> If the company itself is profitable, then typically it can continue.

I only wish, but rarely. This is one of the great tragedies of the grow at all cost system. There have been so many great profitable companies, where the product is great, customers love it, employees love it, everyone is happy.. except it's not growing fast enough to satisfy the leeches so it gets destroyed.

As a society we should be supportive of small companies that make a great product that everyone loves, pays good salaries and makes a profit. The more of those, the merrier. But no, unless growth is on the hockeystick curve, private equity will destroy it sooner or later.