Notes from "Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream"

Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream is a book about private equity in the United States. My main takeaway: private equity is bad. I also learned a few other straightforward lessons:

• Private equity has one goal: to maximize shareholder value. As you might imagine, this causes lots of problems.
• Private equity firms may acquire a business with no intention of keeping it running. It can be more profitable to shutter the business.
• Leveraged buyouts dramatically lower the risk to the private equity buyer.
• Government subsidies and laws often make it easier for private equity firms to operate.

This book further cemented a belief I hold: it’s harmful to pursue profit above all else.