5.2 Explanatory Variables6 Results; 6.1 Basic Regression; 6.2 Capital Invested Hypothesis; 6.3 Fund Performance Hypothesis; 6.4 Reputation Effects Hypothesis; 7 Conclusion; Appendix; References. Behind the Curve; Table of Contents; List of Abbreviations; List of Symbols; List of Figures; List of Tables; List of Appendices; 1 Introduction; 2 Leveraged Buyout Transactions; 2.1 Legal Structure of Buyout Funds; 2.2 Mechanics of a Leveraged Buyout Transaction; 3 Capital Structure and Pricing in Buyouts; 3.1 Principal Agent Driven Theories; 3.2 Determinants beyond the Principal Agent Conflict; 4 Fund State and Investment Pressure; 4.1 Fund Performance; 4.2 Capital Invested; 4.3 Investment Pressure and Hypotheses; 5 Data Description; 5.1 Sample Characteristics and Representativeness. In the domain of corporate acquisitions, leveraged buyouts (LBO) have gained tremendous importance since their first appearance in the late 1970's. After having suffered from different economic downturns throughout the years, buyouts have become a major force in the worldwide economy, and reached a record accumulated transaction value of 878bn in 2007. LBOs are generally conducted by a private equity (PE) firm through a buyout fund. The fund manager raises a certain amount of equity from outside investors, and invests it into later-stage companies for an average holding period of around five