About Martin Franklin
Martin Franklin, founder and executive chairman of Element Solutions and founder of Mariposa Capital, has been active in the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) market. In November 2021, Franklin said he had filed two new SPACs, Brimstone Acquisitions and N2, and described the SPAC market as undergoing a "digestion period" with a "shakeout" ahead, predicting that fringe actors would eventually go away. He contrasted his approach with what he called the "story stocks" and "business plan opportunities" prevalent in the U.S. SPAC market, stating that he targets "very profitable businesses, market leaders in their markets, great management teams." Franklin also said that when buying a SPAC, investors are "really buying a two-year CD with equity upside" and that the real valuation occurs when a PIPE transaction is announced and reviewed by institutional investors.
Franklin has also commented on the broader IPO market and economy. In September 2020, he said the IPO market "lacks discipline," with "valuations beyond reasonable" and that "venture capital needs to have more discipline on its expectations and investment banks need to have more reality in how they present opportunities." Regarding the U.S. economy, Franklin said in September 2020 that he did not expect a recession in the short term but anticipated "lower growth." He has also discussed his role at Element Solutions, noting in September 2019 that the company was "very high cash flowing" and "the most under levered company I think I've been in for a very long time," and that he had personally invested over $20 million in the company's shares.
Source: AI-verified profile updated from Martin Franklin's recent appearances.
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Martin Franklin0:45
The Badwater Ultramarathon, I've never done it before, it's my first time. I've done one ultramarathon before in my life, I've done some endurance races in Iron Man, but this will be my first time. You can't really, there's really no way of adequately training for an ultramarathon. It's all about nutrition and endurance and strategy, but just a lot of pain. It's a spiritual experience. You really get to dig deep and spend some time thinking about what your life really means.
From what I know so far of Wounded Warrior Project, they're doing tremendous work helping 25,000 vets coming back from active duty and integrating back into society. They're approaching this in a very business-like manner, disciplined on a fiscal front. From my perspective, hopefully we'll raise a lot of money kicking off with the Badwater Ultramarathon. I just felt it was time to do something for people in America, and if anything should be at the top of the list, it's helping our vets coming back and integrate back into society after what they've been through serving this country.
The needs of these people begin at the time of an incident, but their needs are lifelong. People's lives are changed forever. The common layperson would think of these people as victims. They don't see themselves as victims at all. They see themselves as survivors, and they have a very positive attitude. They come at the challenges that they've had to face with extraordinary bravery and a positive approach to their lives. The help that they get, knowing that people care and are supportive of them, is a big part of why they're able to overcome the challenges that they face.
We've reached out to the Fortune 1000 and asked for them to try to do the same and get behind Wounded Warrior Project. It's our responsibility in civilian life to help our servicemen coming back from active duty, and your efforts are fundamental to the spirit of what America is all about, and that's helping your fellow citizens who have served their country well, being honored and respected and helped as they come back into civilian life.
To me, giving is as important as making. In fact, I think I get far more pleasure out of the charitable aspects and the family aspects of my life than I do out of the business life. I mean, I love what I do for business, but it's all part of the same package. It's the circle of my existence.
