Private Equity Is Quietly Waiting

What I called “the wedge” in my post, The Wedge: M&A from $1B – $10B, is the natural hunting ground of private equity. And this is where we can expect the least activity during a crisis of credit. These buyers hate to put in 100% equity. They like a good measure of debt in the purchase, so this isn’t their time for Mergers and Acquisitions. And what is private equity doing, meanwhile? The short answer is: hoarding cash in unprecedented amounts. The last month has seen record accumulations of private equity funds. That money represents a potent resource for future activity, and we should be prepared to see a resurgence of private equity activity the moment the financial environment shifts in their favor.