Performance of the Private Equity industry during depressed Macroeconomic conditions

Abstract

This thesis aims to understand the performance of private equity funds during economic crises and unfavorable macroeconomic conditions. To introduce the topic, I first review how private equity funds create value and how we can assess the performance of this industry. Then, I focus my analysis on the behavior of the industry during past economic crises to draw similarities with the current situation. Finally, using a large sample of private equity funds I do my own assessment of the performance of the industry and dig into what makes PE funds successful.