Private equity pioneer Thomas H. Lee died of a self inflicted gunshot wound yesterday morning. He was 78. Lee founded the PE firm that bore his name in 1974. He formed Lee Equity Partners in 2006.
I do not know the burdens Mr. Lee faced but his firm invested in Summit Behavioral Health and Bradford Health Services.
Summit - Provider of residential and outpatient substance use disorder treatment services and acute psychiatric care.
Bradford - A substance use disorder (“SUD”) treatment provider in the Southeast. Bradford Health is a regional leader in the Southeast with a strong market presence in Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Arkansas.
Lee's $2 billion will not follow him. It remains on this earthly plane.
May his family and friends find solace in their memories of Mr. Lee. Life is challenging, even for a politically connected private equity underwriter.
