Private equity is the catch-all description for when wealthy individuals usually with experience take stakes in private or listed companies. They often use their stakes to turn businesses around or simply improve them in order to sell their holdings for a profit.

The lawyers Taylor Wessing has assessed the Irish private equity market and found that there was a flight to quality and less risky companies last year.

Speaking to Joe this morning was Adam Griffiths who is an M&A partner at Taylor Wessing and head of its Dublin office.