Vestar Capital Partners LLC is a private equity firm focusing on leveraged buyout transactions in the United States, Japan and Europe.

The firm, which was founded in 1988 is headquartered in New York City with offices in Boston, Massachusetts, Denver, Colorado in the US as well as Paris, Milan, Munich and Tokyo. The firm has approximately 95 employees across its various offices although its various portfolio companies employ more than 3,000 people worldwide.

History

Vestar was founded in 1988 by seven principals of The First Boston Corporation’s Management Buyout Group. Six of the seven original founders, including Robert Rosner, Daniel O'Connell, James P. Kelley, Norman Alpert, Sander Levy and Arthur Nagle are still with the firm.

The company was created in order to focus on long term leveraged buyouts instead of quickly flipping bonds or securities. In fact, only 65 transactions have been completed by Vestar in its 20 year history. However, these 65 transactions have involved some $17 billion.

Key executives at Vestar include Robert Rosner (President of Vestar), Daniel O'Connell (CEO), James P. Kelley (President of Vestar USA) and Daisuke Saji (President of Vestar Japan).

Investment funds

Since its inception in 1998, Vestar has raised five private equity funds with total investor commitments of approximately $7.3 billion. Of these five funds the first two have been fully invested and liquidated and as of 2008, Vestar V was currently being invested and Vestar IV was more than 90% invested:

• 1988 - Vestar Capital Partners (Liquidated)
• 1993 - Vestar Capital Partners II ($260 million - Liquidated)
• 1997 - Vestar Capital Partners III ($803 million - Fully invested)
• 1999 - Vestar Capital Partners IV ($2.48 billion)
• 2005 - Vestar Capital Partners V ($3.7 billion)

References

External links

• Vestar Capital Partners (company wesbite)