Bain Capital put $5 million into its purchase of American Pad & Paper and quickly began charging management and other fees. It also made payments to investors. In all, Bain and its investors reaped more than $100 million even though Ampad went into bankruptcy, workers lost jobs, and stockholders were left with worthless shares. [And creditors got less than 50 cents on the dollar.] A look at the deal:
· 1992: Bain buys American Pad & Paper from Mead Corp. They invest $5 million.
· 1993: After Bain takes control, Ampad pays advisory fees to Bain under a management agreement.
· 1994: Bain acquires plant in Marion, Ind. Workers strike over layoffs and wage benefit cuts. The events become a campaign issue in Romney's challenge to Senator Edward M. Kennedy.
· 1995: Bain shuts down the Marion, Ind., plant. Roughly 200 lose jobs. Bain gets at least $2 million in annual fees, plus additional fees for each acquisition Ampad makes. Ampad borrows more to acquire an envelope and stationery maker and uses some of the proceeds, about $60 million, to pay Bain investors.
· 1996: Ampad completes an initial public offering. Bain sells about 3 million shares, reaping about $45 million to $50 million for investors and itself. It also takes $2 million in fees for arranging the IPO, plus other fees.
· 1998: With Ampad struggling, Bain agrees to cut the annual fee $1.5 million a year. It also agrees to start forgoing payment until the company turns around.
· 1999: Revenues continue to slide. Ampad closes a plant near Buffalo, with up to 185 losing jobs.
· 2000: Creditors force Ampad into Chapter 11 bankruptcy to reorganize.
· 2001: Judge puts Ampad into Chapter 7 to liquidate assets and pay creditors. Senior secured lenders get less than 50 cents on the dollar.
STOCK PRICE
July 2, 1996: $15.13 - IPO Price
Jan. 27, 1997: $26.00 - Peak
Sep 16, 1997: $13.13 - Stock loses 42% of its value
Nov 1, 1999: 35 cents - Ampad looks to sell assets to reduce debt
Jan 14, 2000: 15 cents - Ampad forced into bankruptcy
Bain Capital and Bain Co. have many success stories. To center in on one that did not while ignoring those that did is not right. And all the while, he was responsible to the shareholders of Bain Co. (which he saved from bankruptcy) and then Bain Capital. And of course they made money off of the deal. That was their objective. But perhaps you would have preferred it if Mead had simply closed them down in 1994 or 1995.
btw, it was because of Bain acquisition of Staples that Ampad continued to prosper for as long as it did. But even then, Staples figured out they could get better product from Asia for less money. By 2000, there was nothing that could have saved Ampad. That's why they were liquidated. Care to guess who was the major shareholder at the time (i.e. who took the biggest loss)?