We study the role of private equity firms in cross-border mergers and acquisitions. We find that private equity-owned firms are more likely to become targets in crossborderM&A transactions. This effect is particularly strong in transactions where the target or its shareholders actively reach out...

This paper examines why large PE funds earn lower returns. I argue that large PE-funds are suited to making large investments and small PE-funds are suited to nurturing start-ups. Thus, the sub-optimal investment in small companies is one driver of the size effect in private equity. A...

This paper examines diversification as a source of value creation and destruction in private equity (PE) funds. Previous literature has focused on the ‘diversification discount' in corporations. However, in PE funds, diversification might increase returns by ameliorating managerial risk...

We show that it is a signal of deal quality in cross-border M&A if acquirers have private equity firms as owners (‘PE backing'). As such, announcements of cross-border M&A deals by PE-backed acquirers are associated with positive stock price reactions, but only if targets are in poor...