TEXAS-BASED investor, Mr David Bonderman was a former associate of the billionaire Mr Robert Bass, before going out on his own to make his first major deal three years ago.
In April 1993, he led a $450 million (£279.5 million) re financing of Continental Airlines, to take it out of bankruptcy for the second time.
Continental is the fifth biggest airline in the US and employs 37,000 employees. It operates hubs at Houston, Texas; Newark, New Jersey; and Cleveland, Ohio. It operates more than 2,000 flights each day to 136 US destinations.
Air Partners, a subsidiary of his main investment vehicle, Texas Pacific Group (TPG), took a stake in Continental through a $64.3 million investment.
Mr Bonderman was made chairman of the airline shortly after the deal.
The value of TPG's holding in Continental has since increased to more than $500 million as the airline has reported record profits and risen from the bottom to the top of the monthly US federal ratings for on time performance.
Less than 18 months after the Continental deal, TPG also helped to bring American West Airlines out of chapter 11 protection in a deal that gave Mr Bonderman and his associates 33.5 per cent of the company for $433.6 million.
Mr Bonderman has also had involvements with Mr Richard Branson when both came together to buy the British MGM cinema chain for $300 million in 1994.
