Ridgemont Equity Partners is a
private equity firm focused on making investments in middle-market companies in the U.S. within certain industries such as basic industrial, energy, healthcare, telecommunications, media and technology. The firm focuses on equity investments up to US$250 million.
Prior to forming Ridgemont in 2010, the team previously had been known as BAML Capital Partners, and prior to that Bank of America Capital Investors. Since 1993, Ridgemont and its predecessors have invested over US$4.4 billion of equity capital.
The firm is based in
Charlotte, North Carolina.
Predecessors
Ridgemont Equity Partners completed a spinout from Bank of America in 2010, prior to which it was known as BAML Capital Partners. In turn, BAML Capital Partners traced its roots back to 1993 with the formation of Bank of America Capital Investors.
From 2009 through 2010, BAML Capital Partners was the private equity and mezzanine investment unit of
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
BofA Securities, Inc., previously Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML), is an American multinational investment banking division under the auspices of Bank of America. It is not to be confused with Merrill, the stock brokerage and trading plat ...
. BAML Capital Partners was formed in 2009 following the merger of
Bank of America and
Merrill Lynch
Merrill (officially Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated), previously branded Merrill Lynch, is an American investment management and wealth management division of Bank of America. Along with BofA Securities, the investment bank ...
from the combination of each bank's respective private equity units: Bank of America Capital Investors (BACI) and Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity (MLGPE).
Following the acquisition of
Merrill Lynch
Merrill (officially Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated), previously branded Merrill Lynch, is an American investment management and wealth management division of Bank of America. Along with BofA Securities, the investment bank ...
by
Bank of America, MLGPE ceased making new investments. Bank of America Capital Investors, a private equity division of Bank of America has historically made much smaller investments than MLGPE. The two units were integrated in early 2009 with the elimination of much of the MLGPE team.
Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity
Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity (MLGPE) was the
private equity investment arm of
Merrill Lynch
Merrill (officially Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated), previously branded Merrill Lynch, is an American investment management and wealth management division of Bank of America. Along with BofA Securities, the investment bank ...
, prior to its merger with
Bank of America. The MLGPE business was focused on
leveraged buyout and
growth capital investments across a range of industries. MLGPE was among the most active investment banking sponsored
merchant banking programs in the
mid-2000s buyout boom.
The firm, which is based in
New York City, was founded in 1996. Since inception, MLGPE has invested more than US$5 billion of capital across more 30 companies.
Among the group's most notable investments are some of the largest
leveraged buyout transactions of the last decade including
The Hertz Corporation,
Hospital Corporation of America,
[SORKIN, ANDREW ROSS.]
HCA Buyout Highlights Era of Going Private
" New York Times, July 25, 2006. Debenhams and
Rexel
Rexel is a French company specializing in the distribution of electrical, heating, lighting and plumbing equipment, but also in renewable energies and energy efficiency products and services. Founded in 1967, Rexel has broadened its scope of activ ...
.
References
Merrill Lynch charges into private equity June 13, 2008
External links
Ridgemont Equity Partners(company website)
{{Merchant banking private equity groups
Private equity firms of the United States
Investment banking private equity groups
Bank of America
Financial services companies established in 1993