News - Midlands
Majority of private equity firms change focus
Sixty-four per cent of private equity firms expect to change their sector focuses somewhat in the coming 12 months, according to Grant Thornton's latest Private Equity Barometer. The quarterly survey of more than 100 private equity executives suggests that healthcare and business-support services will continue to be the most popular choices among private equity firms. Mustafa Abdulhusein, partner in the firm's Midlands corporate-finance team and a private-equity specialist, said: "A growing number of private-equity executives feel compelled to shift their focus to those sectors that are popular with institutional investors needing to provide the cash for new acquisitions. That explains the popularity of sectors offering steady cash flows, such as outsourcing, infrastructure and healthcare companies."