Golden Gate Capital Partners
Encyclopedia
Golden Gate Capital Partners is a private equity
firm based in San Francisco, California
. The firm makes investments primarily in mature technology companies, as well as other select industries, through leveraged buyout
transactions as well as significant minority purchases and growth capital
investments.
The firm was founded in 2000, by former investment professionals from private equity
firm Bain Capital
, as well as business consultants from its affiliate Bain & Company
.
Golden Gate currently has over $9 billion in assets under management
(AUM) and has approximately 30 investment professionals.
On May 15, 2007, Limited Brands
announced its intent to sell a 67% stake in Express to Golden Gate Capital Partners. When the sale was finalized in July 2007, Golden Gate's stake in the company was 75% for approximately $550M, instead of the announced 67%.
The firm made a larger investment buying a majority stake in the Romano's Macaroni Grill
restaurant chain for $131M in 2008.
In June 2009, the company announced the purchase of the J. Jill brand business from Talbots
. In April 2011, the Bahrain
-based private equity firm Arcapita
bought Jill Acquisitions from Golden Gate.
In the aftermath of the bursting of the Dot-com bubble
the firm has shown a pattern of investments in technology companies that may have been distressed by the recession of that time.
Private equity
Private equity, in finance, is an asset class consisting of equity securities in operating companies that are not publicly traded on a stock exchange....
firm based in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. The firm makes investments primarily in mature technology companies, as well as other select industries, through leveraged buyout
Leveraged buyout
A leveraged buyout occurs when an investor, typically financial sponsor, acquires a controlling interest in a company's equity and where a significant percentage of the purchase price is financed through leverage...
transactions as well as significant minority purchases and growth capital
Growth capital
Growth capital is a type of private equity investment, most often a minority investment, in relatively mature companies that are looking for capital to expand or restructure operations, enter new markets or finance a significant acquisition without a change of control of the business.Companies...
investments.
The firm was founded in 2000, by former investment professionals from private equity
Private equity
Private equity, in finance, is an asset class consisting of equity securities in operating companies that are not publicly traded on a stock exchange....
firm Bain Capital
Bain Capital
Bain Capital LLC is a Boston-based private equity firm founded in 1984 by partners from the consulting firm Bain & Company. Originally conceived as an early-stage, growth-oriented investment fund, Bain Capital today manages approximately $65 billion in assets, and its strategies include private...
, as well as business consultants from its affiliate Bain & Company
Bain & Company
Bain & Company is a global management consulting firm headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Bain is considered one of the most prestigious consulting firms in the world, with 47 offices in 30 countries and over 5,500 professionals on staff globally...
.
Golden Gate currently has over $9 billion in assets under management
Assets under management
Assets under management is a financial term used denote the market value of funds being managed by a financial instutition on behalf of its clients, investors, depositors, etc. This metric is a sign of size and success against competition...
(AUM) and has approximately 30 investment professionals.
Investments
The firm primarily seeks investments, less than $100 million in size, that have possible rapid gains in equity, with a significant possibility of liquidity.On May 15, 2007, Limited Brands
Limited Brands
Limited Brands is an American apparel company based in Columbus, Ohio. In 2009 it reported 9.04 billion dollars in revenue for the last fiscal year.-History:...
announced its intent to sell a 67% stake in Express to Golden Gate Capital Partners. When the sale was finalized in July 2007, Golden Gate's stake in the company was 75% for approximately $550M, instead of the announced 67%.
The firm made a larger investment buying a majority stake in the Romano's Macaroni Grill
Romano's Macaroni Grill
Romano's Macaroni Grill is an Italian-style chain of casual dining restaurants with locations throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The first restaurant was founded by Texas restaurateur Philip J. Romano in Leon Springs, Texas, on April 19, 1988. Brinker International bought the...
restaurant chain for $131M in 2008.
In June 2009, the company announced the purchase of the J. Jill brand business from Talbots
Talbots
Talbots is a specialty retailer and direct marketer of women’s classic clothing, shoes and accessories. Established in 1947, the company sells items such as the blazer, trench, white shirt, ballet flats and pearls....
. In April 2011, the Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
-based private equity firm Arcapita
Arcapita
Arcapita Inc. is a Delaware-incorporated holding and real estate company, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia....
bought Jill Acquisitions from Golden Gate.
In the aftermath of the bursting of the Dot-com bubble
Dot-com bubble
The dot-com bubble was a speculative bubble covering roughly 1995–2000 during which stock markets in industrialized nations saw their equity value rise rapidly from growth in the more...
the firm has shown a pattern of investments in technology companies that may have been distressed by the recession of that time.