Fox Paine & Company

Founded in 1996 by Saul A. Fox, Fox Paine & Company established itself as a prominent West Coast private equity firm known for its ingenuity in handling complex leveraged buyout transactions. The firm initially operated as a partnership between Fox and Dexter Paine, successfully raising two major funds, including a $1 billion second fund that achieved a notable internal rate of return of over 30 percent.

Following a period of internal disagreement regarding the direction of a third fund, the founders underwent a highly publicized legal separation in 2007. The settlement resulted in Saul Fox retaining the firm name and control over Fund II, while Dexter Paine formed a new entity, eventually known as Paine Schwartz Partners, taking the majority of the investment team and legacy interests in Funds I and III.

In the years following the split, Fox Paine & Company transitioned its focus toward managing and maximizing the value of its remaining portfolio companies. The firm is currently headquartered in Woodside, California, and has historically invested in diverse industries ranging from specialized property and casualty insurance to semiconductors and consumer personal care products.