Category Archives: Private equity

Uber: “Battle to the Death” in Benchmark/Kalanick Power Struggle

The fight over Uber would normally be mistaken for a Punch and Judy show if there weren’t so much money at stake.

Public Pension Funds Regain Some Lost Ground in a Good Year, But CalPERS Lags Peers

CalPERS again falls short for its beneficiaries and California taxpayers.

Private Equity Flouts State Regulations by Buying Medical Practices

State regulators have ignored private equity firms buying medical practices when many states bar non-MDs from owing them.

Quelle Surprise! Financial Firm Fines Are Way Down Under Trump

The latest sighting on how financial firms are getting off easy, yet have the bad taste to complain about their paltry punishments.

Fake Unicorns: Study Finds Average 49% Valuation Overstatement; Over Half Lose “Unicorn” Status When Corrected

Investors beware! A large scale study found that every unicorn it looked at was overvalued, on average to a significant degree.

Private Equity Firms Sued Over Retailer Bankruptcies

Private equity is getting more critical coverage and legal pushback, as it wrecks yet more companies.

More Criticism of Private Equity Leverage on Leverage Via Subscription Line Financing

In a refreshing development, a private equity con, subscription line financing, is so extreme that members of the industry are opposing it.

Why CalPERS’ Scheme for an “Independent” Private Equity Entity Is the Wrong Solution to the Problem of Weak Skills

Further discussion of why CalPERS’ latest Big Idea for private equity needs a Big Rethink.

CalPERS Board Uncomfortable With Staff’s “Fire, Aim, Ready” Plan to Create Unaccountable Private Equity Vehicle

CalPERS’ staff is trying to railroad the board with a not-very-well-thought out idea of an “independent” private equity venture.

Bumbling Kentucky Retirement Systems Threatens Naked Capitalism With Half-Cocked Nastygram That Will Only Alienate Private Equity Fund Managers

Kentucky Retirement Systems huffs and puffs at Naked Capitalism.

CalPERS’ CIO Plays Board Like a Fiddle, Uses Trumpian Tactics on Credulous True Believers

CIO Ted Eliopoulos digs CalPERS a bigger PR hole and CalPERS’ board is so thick that it approves.

Catch Us on Harry Shearer’s Le Show Today!

We appear on Harry Shearer’s Le Show, discussing private equity and CalPERS. Be sure to tune in!

The Wheels Come Off Uber

Uber is over. But since many have money and reputations at stake, and Uber has cash to burn, it will take a while for that to be undeniable.

Can Uber Ever Deliver? Part Ten: The Uber Death Watch Begins

Why Uber is toast.

CalPERS to Game Benchmarks Yet Again to Flatter Private Equity, Understate Risk, Boost Staff Bonuses

CalPERS is lying with numbers yet again, this time with its private equity benchmarks.