August 11, 2010
Fred Tannenbaum says Cambridge is Committed to Making Good Choices
Fred Tannenbaum recalls watching Jeffrey Davis walk away from more than one deal because it couldn’t be made to work for all involved parties.
“For Cambridge, it’s an integrity issue. The deal that doesn’t produce a favorable or desired outcome for everyone is not worth doing,” Fred observed.
Mr. Tannenbaum is one of five managing partners at the prestigious Gould & Ratner law firm in Chicago. The 50-member firm serves as legal and business advisors to entrepreneurs and to closely held family-owned, middle market and Fortune 500 companies.
The Illinois Venture Capital Association describes him as a leading expert on private equity and venture capital, and he is a well-established authority on mergers and acquisitions as well. During his 20-year career at Gould & Ratner, Mr. Tannenbaum has represented clients in more than 500 mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and strategic alliance transactions and has been involved in more than 250 venture capital transactions as well. He says his professional association with Cambridge dates back more than 10 years.
“Over the years, Cambridge has emerged as one of the most knowledgeable and uniquely positioned companies in America dealing with senior assisted living. Among the niche companies serving this broad and growing demographic Cambridge is without peer,” he believes.
“Jeff routinely bounces ideas off me and we look at investments together. His knowledge and understanding of the business, from every conceivable angle, is impressive. And the company’s wealth and breath of industry contacts is overwhelming,” he maintains.
Mr. Tannenbaum describes Cambridge as an accessible, “hands on” company. Bureaucratic posturing is not part of the company’s corporate culture.
“You get to the top rather quickly. And indecisiveness isn’t something you’re likely to encounter when you get there,” he noted.
“Cambridge knows exactly what it wants and expects to see in a deal. No effort is made to force things. If specific criteria isn‘t met for whatever reason, the company will move on — no matter how much time has been invested in the deal,” he said.
Have you ever walked away from a deal? What helped you make the decision?
