Co-investments surge; LP challenges multiply

United Parcel Service wants to co-invest in deals for the first time alongside sponsors, while Guardian Life Insurance Company of America is shopping for a separate-account manager to re-energize its co-investment program. Together they are part of a post-crisis boom in co-investing that is presenting fresh challenges for limited partners. These include side letters that give an edge to certain LPs on opportunities, heated competition for equity allocations, research showing co-investments underperform, and even the prospect of regulation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.