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'''Robert Frank Agostinelli''' (born May 21, 1953) is an [[Italian American]] [[investor]] who is the [[chairman]] and [[co-founder]] of [[private equity]] firm [[Rhône Group]]. According to [[Forbes]] <ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.forbes.com/profile/robert-agostinelli/ | work=Forbes}}</ref> Agostinelli has a rumored [[net worth]] of [[$]]1.0 billion as of March 2012, although this figure is in dispute, with other sources stating that despite the public relations campaign around his purported fiscal status, Agostinelli is merely a "wealthy financier" but not a billionaire. Sporting Intelligence clarifies that "The London arm of the Rhone Group (Rhone Group LLP) had an annual turnover in its most recent accounts of just £5.9m. While the firm “manages” total funds of £3bn globally, the emphasis is on “manages.” Rhone doesn’t “own” this money; it takes fees from moving its clients’ cash between investments."<ref>http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2010/03/17/revealed-the-motives-driving-rhones-liverpool-bidders-170301/</ref><ref>http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2010/03/15/who-are-the-rhone-group-q-a-100252-26034912/</ref>
'''Robert Frank Agostinelli''' (born May 21, 1953) is an [[Italian American]] [[investor]] who is the [[chairman]] and [[co-founder]] of [[private equity]] firm [[Rhône Group]]. According to [[Forbes]] <ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.forbes.com/profile/robert-agostinelli/ | work=Forbes}}</ref> Agostinelli has a rumored [[net worth]] of [[$]]1.0 billion as of March 2012, although this figure is in dispute, with other sources stating that despite the public relations campaign around his purported fiscal status, Agostinelli is merely a "wealthy financier" but not a billionaire. Sporting Intelligence clarifies that "The London arm of the Rhone Group (Rhone Group LLP) had an annual turnover in its most recent accounts of just £5.9m. While the firm “manages” total funds of £3bn globally, the emphasis is on “manages.” Rhone doesn’t “own” this money; it takes fees from moving its clients’ cash between investments."<ref>http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2010/03/17/revealed-the-motives-driving-rhones-liverpool-bidders-170301/</ref><ref>http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2010/03/15/who-are-the-rhone-group-q-a-100252-26034912/</ref> In correlation with the PR campaign, [[The Sunday Times Rich List]] and [[Financial News]] <ref>http://www.efinancialnews.com/story/2011-05-09/sunday-times-rich-list-financiers-2011</ref> blindly and likely inaccurately estimated Agostinelli’s [[net worth]] at [[£]]630 million <ref>http://features.thesundaytimes.co.uk/richlist/2012/live/richlist/view/group6/1/rank/-/agostinelli#list</ref> as of 2012 ranking him at #124 among the richest people in the [[United Kingdom]].<ref>http://www.richest-people.co.uk/trends/new-entries-2011/</ref>


== Early Life and Education ==
== Early Life and Education ==

Revision as of 19:39, 12 November 2012

Robert F. Agostinelli
Born (1953-05-21) May 21, 1953 (age 71)
Rochester, New York, USA
NationalityAmerican United States
Alma materColumbia University (M.B.A.)
Occupation(s)Businessman
Investor
Co-founder, Chairman of
Rhône Group
Known forRhône Group
Friends of Israel Initiative
Former Vice-Chairman of the Council of the United States & Italy
Political partyRepublican
Children4
Websitewww.RhoneGroup.com

Robert Frank Agostinelli (born May 21, 1953) is an Italian American investor who is the chairman and co-founder of private equity firm Rhône Group. According to Forbes [1] Agostinelli has a rumored net worth of $1.0 billion as of March 2012, although this figure is in dispute, with other sources stating that despite the public relations campaign around his purported fiscal status, Agostinelli is merely a "wealthy financier" but not a billionaire. Sporting Intelligence clarifies that "The London arm of the Rhone Group (Rhone Group LLP) had an annual turnover in its most recent accounts of just £5.9m. While the firm “manages” total funds of £3bn globally, the emphasis is on “manages.” Rhone doesn’t “own” this money; it takes fees from moving its clients’ cash between investments."[2][3] In correlation with the PR campaign, The Sunday Times Rich List and Financial News [4] blindly and likely inaccurately estimated Agostinelli’s net worth at £630 million [5] as of 2012 ranking him at #124 among the richest people in the United Kingdom.[6]

