• Browse by: category | company | brand | product type  
  • HOME
  • THE GUIDE
  • ISSUES
  • GET INFORMED
  • GET INVOLVED
  • SHOP
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT US
  • All  |
  • Baby  |
  • Clothing  |
  • Food & Drink  |
  • Household  |
  • Office Supplies  |
  • Personal Care  |
  • Pet  |
  • Retail  |
  • Technology  |
  • Toys
  • |  Print Guide  |
  • App
  • Clothing  |
  • Electronics  |
  • Food & Drink  |
  • Household & Personal Care
  • Issues  |
  • New! Clothing  |
  • Why Shop Ethically?  |
  • 5 Principles  |
  • Companies to avoid  |
  • News  |
  • Sign Up for Updates
  • Go ethical at school, work, home  |
  • Campaign  |
  • Spread the Word  |
  • Volunteer  |
  • Workshops  |
  • Movie Nights  |
  • Fundraising
  • All Products  |
  • Shop Ethical! app  |
  • Shop Ethical! book  |
  • Stockists  |
  • Other books  |
  • Fregie sacks  |
  • FREE STUFF!  |
  • DONATE
  • Introduction  |
  • About Us  |
  • Ratings & Assessment  |
  • Media Mentions  |
  • Testimonials  |
  • FAQ

Bain Capital

OVERALL

Owned
USA
Rating
Criticisms

Private equity firm

Has made investments in more than 250 companies since 1984 including Toys'R'Us, MYOB and Gymboree. Bain has about US$17 billion in assets. Mitt Romney, the Republican candidate for USA president in 2012, was a co-founder of the company.

Bain Capital LP   USA     website         

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
Bain Capital LP
Social Pillaging American retail
In 2005, Toys "R" Us was purchased in a US$6.6 billion leveraged buyout by private equity firms Bain Capital, KKR, and Vornado Realty Trust. While Toys "R" Us' revenues remained steady over the next 13 years - US$11.1 billion in sales in 2017 - the retailer was saddled with debt it couldn't repay. By 2007, 97% of the company's operating income was consumed by interest, which left the company unable to upgrade technology or evolve its business model. The heavy debt load eventually led Toy "R" Us to file for bankruptcy in 2018. The company liquidated in June of 2018 and closed their remaining 800 stores. Over 33,000 employees of the company lost their jobs and their severance payments in bankruptcy court. The PE companies controlling the Toys "R" Us bankruptcy refused buyers that would have saved thousands of jobs and instead chose liquidation to maximize the financial extraction. The private equity firms that owned Toys "R" Us collected more than $470 million in fees and interest from the retailer over the ownership period, while a total of 64,000 jobs were lost.
Source: United 4 Respect (2019)
Business Ethics 2.9% in Financial System Benchmark
The 2022 Financial System Benchmark ranks 400 financial institutions across three measurement areas: governance and strategy, respecting planetary boundaries (environment, climate and biodiversity) and adhering to societal conventions (human rights). This company ranked #304/400, with a total score of 2.9/100.
Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2022)
Business Ethics Collusion lawsuit
In 2014 this company agreed to pay US$54 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging that the Boston firm and several other major private equity firms colluded to keep rivals from outbidding them on giant buyout deals.
Source: Boston Globe (2014)
Business Ethics Political donations
This company is on OpenSecrets.org's list of "Top Donors", a list of the 100 biggest givers in US federal-level politics since 1990. Companies on this list lobby and spend big, with large sums sent to candidates, parties and leadership PACs. This company comes in at number 54 on the list, with contributions totalling $46,702,106 between 1990 and 2020.
Source: Open Secrets (2020)
Social Workers rights in China
This 2012 report by the Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights reveals how Bain Capital owned Sensata Technologies pays their young women workers in China just 99 cents to $1.35 an hour to work 12-hour shifts, seven days a week. These workers have no freedom of religion, no freedom of speech, no political freedoms and no right to the International Labor Organization's internationally recognized labor rights standards. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Source: Global Labour Rights (2012)
Environment Climate action commitments
As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: adopt a science-based emissions reduction target.
Source: We Mean Business (2021)
Business Ethics Community support
This company claims on its website to support charities and not-for-profit organisations through its Bain Capital Community Partnership program.
Source: company website (2016)
Business Ethics Corruption
Mitt Romney, US presidential candidate in 2012, was head of this company when fraud was committed. When the fraud was reported to the US Department of Justice (2001), he 'retroactively retired'(1999) to conceal his involvement and avoid investigation. President George W. Bush's appointment of a lawyer from this company's secret law firm as a US Attorney guaranteed Romney would not be investigated despite public docket records, FEC and SEC filings showing that he profited from corruption, fraud and racketeering.
Source: Politicus USA (2012)
Business Ethics OpenSecrets.org profile
OpenSecrets.org tracks the influence of money on U.S. politics, and how that money affects policy and citizens' lives. Follow link to see this company's record of political donations, lobbying, outside spending and more.
Source: Open Secrets (2020)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Private company
Subsidiaries Domino's Pizza, Inc (30% owned) 

Pizza delivery

World's #2 pizza chain, behind Pizza Hut.


Canada Goose Holdings Inc (49% owned) 

Winter clothing

Contact Details

Address Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Website www.baincapital.com

Products / Brands

Canada Goose (49% owned)
Canada Goose Outdoor Wear


  • About Us

    • Introduction
    • About Shop Ethical!
    • About ECG
    • About the Ratings
    • Assessment sources
    • Shop Ethical! database
    • Shop Ethical! book
    • Shop Ethical! app
    • Contact us
    • FAQ

    • Copyright
    • Privacy
    • Disclaimer
  • Get Informed

    • ISSUES
    • GET INFORMED
    • Electronics Guide
    • Clothing Guide
    • Values Screen
    • Why Shop Ethically?
    • 5 Principles
    • Be Inspired
    • Calendar
    • Local Harvest
  • Get Involved

    • GET INVOLVED
    • Go Ethical at school,
      work, home, church
    • Run a workshop or tour
    • Host a movie night
    • Spread the word
    • Resources
    • Volunteer
    • Support us
  • Connect

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Suggest brand/company
    • Report an error
    • Give feedback
    • Sign up for updates
    • Past newsletters
    • >>DONATE<<

    • GET the GUIDE
        • App Store
        • Google Play
        • buy our book