasionally seen |
[sheet: Key Observations & Recommendati]
| Item # | Topic | Observation / Recommendation |
| 1 | MFN LP Commitment Threshold | BFO's proposed $50M threshold is at the market median. The threshold represents 3.33% of Fund IV's $1.5B target, consistent with market practice. Recommendation: Maintain $50M threshold — well within market norms. |
| 2 | Anchor Investor Carve-Out | The proposed $200M anchor carve-out (13.33% of Fund IV target) is at the market median. Some comparable funds use lower thresholds ($150M–$175M). This carve-out means LPs committing $200M or more (i.e., roughly 13.33% or more of the $1.5B target fund size) may receive terms not available to BFO via MFN. Recommendation: Maintain $200M; consider pushing to $225M if GP resists other points as a trade. |
| 3 | Election Period | The proposed 20 business day MFN election period is at market median. Range is 15–30 business days. 20 days provides adequate time for BFO's investment committee (which requires 3 of 4 members, with Julian Hargrove holding veto) to review elected terms. Recommendation: Maintain 20 business days. |
| 4 | Summary Delivery Timing | The proposed 15 business day delivery period for the redacted MFN summary is at market median. GP may push to 20 business days. Either is within market range. Recommendation: Propose 15 business days; accept 20 as fallback. |
| 5 | Excluded Categories | Fund IV proposes three standard exclusions: (i) Anchor Investors, (ii) ERISA/tax-exempt/governmental plan, (iii) GP affiliates. This is at the market median of 3 categories. No unusual or overbroad carve-outs. Recommendation: Accept these three exclusions as drafted — they are universal or near-universal across comparables. |
| 6 | Sunset Provision | Fund IV does not include an MFN sunset — favorable to BFO. Three of seven comparables include sunset provisions (30–60 days post-final close). Recommendation: Resist any GP attempt to add a sunset provision. If pressed, accept sunset no earlier than 60 days post-final close. |
| 7 | Applicability at Each Close | Fund IV MFN applies at each close at which BFO is admitted, consistent with 5 of 7 comparables. Two comparables limit MFN to final close only. Recommendation: Maintain per-close MFN right — important given Fund IV's anticipated first close on April 30, 2024 and final close deadline of October 31, 2024. |
| 8 | Overall Assessment | The proposed Fund IV MFN provision is well within market norms across all structural parameters. BFO's proposed terms are at or near the median on threshold, anchor carve-out, election period, and exclusion scope. The absence of a sunset provision is a favorable feature. BFO's $75M commitment (5.0% of the $1.5B target) provides meaningful leverage. Recommendation: Present these benchmarks to BFO (Julian Hargrove, Sandra Whitfield, Derek Calloway) to support the negotiation strategy outlined in the February 5, 2024 strategy memorandum. |