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The Predators’ Ball

Page 46

by Connie Bruck


  as private company, 18, 201

  Revlon suit against, 211

  Rifkind’s resignation from, 207

  McCarthy, Fred, 66, 105–6, 116, 137, 141, 144, 183

  Malanowski, Mary Lou, 76, 130, 131

  management, 19, 154, 155, 261, 272–73

  of Dan River, 161

  Icahn’s views on, 156, 159, 162, 186, 190–91

  in leveraged buyouts, 98–99, 196

  Milken’s effects on, 19

  of National Can, 122–26, 136, 147–48, 261

  1960s takeovers and, 263

  Revlon buyout plan of, 219–21, 225

  Management and Budget, U.S. Office of, 264

  manager-owners, see owner-managers

  “Managing the Corporate Financial Structure” (Milken and Walter), 99–100

  Mandrake, 180, 181, 182

  Mansfield, Mike, 243, 316

  Mantar Associates, 16

  Manufacturers Hanover, 114, 118, 124–25, 227

  margin rules, 159, 211–12, 215, 226, 264–65

  Marks, Howard, 57, 277

  Marshall Field, 113, 126, 159–61, 189

  stock of, 159–60

  Martin, Preston, 264

  Massachusetts Mutual, 33

  Matarese Circle, The (Ludlum) 357–58

  Mattel, Inc., 292

  Maultasch, Cary, 329

  Max Factor and Company, 234, 265

  May, Peter, 13, 17, 105–12, 114–19, 144–47

  background of, 110

  financial compensation of, 145–146

  National Can deal and, 17, 105–112, 128–29, 130, 133, 135, 136, 138, 141

  Peltz’s meeting of, 110

  MCI Communications, 78–80, 243

  M.D.C. Holdings, 259

  merchant banking, 66, 191, 248, 249–50, 288–89, 308, 321

  see also bridge financing

  mergers and acquisitions (M&A), see takeovers

  Merrill Lynch, 30, 65, 250, 290, 325, 345, 346

  junk bonds and, 71

  Mesa Petroleum, 13, 17, 101, 107, 164–67

  Metromedia Broadcasting Corporation, 73, 245, 267, 347

  Metzenbaum, Howard, 258

  Mexico, 353

  Meyer, C. E., Jr., 172

  mezzanine financing, 98–99, 100, 123–24

  MGM/UA Entertainment Company, 78–79, 304

  Middlebury College, 182

  “Mid-Week Option Report, The,” 151

  Midwest Federal Savings and Loan Association, 291

  Milken, Bernard, 24, 50, 53, 67

  Milken, Mrs. Bernard, 53

  Milken, Lori Anne Hackel, 24, 50, 52, 81, 106, 313–14

  Milken, Lowell, 54–55

  appearance of, 55

  Boesky Day and, 320, 342–43

  brother compared with, 55

  as brother’s confidant, 55

  brother’s disagreements with, 306

  brother’s investments with, 80–82, 313

  control as obsession of, 55

  political contributions of, 259

  Milken, Michael:

