Podcast & Book Reviews

Book Review | Barbarians At The Gate: The Fall of RJR Nabisco | Bryan Burrough & John Helyar

Written by Robert Miller | Jun 25, 2019 4:08:36 AM

By Robert Miller | Portfolio Manager at NAOS Asset Management

A Wall Street story for the ages. This book, first published in 1989 then adapted to film in the 1990s. Barbarians At The Gate is a detailed portrayal of how a global tobacco business merged with an old biscuit making business, to form RJR Nabisco.

We see an insight into the environment of the 1980s whereby junk debt was excessive, corporate greed was normal and leveraged buyouts came to be. The fight for control of the combined RJR Nabisco took all of the above factors to the next level. The incredible level of detail in which we hear about the events of the late 1980s is financial investigative journalism at its best. A very enjoyable read.