The Pitchbook data for 2011 is included in the PDF below. It shows total private equity deployed fell by one third to $100 billion in 2011 from $150 billion in 2010 and down precipitously from the 2007 peak of $570 billion. The amount of “dry powder” held by private equity firms was $60 billion at year end 2011. The average hold period of a portfolio company was nearly 5 years old (up from 3.5 years in 2007).
exerpt PitchBook_PE_Trends_4Q2011_Presentation_Deck
The Pitchbook data book showing private equity results since 2000 is included in the PDF below. One of the more interesting factoids is that the median private equity purchase multiple in 2010 was “only” 8.3x EBITDA (to put that number in perspective, you can purchase Johnson & Johnson today for 8.5x EBITDA, get a global franchise and collect a 3.5% dividend).
Exerpts from PitchBook_Decade_Investments_2001_2010-1-3
