Platinum Equity

Founded in 1995 by Tom Gores, Platinum Equity began its operations with the $200,000 acquisition of LSI, a computer graphics company. Between 1996 and 2001, the firm rapidly expanded through 32 acquisitions totaling $226 million, realizing $940 million in returns. The firm successfully raised its first institutional fund in 2004 and has since closed several multi-billion dollar buyout funds, including a $6.5 billion fourth fund.

The firm specializes in acquiring established businesses, often through public-to-private transactions or by purchasing divisions of large corporations like General Electric and Emerson Electric. Platinum Equity is known for its operational focus, frequently rebranding and reorganizing its portfolio companies to drive profitability. In recent years, the firm has faced public scrutiny over its ownership of prison communication provider Securus Technologies due to pricing practices.

Headquartered in Beverly Hills, Platinum maintains a global presence with offices in major financial hubs including New York, London, and Singapore. The firm consistently ranks among the world's largest private equity organizations, appearing frequently on the PEI 300 and Forbes lists of top private companies.