Leonard Green & Partners

Founded in 1989 by Leonard I. Green, Leonard Green & Partners (LGP) emerged following the dissolution of Gibbons, Green and van Amerongen Ltd. The firm's predecessor was a pioneer in leveraged buyouts, a tradition LGP continued by focusing on market-leading companies across various service and retail sectors. After the founder's death in 2002, leadership transitioned to a group of managing partners including John G. Danhakl, Peter J. Nolan, and Jonathan D. Sokoloff.

The firm is known for managing multi-billion dollar funds, such as the $9.6 billion Green Equity Investors VII and subsequent funds totaling nearly $15 billion. LGP gained significant recognition for its 2007 PIPE investment in Whole Foods Market, which provided the capital to fuel further acquisitions in the retail space. More recently, the firm has been active in large-scale exits, notably winning awards for the $18.25 billion sale of SRS to Home Depot in 2025.

LGP has faced public scrutiny regarding its investment in Prospect Medical Holdings. Regulators and lawmakers have criticized the firm's use of dividend recapitalizations and sale-leaseback strategies, alleging these practices left healthcare facilities with unmanageable debt and impacted employee pensions. Despite these controversies, the firm remains one of the largest private equity players globally, ranking 18th in the PEI 300 in 2024.