CVC Capital Partner has amassed approximately $20bn of unspent commitment from investors in preparation for a flurry of deals this year. Private equity is gearing back up after four years of decline in the face of the financial crisis. However, this recent lack of deals means that competition will be intense, according to Graham Elton, head of Bain & Company's Private Equity practice in Europe. "The deal supply and demand imbalance has become something of a fixture, inflating prices," said Elton. "Corporate buyers with large cash piles and a need for growth are coming back on the scene, creating yet another layer of competition for quality assets."