Private equity is an enormously powerful and wealthy industry that has a huge impact on the public and their human rights. As a sector, it holds around US$4.4 trillion (£3.5 trillion) in assets, while in the US, one in every 14 workers is employed by a company owned by a private equity firm.
These firms use a unique business model. They attract outside investors by promising high returns, and invest this capital in buying companies.
