Former lieutenant governor joins Greenville private equity firm

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A Greenville-based private equity firm has hired André Bauer, a former lieutenant governor and state legislator, as senior adviser on its team.

In his new role, Bauer will help Broadstreet expand its presence in the Carolinas, including development, planning and expansion of large real estate projects that Broadstreet is pursuing, according to a news release from the firm.

“We are thrilled to welcome André to the Broadstreet team,” Joseph Baldassarra, president of Broadstreet, said in the news release. “As we continue to expand our investment portfolio, his insights and expertise will be instrumental in driving our success.”

A native South Carolinian, Bauer served as lieutenant governor from 2003 to 2011, becoming the nation’s youngest independently elected statewide lieutenant governor. In this capacity, he presided over the South Carolina Senate and ruled out of order on more than $2 billion in tax increases.

Additionally, Bauer was a state senator for District 18 from 1999 to 2003 and a state representative for District 87 from 1996 to 1999. Through these elected capacities, he has traveled to more than 30 countries, meeting with leaders around the world to promote business and trade in South Carolina, the release stated. He also served as a CNN political correspondent.

“I’m excited to join Broadstreet,” Bauer said in the release. “I look forward to working closely with the great team they have assembled to source impactful deals and provide counsel that drives Broadstreet’s continued growth.”

Beyond his political career, Bauer has been working in real estate development since 1989. He founded Bunk Aviation LLC, a company specializing in restoring historic Charleston homes while preserving their original integrity. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina.

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Broadstreet is a private equity firm based in Greenville. The company has achieved approximately $3 billion in transactions and more than 600 people are employed in the businesses in which Broadstreet is the lead equity provider, according to the firm.

Broadstreet is also the equity provider for the largest land infrastructure developer in the Carolinas with more than 40 projects that cover an anticipated 30,000 home sites to be delivered throughout North and South Carolina.