1. Private Equity's $94 Billion Debt Binge: Moody's Warns of Rising Risk as Payouts Fuel Leverage
Private equity-owned companies in the US borrowed a staggering $94 billion in 2024, not for growth or investment, but to fund payouts to their own owners. This massive debt-for-dividend maneuver, detailed in a new analysis by Moody’s Ratings, significantly increases the financial risk profile of these businesses. The c...