Private equity - a Sword of Damocles?

In this article, Andrew Seth considers the skills and resources of today's private equity bidders - and the weaknesses of the companies in their sights.

Private equity – a Sword of Damocles?

Andrew Seth

Of today's 100 listed companies in the UK 25% are apparently targeted by private equity consortia. Certainly 2007 has seen a huge UK increase of private equity search for and successful acquisition of major companies. The traditional image of private equity was well described in Barbarians at the Gate– a close-knit marauding band of clever financial engineers who acquire control of ailing businesses, run their rule book over their cumbersome, over-managed structures, take rapid, significant cost savings – usually from fixed assets and headcount – thus creating a stable...

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