Early Life and Education

Agostinelli was born to Italian immigrant parents outside of Rochester, New York and attended the Aquinas Institute in suburban Rochester. He went on to obtain his BA from St. John Fisher College in 1976 and then attended Columbia University where he received his MBA and graduated in 1981 with highest honors [7] and is on the Alumni Board.[8] Agostinelli is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).[9]

Career

Agostinelli began his career in financial services at the Investment Bank Jacob Rothschild from 1981–1982 and then joined Goldman Sachs and became a senior partner where he worked for five years and founded the firm's international mergers and acquisitions business in London and was involved in a number of the largest transactions [10] in European takeover history.[11] Agostinelli left for Lazard Frères to become a senior partner in New York from 1987 until leaving in 1995. After which point, Agostinelli together with fellow partner Steven Langman [12] then went on to start their own firm,[13] the Rhône Group where he continues to work today.[14]

Politics and Philanthropy

File:NicolasSarkozy&RobertAgostinelli.jpg
Nicolas Sarkozy and Robert Agostinelli jogging in July 2007

Agostinelli is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and a major supporter of Zionist and neoconservative causes.[15] He is one of the Founding Members of the Friends of Israel Initiative (FII).[16] He is former Vice-Chairman of the Council of the United States and Italy as well as a member of the Investment Committee of Corporate World Opportunities of BSI Group / Generali Group; and a director and advisor to a number of European and U.S. philanthropic and civic institutions.[17] In 2008 Agostinelli provided substantial funding to the Presidential Campaigns of John McCain and Rudy Giuliani.[18]

In 2007 under pressure from the French media, president Nicolas Sarkozy admitted to Le Monde that Agostinelli had paid the $60k per week fee on a luxury villa for him and his family [19] during his controversial 2006 holiday to the United States.[20] Agostinelli is often seen jogging [21] with Sarkozy in various places around the world.[22] He is also a senior member of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation led by The American Patriots Campaign Cabinet.[23] As well as donating to the Hospice of Spokane Foundation.[24] He is a Senior Board Director on the American Italian Cancer Foundation.[25] Agostinelli is known for regularly writing articles in the Wall Street Journal and The Washington Times [26] on various controversial [27] political, economic and social issues. In addition to supporting The American Jewish Committee Magazine and on the board of directors of The National Review.[28] In August 2011 The National Review reported that Agostinelli gave a speech at the U.S Naval War College [29] where he was later interviewed by The Washington Times.[30]

Agostinelli is a regular guest speaker at conferences and seminars worldwide [31] and was listed in 2010 by Bilderberg.org [32] as a member of the Bilderberg Group [33] from the membership roster of The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). In 2007 Agostinelli was listed in a publication by the 'Secret Societies & Undue influence',[34] along with being labelled as a 'notable' [35] council member by TheWorldsProphecy.com since 1996.[36] He has been a long time supporter of the Bush family’s political aspirations, which was something which according to a gossip website actually brought Jeb Bush to discuss privately with Agostinelli two years ago a run by the latter for governor of Florida. However, this rumor was never confirmed.[37]

Friends of Israel Initiative

File:Jpost.jpg
David Trimble, José Maria Aznar, President Shimon Peres, John R. Bolton and Robert Agostinelli in July 2011

Agostinelli along with his delegation of senior leaders from the Friends of Israel Initiative met with President Shimon Peres at Beit HaNassi in Jerusalem in July 2011. The delegation included former Spanish Prime Minister José Aznar, former US Ambassador to the United Nations John R. Bolton, and Noble Peace Prize laureate Lord David Trimble. The President held a working meeting with Agostinelli [38] and presented an overview of the situation in Israel and the region at large.[39] Agostinelli stated;

Israel is a fundamentally important part of the Western world. It is a democracy under fire, and we must be resolute in defense of its legitimacy.

