HM Capital Partners

HM Capital Partners was originally founded in 1984 as Hicks & Haas before evolving into Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst (HMTF) in the 1990s. The firm became one of the most active buyout shops in the world, famously known for its successful roll-up of Dr Pepper and 7 Up and its aggressive buy-and-build strategy in the media and consumer goods sectors. During its peak, the firm executed massive deals across the United States, Europe, and Latin America, including the record-breaking acquisition of Yell Group.

The firm faced significant challenges following the burst of the dot-com and telecom bubbles in the early 2000s, suffering losses of over $1 billion from technology-related investments and several high-profile bankruptcies like Regal Cinemas. Following the departure of co-founder Tom Hicks in 2004, the firm rebranded as HM Capital Partners in 2006. The firm eventually began a formal dissolution in 2013, with its sector teams spinning off to form new independent entities, Tailwater Capital (energy) and Kainos Capital (food).