Survey says: PE deal-makers optimistic

Private equity fund managers are more optimistic about deal activity than they were at this time last year, according to survey results being released later today by BDO USA.

A majority of respondents (regardless of fund size) said they expect to close two or three deals over the next 12 months, compared to 2011 stats in which 47% said they didn't expect to close a single transaction.

Some other takeaways:

• 67% of respondents saw overall portfolio values increase in 2011, but 22% said that more than 1/5 of their portfolio companies were under-performing.
• Top expected geographies for 2012 deals are North, South and Central America (last year's winner was Asia).
• Manufacturing (28%) and healthcare/biotech (21%) get the nod for greatest sector opportunities.
• 18% of respondents didn't use leverage on their last deal, but only 9% expect not to use leverage on their next deal.

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