[40]

The Last Tycoon

In William D. Cohan's best selling book "The Last Tycoons: The Secret History of Lazard Frères & Co., Agostinelli is described as:[41]

suave, sophisticated, energetic international financier with extravagant tastes and slicked-back jet-black hair, who pretended to speak Italian but could not.

Cohan mentions how Agostinelli played a pivotal role in building Lazard, for the most part Agostinelli is critiqued.[42]

In Chapter 14, entitled It's A White Man's World Agostinelli is further portrayed;[43]

flamboyant Agostinelli, who had taken to having a gourmet chef prepare his meals for his overseas first-class flights and having Frette sheets FedExed to his hotel rooms in advance of his arrival. - His American Express bills were said to be on the order of $200,000 a month.

[44]

Robert Agostinelli giving a speech at the Naval War College in 2011

In 2011, his donor status afforded Robert Agostinelli the opportunity to give a speech at the Mahan Reading Room on U.S national security as a result of the policy decisions taken in reaction to the 2008 financial crisis, Agostinelli shared his insights and views with senior officers and Foundation trustees and members. He argued that since the meltdown, the U.S and global financial sectors remain more fragile. Explaining that while the initial reactions by U.S policy makers may have temporarily stabilized the liquidity crunch, the decisions to pick “winners and losers” and to not allow companies to go bankrupt may have negative long term implications. Chief amongst these could be a massive drag on future U.S economic growth - resulting in some unprecedented intrusion into our freedoms.[45]

Regarding China, Agostinelli argued that the U.S simply could not afford to support the current level of deficit spending and that unless policymakers face this head on, the US will continue to give China greater sway over its affairs - China Investment Corporation (CIC) controls hundreds of billions of US dollars, most from buying US debt, and while there is currently a mutual interdependence between China and the U.S, this could change over time. U.S policymakers must therefore be prepared for possible national security repercussions. During the Q & A session Agostinelli answered the final question, which was written about in the Washington Times and The National Review, a publication to which Agostinelli donates considerably, the following day: “What keeps you awake at night?” His answer; “Debt out of control; entitlement spending out of control; and loss of economic freedom and opportunity”.[46][47]

Controversy

  • Death Threats

In July 2006 one of Agostinelli’s young Rhone Group associates named Colin Hall was in Les Caves du Roy night club in Saint-Tropez,[48] France when he was attacked by a man named John Washington.[49] Hall was left in a coma but miraculously awoke one week later,[50] while a nationwide manhunt was underway for Washington. In a press release Washington’s lawyer stated that he was being prosecuted unfairly because of direct pressure applied by Agostinelli due to his close relationship to French president Nicolas Sarkozy.[51] An immediate international arrest warrant was put into motion, when fugitive Washington was tracked down he was extradited back to France from the U.S and sentenced to 5 years in prison and to [52] pay £50,000.[53] In a phone message Washington's lawyer played in court, Agostinelli says;[54]

John, I want you to remember my name because you are going to remember it all your life!...[55] the hunting dogs are after you...they will transform your life into a puff of smoke! [56]

  • Claridges Blag

In May 2012 it was widely reported that Agostinelli was being spied on [57] in connection with the News International phone hacking scandal having been specifically targeted by a private detective named Steve Whitamore working for Rupert Murdoch’s newspaper to gain confidential information pertaining to Agostinelli's business affairs - this evidence brought to light the fact that high profile U.S citizens were targeted by private investigators in the UK within Rupert Murdoch's empire. This was revealed once the Information Commissioner's Office raided Whittamore’s offices and was subsequently convicted of illegally trading personal information.[58]

Personal

File:Robert Agostinelli and George Bush.jpg
Robert Agostinelli and George W. Bush at The Bush Center for the Warrior 100K Ride in 2012

