Private Equity Activity Down from July Highs

​In August, private equity deal making fell from the 2018 highs set in July, according to Pitchbook data. For the month, private equity investment for U.S. companies totaled $43.1 billion among 379 deals. This is down 39.6% from $71.26 billion invested in July but up 46.8% from $29.35 billion invested in August 2017. For the year through August, PE investment has totaled $317.69 billion among 3,382 deals, an increase of $70.23 billion over the same period of 2017. 

​Business-to-business companies saw a bulk of the investment through leveraged buyouts and other investments, totaling $11.99 billion, or 28.9% of total investment for the month. Financial services and energy firms had the second- and third-most capital placed, with $8.70 billion and $8.20 billion, respectively.