  anti-Semitism and, 29

  appearance of, 11, 23, 24, 329, 355

  arrogance of, 25

  auto accident of, 313

  autonomy of, 32–33, 50–53, 69, 297–98, 304–5

  background of, 23, 24, 354–55

  Boesky Day and, 317–30

  bonuses of, 247

  client relationships of, 287–92

  collectivism and antihierarchical form as preoccupations of, 84–86, 297, 356

  college-years portfolio management of, 24, 27–28

  commitment to helping people of, 57, 358–59

  competition as viewed by, 249, 358–59

  compulsion of, 314

  connection’s importance to, 68

  as contra-thinker, 70

  conversational style of, 315

  corporate establishment as viewed by, 12

  corporate finance’s merger with, 66–68, 299

  critics of, 266–68, 270, 301–3, 344–46

  disciples of, 52, 83–84, 94, 262

  diverse functions of, 307

  dominant position of, 94–95

  at Drexel Burnham, 31–40, 42–48

  at Drexel Firestone, 23–24, 27–31, 271

  at Drexel Harriman Ripley, 24–27

  education of, 24

  ego and appetite of, 14, 18, 245, 252, 301–2

  familiarity sought by, 26

  on financing as art form, 249

  as fortune-maker, 12, 51–52, 57–58, 68–69, 88–93

  franchise arrangement of, 10–11

  Gobhai meetings and, 62–66, 100–101

  as great equalizer, 203

  greed of, 250, 252, 255, 312–13, 314, 357

  hearing of, 87

  honor of, 79

  hubris of, 315–16

  as inspired salesman, 55–57, 95, 358

  investment partnerships of, 80–83, 279, 282, 299–300, 308, 310, 357

  in Japan, 243–44, 315

  kinetic quality of, 12, 24, 255, 301, 314

  as the King, 10, 16, 80, 84, 319, 359

  legacy of, 347

  lifestyle of, 313–14, 357

  limited-partner status of, 279, 310

  loyalty concerns of, 52, 68, 86, 88, 277, 286

  as magician, 14, 109, 141, 192, 193

  memory of, 95, 309

  meritocracy of, 301

  messianic qualities of, 11, 25, 29, 56, 68, 84, 233, 243–44, 262, 271, 334, 357

  money machine of, 275–84, 290, 302, 312

  “monsters” created by, 142, 185, 295–96

  motivations of, 312–14

  as “national treasure,” 353

  new paper invented by, 71–72

  “perception vs. reality” theme of, 271–72, 297, 355

  personality of, 12, 16, 18, 25, 55

  philanthropy of, 313–14

  placement service of, 277–78

  political role and contributions of, 259, 264

  power of, 55, 66, 73, 285–87, 297, 302, 327, 347, 356, 359

  Predators’ Ball (1985) and, 10–17, 294

  Predators’ Ball (1987) and, 329

  press debut of, 353–54

  principal mentality of, 28, 64, 289–90

  pros and cons of work of, 19–20, 347

  refusal to cut back deals of, 79–80, 166

  reinvestment policy of, 33, 58, 357

  reverse snobbism of, 84–85

  SEC depositions of, 35, 79, 81, 83, 85–88, 279, 308–12, 315, 326

  secrecy and control desired by, 32, 53, 55, 68, 69, 86, 87, 112, 149, 279, 285–89, 324, 326, 327, 352, 354, 356, 357, 359

  self-image of, 88

  showmanship of, 95

  social discomfort of, 23–24

  speeches of, 271–74, 297, 347, 359

  summary of process used by, 244

  time off of, 88, 106

  in time warp, 347–48

  toughness of, 79

  trading profits of, 32, 51, 64, 69, 311

  trusts for children of, 81, 93

  tyrannical behavior of, 301–2

  Underwriting Assistance Committee vs., 304–8, 351

  as upside player, 33–34, 58

  wealth dilemma of, 356–57

  work habits of, 10, 16, 50, 51, 53, 56, 63, 86–87, 106, 298, 315, 357

  see also Drexel Burnham Lambert

  Milken, Sandra, 55, 81

  Milken family, assets of, 54

  Milken Family Foundation, 314

  Milow Corporation, 82

  Milton Bradley, 198

  mini-Predators’ Ball (1986), 243–44, 316, 340

  Mitchell, Michael, 211

  Mizel, Larry, 259

  money managers, 11, 14, 277

  Milken’s speeches to, 271–74, 297, 359

  money-market mutual funds, 91

  Montagu, Samuel, 191

  Germaine Monteil, 234

  Moody’s, 27

&nbs
p; Moredon Partners Ltd., 81

  Morgan, J. P. 26, 66, 270

  J. P. Morgan and Company, 26

  Morgan Guaranty Trust Company, 26, 227, 254, 255

  Morgan Stanley and Company, 30, 65, 95, 248–49, 250, 287

  political contributions of, 260

  Revlon battle and, 209–10, 217, 220, 231

  mortgages, 91, 281, 298

  leveraged buyouts compared with, 99

  Mount Vemon Associates, Inc., 146

  Movie Labs, 198

  movies, 73–74

  as tax shelters, 54

  Mulheren, John, 35

  Multimedia, 17

  municipal finance, 251, 281

  Murdoch, Rupert, 245, 267

  mutual funds, 91

  closed-end, 154

  discount-bond, 33

  high-yield, 73, 79–80, 94

  REITs compared with, 34

  National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), 81

  National Bond Fund, 33

  National Can, National Can deal, 13–14, 17–18, 105–9, 119, 122–142, 144, 146–48, 170, 203, 273, 323–24

