Private equity, leveraged buyouts, and corporate governance

Abstract

This chapter takes a look at private equity, which usually refers to the funding of leveraged buyouts (LBOs) of well-known firms. It aims to improve the understanding of private equity and LBOs by reviewing a theory related to private equity and the evidence of its impact. This review includes a number of articles in entrepreneurship, finance, strategy, economics, and human resource management. It first summarizes the theoretical perspectives related to why private equity governance may have positive or negative effects on economic, social, and financial performance. It then reviews important empirical evidence from studies during the first and second waves.