Private Equity Has Few Friends Abroad, Report Finds

The United Nations has issued a controversial warning about the economic and social dangers facing countries where private equity funds take over a local company. It came after it found that a fifth of all major cross-border deals are now being masterminded by hedge funds and private equity groups.

In its annual report on global foreign direct investment, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development found that while there have been signs of rising hostility to foreign investment particularly in regard to takeovers by private equity firms and hedge funds.