  American Can acquired by, 141, 142

  bonds trading hands and, 131–35

  bonus pool and, 136

  business improved at, 137–38

  commitments raised for, 129–32, 136, 137, 168

  first vs. second tier and, 134–35

  as hard sell, 126

  as hostile takeover, 130–31

  management of, 122–26, 136, 147–48, 261

  stock of, 122, 123, 125, 126, 137, 148

  National Health Laboratories, 225, 234

  National Westminster Bank USA, 161

  Neto, Delfin, 197

  Newberg, Bruce, 328

  New Jersey Bureau of Securities, 160

  New York, 257

  New York Air, 173

  New York Central Railroad, 155

  New York State Insurance Commissioner, 280

  New York Stock Exchange, 72, 108, 151, 160

  New York Times, 177, 217, 228, 342, 351

  Norcliff Thayer health products, 232

  Nortek, 213–14

  Northview Corporation, 319

  Northwest Airlines, 184

  Northwest Industries, 17, 135, 143, 163

  Nortman, Stanley, 190

  NPM (consulting company), 112, 118, 145

  NVF Company, 120, 122–23

  Oakley-Sutton Management Corporation, 81, 328

  O’Brien, Jack, 47

  Occidental Petroleum Corporation, 243

  Ocean, Billy, 348

  oil companies, disastrous investments of, 272

  Onassis, Jacqueline, 236

  One First National Plaza, 312

  O’Neill, Jennifer, 189

  “One-Man Revolution, A” (Sloan and Rudnitsky), 270

  Oppenheim, Appel, Dixon and Company, 320

  Oppenheimer, 65, 287

  options, 151, 152, 162–63

  Orens, Morris, 155

  Otter Creek (Milken investment partnership), 81, 279

  overfunding, 68, 290, 302

  Owens Illinois, 161

  owner-managers, 67, 69, 88

  Considine’s views on, 263

  return of, 19, 186, 273, 332

  Weinroth’s views on, 332–33

  Oxoco, 209, 249

  Ozark Airlines, 184

  Pacific Asset Holdings, 278–79

  Pacific Lumber, 143

  Paine Webber, 178–80, 335

  Pan American World Airways, 44, 258

  Pangia, Robert, 253

  Panner, Owen, 284

  Pantry Pride, 18, 193, 197, 198, 201–240, 272–73, 352

  disclosure violations allegations and, 212–14, 226

  Drapkin’s purchase of convertible debentures of, 208

  net operating loss (NOL) of, 201

  Revlon battle team of, 208–9, 211

  Revlon lawsuit against, 211–13, 215

  Revlon’s merger with, 234

  stock of, 202, 213, 231

  Papitto, Ralph, 213, 215

  PARS (TWA’s computerized reservation system), 179–80, 181, 184

  partnerships:

  of Drexel corporate finance investment, 68–69

  general vs. limited, 68

  Parton, Dolly, 60

  passbook accounts, 91

  Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison, 105, 128, 194, 196, 207

  Peiser, Robert, 19, 170, 172, 178, 181

  Peltz, Nelson, 13, 14, 105–19, 140–148, 160, 168, 190, 201

  ambitions of, 110–11

  background of, 109

  career path of, 109–12

  financial compensation of, 145–146

  Icahn compared with, 169–70, 187

  lifestyle of, 108, 110, 112, 144–45, 186

  May’s meeting of, 110

  Milken introduced to, 112

  Milken’s relationship with, 108, 146–47, 170

  National Can deal and, 17–18, 105–9, 119, 125–32, 135, 138, 140, 170, 323–24

  parrot incident and, 112

  Revlon battle and, 212

  as symbol of new Drexel, 140–42

  Uniroyal and, 141–45, 170, 263

  Peltz, Robert, 109–10, 111

  Abe Peltz and Sons, 109

  Penn Central, 165

  bonds of, 34, 112

  Pennsylvania, University of, Wharton School of, 24, 59

  Pennsylvania Engineering, 122–23, 322, 324

  Pennzoil, 164

  pension funds, 94, 120, 207

  People Express, 249, 287

  “perception vs. reality” theme, 271–72, 297, 355

  Perelman, Claudia Cohen, 198, 218, 236

  Perelman, Faith Golding, 196, 198, 201, 202

  Perelman, Raymond, 198

  Perelman, Ronald, 109, 120, 193–240, 333

  background of, 198–99

  divorce of, 201, 202

  lawsuit against, 199–201

  Levine and, 234–35

  MacAndrews and Forbes and, 18, 132, 193, 198, 199, 201, 203, 235, 237, 305

  Milken’s relationship with, 235–236, 238

  Murdoch and, 245

  National Can deal and, 125, 132, 135

  Pantry Pride and, 18, 193, 197, 199, 201–40, 272–73

  personality of, 194, 238, 240

  post-Revlon acquisitions of, 233–234

  at Predators’ Ball (1986), 14, 258

  Revlon and, 18, 117, 182, 193, 203–40, 347; see also Revlon, Inc.

