Mitt Romney

Bain & Co. Email: We Love Mitt -- But Don't Confuse Us With That Other Bain

Brian Beutler | January 20, 2012, 2:16PM

An email from the consulting firm Bain & Company to recent hires suggests that the presidential campaign of its alum Mitt Romney is creating headaches for the firm, particularly as it attempts to differentiate itself from Bain Capital, the private equity firm Romney helped found, which has received bad publicity in recent weeks.

The email, obtained by TPM, was sent in recent days by Graham Rose, a Bain partner in its Boston office, to recent hires from the Wharton School of Business. Rose, himself a Wharton alum, oversees recruiting for Bain at Wharton. A company press release from 2008 identifies him working in the consulting firm's private equity and industrial goods and services practices.

The email reviews Romney's history with the two companies, explains how the two companies are distinct entities, and expresses pride in Romney's accomplishments while noting that the company does not play an active role in partisan politics.

Q. Is the confusion between Bain & Company and Bain Capital causing any issues?

A. We have to explain more frequently the distinction between the firms. Our clients know who we are and what we do. They know that we develop practical insights for them to act on, and share a passion for their results. Our employees know and embody our values and commitment. They've voted us Consulting magazine's Best Firm to Work For in the management consulting industry nine years in a row. Glassdoor just ranked us Best firm to work for in any industry, and Working Mother magazine named us to the list of 100 best companies for working mothers. Further, we will continue to monitor our brand and correct any inaccuracies.

Rose did not immediately respond to a request for comment from TPM.

You can read the partially redacted email, which contains a mix of talking points an company policies, below.

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Mitt Romney

Here's What Romney's Unreleased Tax Returns Almost Certainly Hide

Brian Beutler | January 5, 2012, 5:32AM

Mitt Romney still says he's unlikely to publicly release his tax information, even if he clinches the Republican presidential nomination, and Democrats have a pretty good idea why.

Romney is a privileged poster child for the "Buffett Rule" -- President Obama's principle that the tax code should make it impossible for a person of great wealth to pay a lower share of their income in taxes than ordinary people. The DNC knows it, policy wonks know it, Romney certainly knows it. But the reasons why are technical and illustrate just how different Romney is from the vast majority of Americans who will cast votes for him -- in either the GOP primary or the general election.

One tax expert told TPM of "fairly sophisticated tax strategies" that would be "not available to ordinary tax payers." A technique that puts you in a position that's "like having an unlimited 401k account" sounds very attractive. But maybe not if you're running for office, for Pete's sake.

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Mitt Romney

Romney: 'No Controversy' In Bain Exec's $1 Million Donation

Benjy Sarlin | August 8, 2011, 12:49PM

GOP Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney

That $1 million donation routed through a mysterious corporation to a Super PAC devoted to electing Mitt Romney? No big deal, Romney told reporters in New Hampshire on Monday.

"I think he came out and discussed who he is," Romney said of the donor, who revealed himself to be former Bain Capital executive Ed Conard last week. He added that there's therefore "no controversy because he said, 'Hey, it's me, and I've given to Mitt many times before.'"

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