Let’s start with the fact that no such crime against humanity known as “asset stripping” exists. Assets used in one enterprise may have little or no value, but a high value if transfer - just as a functional alternator in a wrecked car has no value in the wrecked car but considerable value in a car that works but which needs an alternator.
Most of what Bain did was back new or growing companies like Staples and Dominos. In some cases they tried to turn companies around that were failing. Some investments worked and others didn’t. Overall Bain did well because it created value. Along the way it created a huge number of jobs.
One theoretical physics and engineering threads I manage to withhold my “brilliant” insights because I don’t know nearly as much about those things as others. But it seems that many on FR incontinently spread their opinions on things they not only know very little about, but what they repeat is a false message packaged for them by someone else.
Ok. Bain should never have invested in any turnaround situation so that all of the employees could have lost their jobs.
BTW, I can find articles all over the net in which people with agendas or who know nothing about the turnaround business voice all kinds of opinions - kind of like FR. Those who don’t know how this small complicated corner of the world works should go learn something before they post. If you know the area, you can independently evaluate the opinions. Simply collecting opinions and proclaiming that lots of people hold such and such an opinion is an absurd way to proceed. People who can’t find the character to do that often end up in thrall to people like Michael Moore or Alex Jones.
Achilles,
Do you find it funny that we’re explaining the basics of finance and capitalism to someone with the name “Laissez-faire capitalist”? Guess it’s our does of Vitamin I for the day.