  Salomon Brothers and, 346–47

  Shenkman and, 277

  social climbing of, 186, 236

  Technicolor acquired by, 198–201, 210

  Pesonen, Eerki, 281, 283

  Phibro Corporation, 248

  Philadelphia Electric, 42

  philanthropy, 189, 313–14

  Philip Morris Companies Inc., 221

  Phillips Petroleum, 13, 19, 107, 127, 130, 163–71, 173, 191, 203, 208, 322

  Drexel commitments for, 19, 167–68

  as Drexel’s coming-out, 169

  leveraged buyout of, 166–67

  recapitalization plan of, 164, 167, 169

  stock of, 164, 165, 168–69

  uniqueness of Icahn’s bid for, 166

  Picara Valley, 160–61

  Pickens, T. Boone, Jr., 13, 14, 100, 102, 107, 109, 203, 218, 231, 355

  Phillips Petroleum and, 13, 164, 165, 166, 171

  at Predators’ Ball (1986), 258

  Pierce, Fenner and Smith, 30

  poison pill, 168, 216, 217, 224, 226, 256

  Polaroid, 152

  Political Action Committees (PACs), 259

  political contributions, 259, 260

  politics, Drexel’s influence on, 258–260, 264–65

  polo matches, 190

  Posner, Steven, 121

  Posner, Victor, 12–13, 16, 93, 106, 119–25, 156

  Boesky Day and, 318, 320–23

  business problems of, 128, 139–40


  Considine and, 122–23, 125

  Engel and, 121, 123, 338, 340

  first business venture of, 121–22

  fortune made by, 120

  National Can and, 119, 122–25, 127–29, 131, 132, 139–40, 146

  personality of, 120–22

  Predators’ Ball (1985), 10–20, 135–136, 141, 170, 183, 259, 294

  entertainment at, 16

  “girls” at, 15

  Predators’ Ball (1986), 182–83, 257–259, 291, 302

  Predators’ Ball (1987), 329

  preferred stock, 290, 325

  defined, 265

  President’s Council of Economic Advisers, 261–63, 270

  Prime Capital Associates, 231

  Princeton-Newport Limited Partnership, 81, 311, 328

  Princeton University, 189

  Princeville Development Corporation, 284

  private placements, 129–30

  disadvantages of, 130

  insurance companies and, 45, 46, 100

  Revlon battle and, 217–18, 223

  Procter and Gamble, 221

  productivity, Milken’s views on, 356–57

  Provident Bank, 36

  proxy fights, 154–55, 157–59, 164–165, 168, 172, 202–3

  Prudential Bache, 252

  Prudential Insurance Company of America, 134, 311

  publicity, Milken’s views on, 86

  Pullman, 96

  Quanex, 349

  “quasi-trader salesmen,” 86

  Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), 159–60

  Rainwater, Richard, 278

  Ralston Purina, 334

  RA Partnership, 81

  “Rape and Pillage in the Corporate Takeover Jungle” (Lipton), 204

  Rapid-American, 35, 37–38, 83, 93, 327

  RCA, 99

  Reagan Administration, 97, 260, 264

  real-estate investment trusts (REITs), 34–35, 44–45, 154–55, 307, 308

  recession, 29, 33, 34, 70–71, 77, 270, 345

  Regan, James, 81–83, 300, 311, 327–328

  Reheis special chemical business, 232

  Reich, Ilan, 318

  REITs (real-estate investment trusts), 34–35, 44–45, 154–55, 307, 308

  relationship banking, 63

  “Relationship Group,” 340

  Reliance Capital Group, L. P., 16, 120

  Reliance Financial Services Corporation, 13, 35, 38, 83, 107, 164, 293–94

  Reliance Group Holdings, 82

  Reliance Insurance Company, 36, 93, 291

  Republic Corporation, 292

  research and development (R&D), 19, 205, 262, 263

  Resorts International, 58, 173

  restructuring, corporate, 19

  retirement, 253

  Revlon, Inc., 18, 117, 182, 193, 203–240, 280, 347, 352

  banks in battle for, 210–11

  bond purchases and trading and, 232–33

  commitment fees and, 221, 223, 232

  conquest of, as end of an era, 227–30

  defense moves of, 210–13, 215–17, 224, 226–27

  defense team of, 204–8

  divestures and, 210, 221, 231

 

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