Romney And Bain: Venture Capital, Or 'Vulture' Capital?

07:07

January 12, 2012

In 1998, Bain Capital managing director Mitt Romney signs an agreement for a "significant portion" of Domino's Pizza. (AP)

Venture capitalist or vulture capitalist? That's the question that now dogs former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romeny as he campaigns for the Republican presidential nomination. At issue, of course, is Romney's record at the investment firm Bain capital, which he led from 1984 to 1999.

Romney says that record shows that he knows how to run a business and create jobs. But his critics, including some of his Republican rivals, say that as head of Bain, Romney carved up companies, cut jobs and pocketed huge profits.

Understanding the truth about Bain's record is not straight forward — partly because venture capital companies are not subject to full public disclosure. But the Wall Street Journal's Mark Maremont examined 77 businesses that Bain invested in, and joined us by phone to talk about what he found.

Guest:

Mark Maremot, senior editor and investigative reporter, Wall Street Journal

More:

WBUR: Boston Private Equity Workers Strike Back At Romney Criticism
Wall Street Journal: Romney At Bain: Big Gains, Some Busts

This program aired on January 12, 2012.