A term which covers a range of transactions in which the source of finance is usually a fund established to invest specifically in unquoted securities rather than in publicly quoted securities or government bonds. The range of transactions encompassed by the term depends on geographic region. In Europe, private equity covers the entire range of the investment sector so includes venture capital and management buy-ins and management buyouts. In the US, private equity and venture capital are treated as separate types of investment.
+ private equity
USA
Investments made in companies by private equity firms. Private equity investors often take an active role in managing the companies they invest in and generally have a defined exit strategy for their investment (for example, by sale, merger or IPO).
Related links
Practical Law Dictionary. Glossary of UK, US and international legal terms. www.practicallaw.com. 2010.