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Insight private equity

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  • Gill, Andrej
  • Visnjic, Nikolai

Abstract

We are able to shed light on the black box of restructuring tools private equity investors use to improve the operational performance of their portfolio companies. By building on previous work considering performance evaluation of PE backed companies, we analyze whether private equity improves operating efficiency and which of the typical restructuring tools are the main performance drivers. Using a set of over 300 international leveraged buyout transactions of the last thirty years, we find that while there is vast improvement in operational efficiency, these gains vary considerably. Our top performing transactions are subject to strong equity incentives, frequent asset restructuring and tight control by the investor. Furthermore, investors' experience has a positive influence while financial leverage has no influence on operational performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Gill, Andrej & Visnjic, Nikolai, 2013. "Insight private equity," SAFE Working Paper Series 23, Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:safewp:23
    DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.2281229
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    private equity; leveraged buyouts; active shareholders; corporate restructuring; operational performance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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