BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., April 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Levine Leichtman Capital Partners ("LLCP"), a Los Angeles-based private equity firm, announces its international expansion with the opening of its London, England office. The office will be managed by John P. Romney, Managing Director and current head of LLCP's Dallas, Texas office.  Mr. Romney has relocated to London and will lead the firm's European structured equity originations efforts.

According to Lauren B. Leichtman, Co-Founder and CEO of LLCP, "This is a significant step forward for our firm. We have studied the European investment landscape carefully and believe that our structured equity investment approach will be very well received by European middle market companies. Our expansion will allow LLCP to provide its differentiated investment strategy to owners and senior management teams of European middle market companies.  Many of our US and European limited partners have expressed their strong support for this effort.  John is a trusted and experienced member of our firm and we are confident in his leadership of this important expansion."

Mr. Romney joined LLCP in October 2004 and successfully established the firm's first office outside of Los Angeles, California.  He is a senior member of the Originations Group, has been involved in numerous transactions and assisted in the development of the firm's Chicago and New York investment offices.  He previously worked for HFBE, Inc., a Houston-based valuation and investment banking firm, opening their Dallas office in 2003.  From 1991 to 2003, Mr. Romney was with Ernst & Young, LLP as a Managing Director and Partner in the Capital Markets, Corporate Finance and Restructuring Advisory practices.  Prior to Ernst & Young, Mr. Romney spent ten years in the areas of commercial banking and subordinated debt and equity investments.  Mr. Romney earned an MBA from Arizona State University in 1981 and a BS in Business Management from Brigham Young University in 1979.

About Levine Leichtman Capital Partners

Levine Leichtman Capital Partners is a Los Angeles, California-based investment firm that manages approximately $5.0 billion of institutional investment capital through private equity partnerships, distressed debt and leveraged loan funds. LLCP has offices in Los Angeles, New York, London, Dallas and Chicago. LLCP is currently making new investments through Levine Leichtman Capital Partners IV, L.P., Levine Leichtman Capital Partners Deep Value Fund, L.P., and Levine Leichtman Capital Partners SBIC Fund, L.P. For more information about Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, please visit http://www.llcp.com  

SOURCE Levine Leichtman Capital Partners