Private-Equity Firm: Friend or Foe of the U.S. Economy? (Part 1 of 2)

Private-Equity (PE) firms play a unique role in the economy, acting as financial sponsors of American corporations. When they take an ownership stake in a company, PE firms bring capital and expertise. In the shadow of the 2012 Presidential Election, many are asking who benefits from the actions of PE firms. Those who are critical of PE firms cite special tax breaks that allow PR firms to treat their profits as lightly taxed capital gain. Defenders, point out that PE firms make money for their investors. The question is: Who is telling the truth? Our guest speaker, Professor Aswath Damodaran of NYU’s Stern School of Business, will address these questions and others in this lecture. The title of his presentation is "Private Equity: Beynod the "Story-telling."