Category Archives: Private equity

How $14 Billion Private Equity Firm Abraaj Went Bust

The remarkable tale of the biggest private equity fund insolvency evah, Abraaj.

Toys ‘R’ Us to Come Back from the Dead

Toys ‘R’ Us will be back, albeit in a skinnied down form.

Widely-Reported Study on Uber, Lyft Driver Economics Misses Fundamental Deterioration

Once again, some Uber and Lyft data that ought to generate more questions instead gets a free pass from the press.

More Evidence that Private Equity Funds Fail as Investment: No Outperformance v. Stocks, Higher Volatility

Yet more data confirming that private equity is not what it is cracked up to be unless you do it in house.

Wolf Richter: Here Comes the Second Wave of Big Money in the “Buy-to-Rent” Scheme

PE firms are paying prices at the peak of the market, amid ceaseless complaints that there isn’t enough inventory of homes for sale,

CalPERS to End Direct Investments and Separately Managed Accounts, Limit Co-Investment as CIO Whinges About Difficulty of Putting Money to Work

CalPERS is about to take another great leap backwards in private equity.

Oxford Professor Phalippou: Since 2006, Private Equity Has Produced Only S&P 500 Returns While Reaping $400+ Billion in Fees

Oxford professor Ludovic Phalippou gives a decisive debunking of the claim that private equity outperforms.

Some Public Pension Funds Give KKR a Wet Noodle Lashing Over Toys ‘R’ Us Collapse

Not surprisingly, action in the wake of private equity investors Bain, KKR and Vornado stiffing Toys ‘R’ Us workers of their severance have generated more press than restitution. But some of the ideas bruited about would have real teeth.

Will Investors Like CalPERS Fall for Private Equity’s Long-Lived Fund Con?

Beware of the private equity “innovation,” the long-lived or “permanent capital” fund. It is virtually guaranteed to short change investors on returns needed to compensate for the longer holding period.

Leaked Memo by Larry Sonsini Shows Sonsini and CalPERS Violating Fiduciary Duty With Proposed Private Equity Outsourcing Scheme

A leaked memo written for CalPERS by Silicon Valley attorney Larry Sonsisi not only reflects poorly on him and CalPERS, but also validates concerns about corruption.

CalPERS Makes Nasty, Inaccurate, and Self-Damaging Attack on Dean of Sacramento Columnists for Criticizing Private Equity Outsourcing Scheme

CalPERS, in a desperate-looking defense of its private equity outsourcing scheme, scores an own goal.

McKinsey’s and CalPERS’ Ignorance and Sleight of Hand on Private Equity

McKinesy and CalPERS appear to be kidding themselves at least as much as the general public on the subject of private equity.

Private Equity Kills Toys R Us, Workers Get No Severance

Toys R Us stores will shutter this month: private equity firms killed the company, and its workers are left with no severance.

Top Private Equity Commentator Dan Primack, Even CalPERS’ Own Consultant, Diss CalPERS Indirect Private Equity Investment Scheme

CalPERS gets more thumbs down on its new private equity gimmick.

CalPERS CIO Ted Eliopoulos Tells 5 Big Lies in Presenting Super Indirect Private Equity Scheme

CalPERS’ Chief Investment Officer Ted Eliopoulos seemed unable to offer a truthful, coherent rationale for two new private equity schemes he unveiled last Friday. CalPERS beneficiaries and California taxpayers should be worried.