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The case of Red Lobster illustrates this troubling trend clearly. After its acquisition by Golden Gate Capital in 2014 for $2.1 billion, the company was effectively dismantled. By selling valuable real estate and forcing Red Lobster to lease these locations back at inflated rates, profits were extracted quickly, leaving the acquired business impoverished. After a series of financial struggles, exacerbated by the pandemic, Red Lobster filed for bankruptcy in May 2024, after having closed multiple locations without notifying employees beforehand. Golden Gate had already profited significantly from their initial investment and exited long before the collapse.