2011 trailed behind 2010 in private equity deal activity, but was still a marked improvement over 2009 and left the industry poised for strong future activity, according to PitchBook Data’s year-end analysis of US PE activity.
"The light at the end of the tunnel appears to be very close for the US private equity industry," says John Gabbert (pictured), CEO and Founder of PitchBook. "The first half of 2011 saw robust private equity activity, but the second half was slowed down by economic concerns and continuing turmoil in the debt markets. Look for activity to increase in 2012 as these issues abate and PE firms work to invest the USD450 billion capital overhang while also generating liquidity from their 4,200 mature investments."
