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The Dealmaker

Lessons from a Life in Private Equity

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The Dealmaker

By: Guy Hands
Narrated by: Simon Shepherd, Guy Hands - introduction
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

An inside account of the multibillion-pound world of private equity and a masterclass on the art of deal-making.

The Dealmaker is a frank and honest account of how a severely dyslexic child who struggled at school went on to graduate from Oxford and become a serial entrepreneur.

It describes Guy Hand's career in private equity, first at Nomura and then as head of his own company, Terra Firma. It looks in detail at the huge deals that Terra Firma has done over the years, involving everything from cinema chains and pubs to waste management, aircraft leasing and green energy. And it offers a brutally honest appraisal of the one deal that turned sour - the acquisition of multinational music recording and publishing company EMI in 2007, just as a global financial crash loomed on the horizon. Above all, it takes the listener inside the previously very secretive world of private equity, explaining how this multibillion-pound sector operates and providing audio portraits of some of the larger-than-life figures who people it.

Both insightful and engaging, it will prove inspirational and essential listening for all those concerned with or interested in the world of investment.

©2021 Guy Hands (P)2021 Penguin Audio Business Business Development & Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship Professionals & Academics
All stars
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Great book, I couldn't stop listening. Whether you are a finance person or not this was most interesting.

Great book.

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I really enjoyed this excellent and honest autobiography, it was really enjoyable and was an excellent insight into the world of private equity as well as Guy's persistence to ensure his own success. It's would have been easy to write a book about the numerous successes enjoyed by TerraFirma but this account covers the good, the bad and the ugly, which is very refreshing and informative. Highly recommended.

My favourite book on Audible

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An amazing story of talent, lost perspective, determination, personal sacrifice and success. I've seen similar things first hand but never at this level.

A truly extraordinary story

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This was a really interesting and insightful book which covered off some of the wonderful growth and challenges that come with private equity. A really honest and revealing look into decades of business and deals, which worked, and which didn’t.

Insightful

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excellent insight into mega business deals, and a decade of work to realise what's important. brilliant book.

Excellent insight to mega deals and life

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Well written and well read account of a range of interesting deals, however I couldn't help but be unsettled by the authors apparent ambivalence to his wife, children and employees, sacrificing all in pursuit of financial gain.

interesting read, deeply flawed author

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Guy’s genuine and honest description of his life in banking and private equity is exceptional. It’s a must read for anyone considering or working in the banking sector.

Amazing book - must read

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This book is a mix of the authors admissions about wasting his time getting richer, over indulging, and messing up billions of dollars worth of investments.

It would be a good book for his family to read (possibly). For me it wasn't worth an audio book.

A book about a rich person

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