CFA Society Hong Kong is honored and delighted to have invited Mr. Brendan Ballou, award-winning author of “Plunder: Private Equity’s Plan to Pillage America”. In the book, Brendan uncovers the inner workings of private equity firms, and their influence on American businesses, jobs, and communities.
During the webinar, Brendan presented the highlights of his book, revealed the detrimental effects of private equity on businesses, workers, and communities. As these firms take control, prices rise, quality diminishes, jobs are cut, and resources are diverted away from productive sectors of the economy. Companies saddled with massive debts and extractive fees often face bankruptcy or become mere shadows of their former selves, impacting the communities they once served. He also shared insight into the complicity of various government entities in enabling and supporting the activities of private equity. This interdependent relationship raises questions about the role of regulation and accountability in the face of such widespread influence.
About the speaker:
Brendan Ballou is the author of “Plunder: Private Equity’s Plan to Pillage America”. He served as Special Counsel for Private Equity in the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. Previously, he worked in private practice, and before that, in the National Security Division of the Justice Department. His work has appeared in the New York Times, the Atlantic, and the Nation.
About the moderator:
Dr. Alvin Ho is an experienced investment principal with a track record in private equity. He currently splits his time between managing a portfolio of private investments and institutional investing on one end, and handholding start-ups and grown-ups seeking new iterations on the other. In addition, he serves as a board member for listed companies and NGOs and is a member of investment committees for funds and platforms. Previously the legal and executive representative for the local currency funds incorporated in Beijing and Chengdu, He was the Head of China for a pan-regional private equity growth fund.
Alvin holds a Ph.D. in Finance from the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, and master’s degrees from Tsinghua University and London Business School. He has authored three books in Chinese on the economics of sports. He is the chief editor and contributed two essays to RISE FROM CRISES, a publication of CFA Society Hong Kong.
