Profile: A different kind of PE firm

Leonard Green & Partners may be one of the more interesting private equity firms you've never heard of. That may be a bit of a simplification. The firm has a solid reputation. But it's not cut from exactly the same clothe as the ones that get all the ink. Since it was founded 18 years ago, the employee ranks have grown to just 20, all of whom work out of one Los Angeles office. But the money keeps on coming. It recently closed on a $5.3 billion fund. The company has heard the criticism that it is slow and methodical lots of times in the past, but caution is a part of the culture. This is not a firm that will rush into deals. It could arguably have risen a lot more. But the size of the funds suits the company just fine. As long as investors are happy, and they seem to be.

For more:
- here's the Investment Dealers' Digest article (For FierceFinance readers)