Guitar Center
PE-Owned1 Documented ImpactBain's $2.1B LBO loaded $1.75B in debt. Filed Chapter 11 in 2020 but survived after eliminating $800M in debt.
Ownership Information
Guitar Center is owned by Bain Capital. Private equity ownership often leads to cost-cutting, price increases, and reduced quality of service as firms prioritize returns for investors over customers and employees.Learn more about PE ownership impact →
Timeline
Guitar Center founded
Acquired by Bain Capital for $2.1 billion
Guitar Center loaded with $1.75B in debt from Bain Capital LBO
Bain's 2007 LBO loaded Guitar Center with $1.75B in debt. Filed Chapter 11 in 2020, survived by eliminating $800M in debt. One of the few PE-loaded companies to narrowly escape liquidation.
Before vs. After PE Acquisition
Debt load
Reported 2007
Before PE
$0 debt
After PE
$1.75B debt
Community Reviews
Share your experience →Tracked Locations
CA (1)
San Diego
3213 Main St
San Diego, CA 92101
555-482-3883
FL (1)
Orlando
5540 Main St
Orlando, FL 32801
555-344-5545
IL (2)
Chicago
6852 Main St
Chicago, IL 60601
555-658-6283
Chicago
4409 Main St
Chicago, IL 60601
555-152-8958
MN (1)
Minneapolis
787 Main St
Minneapolis, MN 55401
555-806-6138
NC (1)
Raleigh
6198 Main St
Raleigh, NC 27601
555-534-4500
OR (1)
Portland
414 Main St
Portland, OR 97201
555-702-5162
PA (2)
Philadelphia
5635 Main St
Philadelphia, PA 19019
555-919-9503
Pittsburgh
6898 Main St
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
555-619-9116