Comment by autoexec
2 years ago
> The "private equity kills beloved brand" stories are usually overcooked, as far as I can tell.
What are some well known examples of "private equity turned troubled brand into wild success" where products become better than ever and consumers couldn't be happier? It seems like all I ever hear are stories where a brand is "rescued" only for it to be butchered for parts in a couple years time.
Maybe Dell? Not exactly a consumer darling, but certainly a successful story for a PE LBO.
There was a side plot of "PE partners with charismatic former founder", but the main story was PE cost-cutting, layoffs and loading the company up with debt.
That has more to do with Silverlake capital preferring steady, regular cash flows. They like to buy up and hold and just run things like a normal business, no MBA shenanigans.
Barnes & Noble, maybe?
They were taken private a few years back, and after a long slow period they're expanding again.