Private equity, in finance, is an asset class consisting of equity securities in operating companies that are not publicly traded on a stock exchange.[1]
Private equity investments are primarily made by private equity firms, venture capital firms, or angel investors, each with their own set of goals, preferences, and investment strategies, yet each providing working capital to a target company to nurture expansion, new product development, or restructuring of the company’s operations, management, or ownership. Among the most common investment strategies in private equity are: leveraged buyouts, venture capital, growth capital, distressed investments and mezzanine capital. In a typical leveraged buyout transaction, a private equity firm buys majority control of an existing or mature firm. This is distinct from a venture capital or growth capital investment, in which the investors (typically venture capital firms or angel investors) invest in young or emerging companies, and rarely obtain majority control.