APriori Capital Partners
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Private equity |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette |
| Headquarters | New York City, New York, United States |
Key people | Head of DLJMB Nicole Arnaboldi, Managing Director, Steven C. Rattner (former) |
| Products | Financial services |
| Total assets | $12 billion |
| Website | aprioricapital |
aPriori Capital Partners is a private equity firm focused on executing leveraged buyout deals. Originating as an affiliate under Credit Suisse, the firm traces its roots to Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, the investment bank acquired by Credit Suisse First Boston in 2000. Its portfolio includes a variety of investment vehicles such as Real Estate Private Equity, International Private Equity, Growth capital, Mezzanine debt, funds concentrating on Infrastructure, Energy and Commodities, as well as fund of funds and Secondary Investments.
The company maintains offices in New York City, London, Los Angeles, and Detroit.
History
DLJMB ("Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Merchant Banking") was founded in 1985 to co-invest in leveraged buyouts alongside DLJ clients, utilizing both the bank’s capital and contributions from employees. The firm’s inaugural institutional private equity fund was launched in 1992 with $1 billion in commitments. Later funds included $3 billion raised in 1997 and $5.3 billion secured by 2000.
After DLJ was acquired, leadership transitions took place. In 2004, co-head Larry Schloss led a spinout that resulted in Diamond Castle Holdings. The following year, Thompson Dean and Steven Webster spun off DLJMB to create Avista Capital Partners, which subsequently raised a $2 billion fund in 2007.
In 2006, DLJMB successfully raised $2.1 billion for its fourth fund—exceeding twice its initial target—demonstrating strong investor interest. The firm planned to launch a fifth fund aiming for $3.5 billion between 2009 and 2010.
Nicole Arnaboldi assumed leadership of the firm in 2008 after Steven C. Rattner stepped down during the fundraising process for the fifth fund.
In 2014, DLJMB completed its separation from Credit Suisse, rebranding itself as aPriori Capital Partners.
Current and prior investments
- Neiman Marcus — Retailer specializing in high-end apparel and accessories
- MGM — Creator of films, television content, media, music, and related merchandise
- Advanstar — Provider of marketing services for corporate and consumer markets
- Accellent — Supplier of manufacturing and design solutions for medical device companies
- HealthMarkets — Company offering life and health insurance products
- Nuveen Investments — Firm providing investment management and financial services
- Rockwood Holdings — Producer of specialty chemicals and materials
- Geokinetics — Provider of seismic data acquisition services
- Symetra Financial — Life and health insurance provider
- NIBC Bank — Asset management and financial services organization
- Education and Adventure Travel Group — UK-based school travel organizer
- Guala Closures Group — Manufacturer specializing in closures for consumer and industrial goods
- Den-Mat Holdings — Producer of cosmetic and restorative dental care products
- Wastequip — Manufacturer of equipment used in waste management
- Deffenbaugh Industries — Provider of environmental and facility services
- Specialized Technology Resources — Manufacturer of solar encapsulants for photovoltaic panels and quality assurance services for consumer products
- RathGibson — Manufacturer of industrial machinery and equipment
- Total Safety U.S. — Provider of safety solutions to industrial sectors