1. The year of the investment vehicle’s first drawdown or capital call from its investors;
OR
2. The year when the first COMMITTED CAPITAL from outside investors is closed and legally binding.
I think you are looking at 2 …
You are an investor who is looking for Private Equity Funding. You approach the investors, pitch to them, they like it and agree to give you the money not now, but in 2013. And there is a legal and binding contract to that effect. 2013 is the Vintage year.
They committed to the capital from 2013 in a legally binding manner.
Now after this - you decide that 2013 is not good, you will start operations only in 2014. Then 2014 by this definition is where you would make the first capital call.
In this case - I still think 2013 would be the vintage year..