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Real effects of private equity investments: Evidence from European buyouts

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  • Scellato, Giuseppe
  • Ughetto, Elisa

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of buyout deals on the ex-post performance of target companies. The analysis is based on a sample of 241 private-to-private buyouts involving European companies between 1997 and 2004 and a control sample of non-buyouts selected through a propensity score matching methodology. The paper explores three different dimensions of firm performance: size, profitability and productivity. The results indicate a positive impact of buyouts on the growth of total assets and of employment in target firms in the short- and mid-term. An equivalent clear pattern cannot be identified for productivity, while we estimate a lower operating profitability for buyout companies with respect to the control group three years after a deal is made. When we restrict the analysis to the sub-sample of buyout companies, we find that generalist funds negatively and significantly impact the mean ex-post operating profitability of PE-backed firms, while turnaround specialists are positively associated with operating profitability. The evidence also highlights that target companies whose lead investor is located in the same country show relatively higher ex-post profitability performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Scellato, Giuseppe & Ughetto, Elisa, 2013. "Real effects of private equity investments: Evidence from European buyouts," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(12), pages 2642-2649.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:66:y:2013:i:12:p:2642-2649
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2012.06.001
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    3. Annalisa Croce & Diego D’Adda & Elisa Ughetto, 2015. "Venture capital financing and the financial distress risk of portfolio firms: How independent and bank-affiliated investors differ," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 44(1), pages 189-206, January.
    4. Elisa Ughetto, 2016. "Investments, Financing Constraints and Buyouts: the Effect of Private Equity Investors on the Sensitivity of Investments to Cash Flow," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 84(1), pages 25-54, January.
    5. WASHIMI Kazuaki, 2020. "Prospects of Private Equity Funds in Japan-Expectations toward Finance with Ideas and Commitment-," Bank of Japan Research Papers 20-12-11, Bank of Japan.
    6. Robert Loos & Bernhard Schwetzler, 2017. "Fueling the buyout machine: fundraising in private equity," Financial Markets and Portfolio Management, Springer;Swiss Society for Financial Market Research, vol. 31(4), pages 397-443, November.
    7. Lai, Shaojie & Pu, Xiaoling, 2020. "Mispricing or growth? an empirical analysis of acquisition premium," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 37(C).
    8. Burger, Anže & Hogan, Teresa & Kotnik, Patricia & Rao, Sandeep & Sakinç, Mustafa Erdem, 2023. "Does acquisition lead to the growth of high-tech scale-ups? Evidence from Europe," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    9. Dasilas, Apostolos & Grose, Chris, 2018. "The wealth effects of public-to-private LBOs: Evidence from Europe," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 179-194.

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