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Barbarians at the Store? Private Equity, Products, and Consumers

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  • Cesare Fracassi
  • Alessandro Previtero
  • Albert W. Sheen

Abstract

We investigate the effects of private equity on product markets using price and sales data for an extensive number of consumer products. Following a buyout, target firms increase sales 50% more than matched control firms. Price increases—roughly 1% on existing products—do not drive this growth. The launch of new products and geographic expansion do. Competitors lose shelf space and marginally raise prices. Results for public vs. private targets, during and after the financial crisis, and in industries that vary in structure suggest private equity tailors strategies to the environment, eases financial constraints, and provides expertise to manage growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Cesare Fracassi & Alessandro Previtero & Albert W. Sheen, 2020. "Barbarians at the Store? Private Equity, Products, and Consumers," NBER Working Papers 27435, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:27435
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Paul Lavery & Marian-Eliza Spaliara, 2022. "Private equity buyouts & firm exporting during the global financial crisis," Working Papers 2022_09, Business School - Economics, University of Glasgow.
    4. Bhardwaj,Abhishek & Ghose,Devaki & Mukherjee,Saptarshi & Singh,Manpreet, 2022. "Million Dollar Plants and Retail Prices," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9995, The World Bank.
    5. Atul Gupta & Sabrina T Howell & Constantine Yannelis & Abhinav Gupta, 2021. "Does Private Equity Investment in Healthcare Benefit Patients? Evidence from Nursing Homes," Working Papers 2021-20, Becker Friedman Institute for Research In Economics.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage
    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms

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