Agostinelli lives in Manhattan, New York and maintains additional homes in Palm Beach, London and Paris.[59] He is divorced and has had 5 children; Agostinelli married Pascale Gallais in 1985 and had three sons, Giovanni, Massimo and Stefano. The marriage ended in 1998. He remarried Mathilde Favier and had two children Heloise and Carlo. The marriage ended in 2008. He has since dated Rosalie van Breemen. [60][61][62] The Last Tycoons describes Agostinelli as an international playboy who carried on extra-marital affairs with various women while married including a co-worker, a "woman in Chicago believed to be a stripper", and a neighbor on the block where he and his wife lived. A dispute over the latter led to the New York Police arriving at Lazard's office to arrest Agostinelli on violation of a restraining order. [63] He counts Nicolas Sarkozy, George Bush and José María Aznar as close friends. He collects wine and art.[64]

Associated Publications

  • Bowing to Beijing, by Brett M. Decker and William C. Triplett II. (2011) [65]

See also

References

  1. ^ Forbes http://www.forbes.com/profile/robert-agostinelli/. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ^ http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2010/03/17/revealed-the-motives-driving-rhones-liverpool-bidders-170301/
  3. ^ http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2010/03/15/who-are-the-rhone-group-q-a-100252-26034912/
  4. ^ http://www.efinancialnews.com/story/2011-05-09/sunday-times-rich-list-financiers-2011
  5. ^ http://features.thesundaytimes.co.uk/richlist/2012/live/richlist/view/group6/1/rank/-/agostinelli#list
  6. ^ http://www.richest-people.co.uk/trends/new-entries-2011/
  7. ^ "Leading Swiss Bank Taps Three Top U.S. Executives for Key Positions; Robert F. Agostinelli, Sheldon S. Gordon and M. Steven Langman Join Union Bancaire Privee. | North America > United States from". AllBusiness.com. 1996-05-13. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
  8. ^ "Events : View : Meeting+with+Robert+Agostinelli". .gsb.columbia.edu. 2010-12-02. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
  9. ^ "Magnesita". Mzweb.com.br. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
  10. ^ http://www.katebohnerproductions.com/newspaper_archives/Informer-6-17-96.pdf
  11. ^ http://pe.som.yale.edu/2009/speakers_panelist_agostinelli.html
  12. ^ http://www.katebohnerproductions.com/newspaper_archives/Informer-6-17-96.pdf
  13. ^ Forbes http://www.forbes.com/profile/robert-agostinelli/. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ^ "Robert F Agostinelli of the Rhone Group: A friend of the far right". GoalBite.com. 2010-03-16. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
  15. ^ "Membership Roster - Council on Foreign Relations". Cfr.org. 2009-12-05. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
  16. ^ Name *. "Friends of Israel Initiative: The neoconservatives' eastern front « P U L S E". Pulsemedia.org. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
  17. ^ http://pe.som.yale.edu/2009/speakers_panelist_agostinelli.html
  18. ^ "Robert Agostinelli Campaign Contributions and Donations - Huffington Post". Fundrace.huffingtonpost.com. 2010-09-22. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
  19. ^ http://www.newser.com/story/6082/sarko-kicks-back-on-moguls-dime.html
  20. ^ "606 - - A64893522 - Takeover.. more info". BBC. 2010-03-14. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
  21. ^ "In France, "le jogging" is a right-wing activity | FP Passport". Blog.foreignpolicy.com. 2007-07-09. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
  22. ^ "In pictures: Leaders' fitness". BBC News. 2008-08-04.
  23. ^ "Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation". Mcsf.org. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
  24. ^ http://www.hospiceofspokane.org/images/Journey.pdf
  25. ^ "Boards and Staff | American Italian Cancer Foundation". Americanitaliancancer.org. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
  26. ^ http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/4/astounding-debt-nightmare/?page=all
  27. ^ "France Now « Commentary Magazine". Commentarymagazine.com. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
