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The 3-spoke IFIS™ (Industry-Firmographic-Investment Science) framework of the United States Private Equity Council spells out the knowledge requirements in 22 specific areas critical for private equity professionals, helping them manage their learning and career-preparation process effectively.

USPEC Standards

The IFIS™ Framework for Practice Excellence

Entering the challenging private equity industry and prospering in it as a professional at the highest-level demands two key things - one, knowing how to measure, analyze and evaluate environments, scenarios, threats, and opportunities; and two, the confidence that you can take optimal decisions and make profitable, risk-weighted judgments.

The powerfully simple 3-spoke IFIS™ knowledge framework guides professionals and aspirants in building their professional competence and readiness for the private equity industry. The IFIS™ enunciates 22 areas across which USPEC divides private equity knowledge as excellence-essential for professionals engaged in the practice of PE. Notably, USPEC is the world’s first and the only body that focuses entirely on the alternative investments industry enunciating standards of professional knowledge and a rigorous exam-based mechanism for validating the knowledge and capabilities of individuals working in various private equity domains or those inclined to join them.

IFIS™ Framework – Covering the PE Value Chain

Globally, alternative investments, private equity, and venture investing are rapidly growing into highly knowledge-intensive domains requiring a complex set of skills. Entering and prospering in them as a professional amidst the challenge and exciting demands demonstrate that you comprehend the industry's dynamics.

The IFIS™ framework guides professionals on the knowledge they need to develop and demonstrate about the private-equity industry and the micros of relationships among players, their awareness of the value chain of decisions and processes involved, and the understanding they require of the dynamics of business and organizational management of PE funds. A critical prong of the IFIS™ enunciates the areas in which analysis, calculation, projection, and reporting skills are needed while identifying potential investees, valuation, designing and executing funding deals, and managing exits.

IFIS™ Framework & CPEP™

The award of the Chartered Private Equity Professional (CPEP™) Charter and designation is based on the CPEP™ exam, which is aligned to the IFIS™ framework. Candidates are tested for their knowledge, comprehension, and skills of analysis, synthesis, and application in the essential knowledge prerequisites across three dimensions – the knowledge spokes - Industry knowledge; Firmographic knowledge, and Investment Science knowledge, as they relate to the private equity industry. The Private Equity handbook provided to CPEP™ candidates is aligned with the IFIS™ framework.

USPEC Standards

Essential Knowledge Specifications

The IFIS™ Knowledge Framework - Release 0016-1.3

The CPEP™ exam typically tests candidates for their level of knowledge and understanding of the definitions, concepts, principles, frameworks, analysis-techniques, core-best practices and decision-contexts, and understanding of how to apply this knowledge in analysis and decision-making in frontline, documentation, and leadership roles in the widest variety of work contexts in the alternative investments industry in general. The essential knowledge table summarizes the CPEP™ body of knowledge and knowledge level specifications in various areas. The table also provides a very clear indication of the nature of questions to be expected in the CPEP™ exam.

DM# Essential Knowledge Dimensions Application in Analysis & Decision-Making Frameworks & Techniques Concepts and Principles
A IFIS™-PE-1.3/1: INDUSTRY, ECOSYSTEM & DYNAMICS
MA-1 Global Alternative Investments Industry Expert Level Expert Level Expert Level
MA-2 Nature, Structure & Dynamics of Private Equity Industry Expert Level Expert Level Expert Level
MA-3 Economic, Social and Entrepreneurial Impacts of Private Equity Expert Level Expert Level Expert Level
MA-4 Regulation, Ethics and Standards in the Global PE Industry Expert Level Expert Level Expert Level
B IFIS™-PE-1.3/2: THE BUSINESS & THE FIRM
MB-1 Firmographic Models of Private Equity Companies Basic Understanding Moderate/ Functional Level Moderate/ Functional Level
MB-2 Establishing a Private Equity Firm & Business Basic Understanding Moderate/ Functional Level Moderate/ Functional Level
MB-3 Business & Profitability Objectives for PE Firms Basic Understanding Moderate/ Functional Level Moderate/ Functional Level
MB-4 Functional Management Framework for Private Equity Firms Moderate/ Functional Level Moderate/ Functional Level Expert Level
MB-5 Technology & Infrastructure for Private Equity Firms Moderate/ Functional Level Moderate/ Functional Level Expert Level
MB-6 Designing PE Portfolios for a PE Firm Moderate/ Functional Level Moderate/ Functional Level Expert Level
MB-7 Organization & Team Structures in PE Firms Moderate/ Functional Level Moderate/ Functional Level Expert Level
MB-8 Managing PE investment funds in PE Firms Basic Understanding Moderate/ Functional Level Moderate/ Functional Level
MB-9 Business & People Leadership in PE Firms Basic Understanding Moderate/ Functional Level Moderate/ Functional Level
C IFIS™-PE-1.3/3: INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT IN PE FIRMS
MC-1 Industry, Market & Business Research & Analytics Expert Level Expert Level Expert Level
MC-2 PE Investment Fund Creation Moderate/ Functional Level Moderate/ Functional Level Expert Level
MC-3 Investment Analytics for Identification of Potential Investees Expert Level Expert Level Expert Level
MC-4 Prospecting and Targeting Potential Investees Moderate/ Functional Level Moderate/ Functional Level Expert Level
MC-5 Valuation of Potential Investees Expert Level Expert Level Expert Level
MC-6 Designing, Structuring & Negotiating PE Deals Basic Understanding Moderate/ Functional Level Moderate/ Functional Level
MC-7 Managing the Investment Process & Establishing an Asset Basic Understanding Moderate/ Functional Level Expert Level
MC-8 Monitoring Investee Firms & Managing Relationships Basic Understanding Moderate/ Functional Level Expert Level
MC-9 Managing Divestment, Dilution and Exit from Investee firms Basic Understanding Moderate/ Functional Level Expert Level

Interpreting Knowledge Specification Levels

USPEC suggests that private equity professionals must not only focus on developing their knowledge of concepts, trends and principles. They must also develop their abilities to comprehend, analyze and synthesize seemingly diverse and complex requirements, and also build a strong set of skills on tools and techniques of modeling, analysis, calculation and reporting. Indeed, as indicated in the specs-table, the requirement of these knowledge and skills vary across the 22 areas covered in the IFIS™ framework, and can be simply interpreted.

Basic level: Requiring knowledge of fundamental and critical concepts and principles, and ability to comprehend application needs at workplace to be able to make basic contributions in a team.

Moderate Level: Requiring knowledge of fundamental and critical concepts, principles and techniques; ability to comprehend application needs at workplace; and skills to analyze requirements of an assignment, and apply independently, the concepts, techniques and tools at workplace and also contribute measurably in a team assignment.

Expert level: Requiring knowledge of fundamental and critical concepts, principles, tools and techniques; ability to comprehend complex application needs at workplace; ability to synthesize and integrate varying requirements; skills to analyze requirements of an assignment, and apply techniques and tools at workplace independently, as well as guide team members in doing so.

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