The Private Company Price Index, shows the average private company price-to-earnings multiple rose to 11.9 times, representing an increase of eighteen percent over the last three quarters. This means the multiple has reached its highest level since the M&A boom of 2007.
This recovery is due to rising public company valuations giving buyers greater confidence to pay higher prices; a lack of supply of quality assets; and a pent-up supply of private equity capital. Trade buyers have been able to pay higher prices than their private equity counterparts by extracting better synergies in the acquisition.
