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Book review: Rethinking private equity

Brendan Ballou’s book Plunder is a call to action to monitor PE’s actions that benefit the operators – and no one else

    • PE confers benefits such as access to lower-cost funding and expert management by specialists but in cases presented by the book, there might be negative consequences for employees, clients and companies.
    • PE confers benefits such as access to lower-cost funding and expert management by specialists but in cases presented by the book, there might be negative consequences for employees, clients and companies. PHOTO: HACHETTE BOOK GROUP
    Published Tue, Jan 9, 2024 · 07:26 PM

    PEOPLE stop in their tracks when they see the cover of the book I’m reading – Plunder – with its frightening depiction of a skull and crossbones. “What are you reading? It must not be happy subject matter!”

    Private equity (PE) investing is not everyday talk among friends. But considering its size and growth as an investment choice and its possible impact on the broader economy, it should be everyday conversation among investment professionals.

    Author Brendan Ballou presents a meta-analysis of the worst of PE investment practices, thus compelling investors to have a deeper look into their illiquid PE commitments. He was formerly a federal prosecutor and special counsel for PE at the US Department of Justice.

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