February 14th, 2008
Who gave SCO that $100 million lifeline?
Rather than join in the high dudgeon over SCO getting a lifeline of up to $100 million to go private let’s talk a little about the man who put the deal together.
His name is Stephen L. Norris. (Picture from The Epoch Times.)
Norris’ biography takes great pride in his being a co-founder and chief strategist for the Carlyle Group. (It was, he says, the ride of a lifetime.)
Let’s let his Web page explain:
He also served on the boards of directors of major Carlyle portfolio companies. He was actively involved in recruiting all of Carlyle’s current senior partners and played a major role in recruiting President George W. Bush to serve as a director of one of its portfolio companies and in enlisting former Secretary of State James Baker III and former Secretary of Defense Frank C. Carlucci to be senior partners of Carlyle.
Please don’t think this is a Republican hack. Nuh-uh-uh. His COO comes from George Soros and who’s that over on the left of the org chart — why it’s our old friend (and former Democratic Presidential candidate) Gen. Wesley Clark!
Now you’re going to hear he’s been linked with Saudi Arabian interests. Well, he did do that. But, look, he’s maxed-out for Hillary Clinton, he gives dance tickets to poor people, and he’s helped capitalize Hollywood Pictures!
Oh, and this isn’t his only tech investment. Far from it.
Jim Zemlin of The Linux Foundation insists he’s not afraid:
“There is always margins to be had from the ruins of a wrecked company. Clearly, Norris Capital see some value in SCO’s future business model, but that value will only be realize outside and apart from any litigation. The SCO litigation has been like a bad horror flick and about as believable. This case has been going through the courts too long, and the facts remain the same. We hope that SCO’s new investment is focused on the future and not rooted in the shock value of an old scary movie.”
Whistle a happy tune, Jim!
Now, can Norris really raise the dead? Because that’s what it’s going to take to bring this lawsuit back to life.
Dana Blankenhorn has been a business journalist for 30 years, a tech freelancer since 1983. You can follow Dana on Twitter. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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| 02/15/08
