The first six months of 2006 have seen a slight downturn in the level of activity of large private equity-led transactions in Germany compared with the same period in 2005, which might lead some to question whether this is the beginning of the end of the buy-out boom in Germany.
Has last year’s row over ‘locust’ private equity acquirers, who detractors claim are asset-stripping valued national companies, had a negative effect and led to a cooling of private equity investors’ enthusiasm for Germany? Only time will tell, but all current signs point clearly in one direction: upwards.