  28. ^ "The making of Nicolas Sarkozy". Iamthewitness.com. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
  29. ^ http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/273879/what-keeps-robert-night-jack-fowler. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  30. ^ http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/4/astounding-debt-nightmare/
  31. ^ http://pe.som.yale.edu/2009/speakers_panelist_agostinelli.html
  32. ^ http://www.bilderberg.org/roundtable/CFR97list.html
  33. ^ http://www.theworldsprophecy.com/rick-warren-cfr-bilderberg-trilateral-commission/
  34. ^ http://www.learn-usa.com/relevant_to_et/Secret_Societies_and_Undue_Influence.pdf
  35. ^ http://forums.planetz.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=24262&start=60&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
  36. ^ http://www.theworldsprophecy.com/the-cfr-membership-list-notes-the-bonesmen-bilderbergs-and-rhodes-scholars-in-the-group/
  37. ^ http://gossipextra.com/2012/05/29/rupert-murdoch-scandal-jeb-bush-florida-1514/
  38. ^ http://mikepiperreport.com/Articles_Archive/AmericanFreePress/AFP2010/Michael_Collins_Piper_AFP2010-08-02_Powerful_New_Lobby_Group_Set_in_Motion.html
  39. ^ http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/2011/Pres-Peres-hosts-delegation-from-Friends-of-Israel-Initiative-14-Jul-2010
  40. ^ http://www.friendsofisraelinitiative.org/papers.php
  41. ^ http://www.soccerblog.com/2010/03/robert-f-agostinelli-of-the-rh.htm
  42. ^ Lowenstein, Roger. "The Last Tycoons: The Secret History of Lazard Freres & Co.: Amazon.co.uk: William Cohan: Books". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-04-20.
  43. ^ http://wn.com/Lazard_Freres_&_Co
  44. ^ The New York Times http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/opinion/Cohan_LastTycoons_Chapt14.pdf. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  45. ^ http://www.defundanddisobey.com/freedom/we-have-but-one-path-forward
  46. ^ http://www.nwcfoundation.org/Files/Admin/Documents/Bridge%200511%20final.pdf
  47. ^ http://www.studentfreepress.net/home/stefano-agostinelli-internship-program
  48. ^ Day, Elizabeth (2006-07-30). "A binge too far". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  49. ^ http://www.soccerblog.com/2010/03/robert-f-agostinelli-of-the-rh.htm
  50. ^ http://www.bakchich.info/france/2007/09/07/lami-de-sarkozy-joue-au-gendarme-de-saint-tropez-50873
  51. ^ "Beaned banker case twist". New York Post. 2009-12-29.
  52. ^ Seamark, Michael (2006-12-20). "An Oxford student, a nightclub in St Tropez - and now jail". Daily Mail. London.
  53. ^ Seamark, Michael (2006-12-20). "An Oxford student, a nightclub in St Tropez - and now jail". Daily Mail. London.
  54. ^ http://www.peuples.net/post/Un-ami-du-Fouquet-s-de-sarkozy-est-il-intouchable-en-France
  55. ^ http://segoleneroyal2012.over-blog.fr/article-34289441.html
  56. ^ "Student 'cannot remember assault'". BBC News. 2006-07-29.
  57. ^ http://gossipextra.com/2012/05/29/rupert-murdoch-scandal-jeb-bush-florida-1514/
  58. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2150111/Murdoch-private-detective-tricked-Claridges-handing-U-S-financier.html
  59. ^ http://www.gossipextra.com/2012/05/29/rupert-murdoch-scandal-jeb-bush-florida-1514/
  60. ^ http://hollycelebritygossips.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/is-this-man-in-hat-in-place-of-alain.html
  61. ^ http://www.a1.ro/showbiz/gossip/femeia-lui-alain-delon-topless-la-44-de-ani-118072.html
  62. ^ http://rite-mails.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/rosalie-van-breemen-arrived-at.html
  63. ^ http://www.scribd.com/doc/90092402/The-Last-Tycoons-The-Secret-History-of-Lazard-Freres-Co
  64. ^ Forbes http://www.forbes.com/profile/robert-agostinelli/. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  65. ^ http://www.amazon.com/Bowing-Beijing-Hastening-Americas-Domination/dp/1596982896/ref=cm_pdp_rev_itm_img_3
  66. ^ http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/oct/26/three-cheers-for-colonialism/
  67. ^ The New York Times http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/opinion/Cohan_LastTycoons_Chapt14.pdf. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

Sources

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