The RJR Nabisco Takeover: A Story of Ambition and Strategy

It is 1988, and RJR Nabisco is in the center of a bidding war. Ross Johnson, the company’s ambitious CEO, was determined to take the conglomerate private through a leveraged buyout. However, he faced stiff competition from Henry Kravis, a legendary financier from Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR), who was known for his calculated and aggressive strategies. Adding to the drama, Peter Cohen, an investment banker from Shearson Lehman Hutton, was eager to enter the leveraged buyout (LBO) field and leave his mark on the high-stakes world of corporate takeovers. This video explores the intense battle for control, which took place between October and November 1988, and significantly impacted the landscape of American business.