vulture capitalism

noun

disparaging : a form of venture capitalism in which aggressive methods are used to buy a distressed business with the intention of selling it at a profit

But the real reason that Toys R Us has failed is (wait for it) vulture capitalism, as the chain's Wall Street owners … borrowed way too much money to make its 2004 purchase happen, leaving the retailer in a lurch when sales stagnated.

—Will Bunch

vulture capitalist noun

For the time being, the charge that Mitt Romney is a "vulture capitalist" for his work at Bain Capital has quieted down—Rick Perry, who coined the term, dropped out of the Republican primary last month, and Newt Gingrich, who did so much to amplify it, has fallen on hard times.

—Joshua Green

Word History

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above