Jim Bernhard addressed the Rotary Club of Lafayette in the summer of 2018, likely the first chance for most of those in the audience to see and hear the wealthy Baton Rouge businessman with local roots who wanted to buy their electricity system. Or at least that was their impression of his goal, judging by
‘We are in the business of being essential’
Bernhard Capital Partners, ranking among the 300 largest private equity funds in the world, has its sights set on utility privatization but finding government partners is proving challenging—and controversial.
