Fir Tree Portfolio Company Quotes on Positive Activism^®

"I have always appreciated Fir Tree's thoughtful advice, which we took into consideration when we adopted a new capital allocation strategy when I was named CEO of the AES Corporation in September of 2011."

Andres Gluski, President and CEO

“The Fir Tree team has been a value-add creditor. They participated in numerous settlement negotiations throughout the restructuring process which facilitated the company’s success post emergence.”

Bill Gallagher, President and CEO

"Fir Tree was a constructive voice in a complex and challenging restructuring."

Jeffrey Peek, former Chief Executive Officer

"Fir Tree asked if I would serve on the board to Echelon, a real estate development company located in Florida. Working with management, substantial value was created and the company was sold profitably to a third-party."

Stephen Blank, former Fir Tree representative to Echelon Board of Directors

"Owning nearly 10% of Encore Acquisition at the time, Fir Tree supported us on a number of strategic fronts including a shareholder repurchase plan and MLP formation for our long lived assets that created tremendous shareholder value."

Jonny Brumley, Chief Executive Officer

"Fir Tree led the ad hoc group of investors in FGIC insured bonds through an innovative restructuring over the last three years that will likely serve as a blueprint for the industry going forward. The rehabilitation plan was a 'win-win' for all parties and Fir Tree was a valued partner to our management team."

John S. Dubel, Chief Executive Officer

Fir Tree helped design and lead an innovative board design and selection process for what is now the largest bankruptcy in history. Incentives were put in place to align interests and empower the board to increase the overall value of the estate on an expedited basis. 

“Fir Tree approached Nextel with an inventive debt for equity swap that greatly improved our company’s financial strength."

Dennis Weibling, former Chief Executive Officer

"As a large owner of our company in 2007, through a series of constructive dialogues, we worked with Fir Tree on a shareholder value creation program that was implemented following a large company acquisition."

James Flores, Chief Executive Officer

"Fir Tree’s long term view and support of my management team was a critical component of our successful turnaround. It was refreshing to have a major investor with both highly constructive ideas and a long term view."

Richard Haddrill, Chairman of the Board and former Chief Executive Officer

"In 2000 I was appointed to the RH Donnelley board as Fir Tree’s representative. At the time Donnelley was the largest yellow page business in the US and it had recently been spun off from its parent company, Dun & Bradstreet. This was a time when the Internet began to emerge as a game changing technological threat and so my focus for value creation centered on tech initiatives and ensuring that capital allocation was done to maximize shareholder value."

Darius Gaskins, former Fir Tree representative to RH Donnelly Board of Directors

"I first met the Fir Tree team when they were large holders of Rite-Aid debt and they approached me with an innovative debt-for-equity swap proposal. We ended up completing many debt-for-equity swaps with Fir Tree which both helped us deleverage and provided us with the financial flexibility to grow our business."

Dave Jessick, former Chief Financial Officer

"We have worked with Fir Tree on a number of inventive restructuring transactions for us, and they have been a good partner. They provided constructive support to our management team and were quick to commit large sums of capital to complex deals."

Claude LeBlanc, Chief Restructuring Officer

“The principals at Fir Tree were instrumental partners in the growth and development of The Official Information Company. Their smart and constructive advice helped us develop, finance and execute a growth plan that created five separate operating businesses which were later sold in multiple value-enhancing transactions on behalf of our shareholders.”

Ian Thomas, former Chief Executive Officer

"Fir Tree's meaningful suggestions regarding our dividend policy and information disclosures were enormously helpful. We believe they significantly enhanced shareholder value."

Trevor Bond, Chief Executive Officer