The body of Thomas H. Lee reportedly was discovered in his Manhattan office.
Reports out of New York City say that a millionaire businessman shot himself to death at his office on Thursday.
The New York Post cites unnamed “police sources” who say that at about 11:10 a.m., cops were dispatched to the sixth floor of 767 Fifth Avenue, where Thomas H. Lee Capital, LLC is situated. The coroner pronounced Lee, age 78, died at the spot.
“The loss of Tom has had a devastating emotional impact on his loved ones. While the rest of the world recognized him as an early investor in private equity and a prosperous businessman, we knew him as a loving family man who placed his family and friends before himself “Michael Sitrick, a friend and spokesman for the Lee family, made the following statement.
He said, “Our hearts are crushed.” When we say, “Please give us space to mourn in peace,” we mean it.
Lee is said to have been an early investor who used debt financing to acquire enterprises. The Post calls this type of transaction a “leveraged buyout.”
He acquired Snapple in 1992, then sold it two years later for $1.7 billion.