Lyndon Lea
Encyclopedia
Lyndon Lea is an English financier
and investor, known for co-founding Lion Capital
which specializes in making investments in the consumer sector.
, Lancashire
, England, United Kingdom. His mother was a hairdresser and his father was an engineer who loved travel. Lea spent his childhood growing up in South Africa
, Botswana
and Canada
, where he became a citizen. In 1990, after graduating in business administration from the University of Western Ontario
, his career started in the mergers and acquisitions department of Goldman Sachs
in New York. He returned to London in 1992 and, after a brief spell in the investment-banking division of Schroders, he was recruited with current Lion partner, Neil Richardson, to start the European affiliate (Glenisla) of industry giant Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co. In 1998 he was spotted by Hicks Muse and brought in to launch their new European business. In 2004, gained prominence by separating the business he ran from its ailing American parent, Hicks Muse, into one of the best-known firms in the investment business.
ranch in Santa Barbara, California
where he has reportedly hosted several lavish summer parties at his Californian beach house which have included entertainment from acts such as Cirque du Soleil and beautiful women. His leveraged buy outs and high profile rescues of fashion companies have made him a staple of the UK and New York press. Lea's company, Lion Capital, has raised approximately €4 billion of investor capital since inception in 2004.
In July 2011 Lea's team Zacara won the prestigious Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship, at Cowdray Park.
Lea is also a supporter and advocate for Not For Sale, a charity that raises awareness of modern day slavery.
Lea has also served on the board of several public companies including Harry Winston
, American Apparel
, Yell Group
and Premier Foods
.
Financier
Financier is a term for a person who handles typically large sums of money, usually involving money lending, financing projects, large-scale investing, or large-scale money management. The term is French, and derives from finance or payment...
and investor, known for co-founding Lion Capital
Lion Capital LLP
Lion Capital LLP is a British private equity firm, primarily focusing on leveraged buyout investments in Europe. The firm specializes on investments in the consumer sector...
which specializes in making investments in the consumer sector.
Early life
Lea was born in MorecambeMorecambe
Morecambe is a resort town and civil parish within the City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. As of 2001 it has a resident population of 38,917. It faces into Morecambe Bay...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England, United Kingdom. His mother was a hairdresser and his father was an engineer who loved travel. Lea spent his childhood growing up in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where he became a citizen. In 1990, after graduating in business administration from the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
, his career started in the mergers and acquisitions department of Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
in New York. He returned to London in 1992 and, after a brief spell in the investment-banking division of Schroders, he was recruited with current Lion partner, Neil Richardson, to start the European affiliate (Glenisla) of industry giant Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co. In 1998 he was spotted by Hicks Muse and brought in to launch their new European business. In 2004, gained prominence by separating the business he ran from its ailing American parent, Hicks Muse, into one of the best-known firms in the investment business.
Life and Style
Lea is known for his unique, hands-on investing style and glamourous personal life. He owns a poloPolo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...
ranch in Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
where he has reportedly hosted several lavish summer parties at his Californian beach house which have included entertainment from acts such as Cirque du Soleil and beautiful women. His leveraged buy outs and high profile rescues of fashion companies have made him a staple of the UK and New York press. Lea's company, Lion Capital, has raised approximately €4 billion of investor capital since inception in 2004.
In July 2011 Lea's team Zacara won the prestigious Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship, at Cowdray Park.
Lea is also a supporter and advocate for Not For Sale, a charity that raises awareness of modern day slavery.
Human trafficking
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or a modern-day form of slavery...
Investments
Lea's career has been marked by many successful and diverse investments including:- Acquired 76% of AllSaints Spitalfields in 2011 for £105 million;
- Sold Jimmy ChooJimmy ChooDato' Jimmy Choo, OBE, born Choo Yeang Keat, is a Malaysian fashion designer based in London, United Kingdom. He is best known for founding Jimmy Choo Ltd that became known for its handmade women's shoes....
in 2007 for £185 million; - Invested $80 million in American ApparelAmerican ApparelAmerican Apparel is a clothing manufacturer in the United States. It is a vertically integrated clothing manufacturer, wholesaler, and retailer that also performs its own design, advertising, and marketing...
in 2009 - Purchased Bumble Bee Foods for $980 million in 2011
- Purchased Picard in 2010 for €1.5 billion
- Sold Kettle Chips in 2010 for $615 million
- Sold OranginaOranginaOrangina is a carbonated citrus beverage made from orange, lemon, mandarin, and grapefruit juice. The concept of Orangina originated at a trade fair in France and was first marketed in Algeria by the French Algerian Léon Beton...
Schweppes for €2.6 billion in 2009 - Acquired Findus and Young’s in 2008 for £1.1 billion
- Sold WagamamaWagamamaWagamama is a British-headquartered restaurant chain, serving pan-Asian food in the style of a modern Japanese Ramen bar.-History:Created by Alan Yau, who subsequently created the Chinese restaurants Hakkasan and Yauatcha in London, the first Wagamama opened in 1992 off Gower Street in...
in 2011 for £215 million - Bought WeetabixWeetabixWeetabix is a whole grain wheat breakfast cereal produced by Weetabix Limited of the United Kingdom. It comes in the form of palm-sized biscuits. Variants include organic and Weetabix Minis versions. The UK cereal is manufactured in Burton Latimer, Kettering, United Kingdom and in Canada and...
in 2004 for £640 million - Sold Champagne Mumm & Perrier-Jouet in 2001 to Allied Domecq
Lea has also served on the board of several public companies including Harry Winston
Harry Winston
Harry Winston was an American jeweler. He donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958 after owning it for a decade, and traded the Portuguese Diamond to the Smithsonian in 1963.-History:...
, American Apparel
American Apparel
American Apparel is a clothing manufacturer in the United States. It is a vertically integrated clothing manufacturer, wholesaler, and retailer that also performs its own design, advertising, and marketing...
, Yell Group
Yell Group
Yell Group plc is a multinational directories company headquartered in Reading, United Kingdom. As well as the United Kingdom, it has operations in the United States, Spain and some countries in Latin America...
and Premier Foods
Premier Foods
Premier Foods plc is a British food manufacturer headquartered in St Albans, Hertfordshire. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
.