Private equity-owned businesses around the world excelled in 2007 and beat public company benchmarks for the third consecutive year, Ernst & Young said today in a new study.

In the study, Ernst & Young reports that the enterprise value (EV) growth of private equity-owned businesses fared better than that of public companies, despite tightening credit conditions. The global study looked at the world’s 100 largest private equity exits in 2007, including 44 in Canada and the United States.

“Private equity continued to be successful in 2007,” says Joe Telebar, transactions advisory services partner at Ernst & Young in Toronto. “Our findings show private equity is creating real, sustainable value with its investees.”

In 2007, the annual EV growth rate for the 100 largest global private equity exits was 24% — double the EV growth rate of public company counterparts. This applied to exits of all sizes within the study sample, including the megadeals.

Private equity exits also outperformed the public company benchmark across all major industry sectors and in virtually every market around the globe, with 2007 exits growing EBITDA 33% faster than their public counterparts.

“Private equity investors have really shown they can deliver profits, value and investment returns. We’ll likely see exit volumes contract somewhat, but when the market recovers, private equity firms will be well-positioned with thriving businesses ripe for exit,” Telebar says.

In particular, Telebar highlights middle-market deals as promising private equity opportunities for the months ahead. “The smaller deals showed the strongest growth in EV. It will be interesting to see where this trend goes, as middle-market deals will likely be comparatively easier to finance.”