Platinum Equity: a Company Profile
Platinum Equity is a global private equity investment firm that aims to acquire, transition and produce value out of beleaguered middle-market companies. The firm was founded in 1995 by Tom Gores, a self-made billionaire who started a productive career as a startup operations investor. Today, Platinum Equity is headquartered in Los Angeles, California and its regional offices are located in London, New York, and Boston. With over 45,000 employees working in its global operations, Platinum Equity is ranked by Forbes Magazine as the 27th largest private company in the United States.
Currently headed by Tom Gores, its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, the firm uses a strategy called M&A&O® (Mergers, Acquisitions, and Operations). This allows the company to incorporate strategic operations with the traditional M & A techniques so that every acquired company is guaranteed operational success, thereby creating organic growth and value.
Platinum Equity’s revenue base is diversified — a combination of assets from its portfolio companies and from capital commitments from institutional investors. Since 1995, Platinum Equity has completed more than 100 acquisitions. Its global portfolio is made up of companies belonging to a variety of industries such as telecommunications, manufacturing and distribution, logistics, information technology, media, and metals services. Its aggregate revenue as of 2008 has been computed at $27.5 billion.