Robert Campeau

The Campeau Corporation used leveraged buyouts to buy the department stores and went bankrupt when it could not maintain the debt payments, in the largest retailing bankruptcy at the time in U.S.

In Ottawa, Campeau was able to construct both office complexes and residential subdivisions to accommodate Canada's rapidly expanding civil service.

"[2] His Campeau Corporation had two main rivals in the residential housing market: Assaly Construction Limited and Minto Developments Inc., the latter owned by the family of future Ottawa Mayor Lorry Greenberg.

Campeau objected to this rule and was drawn into conflict with city council over large high-rise developments such as Place de Ville.

[5] As his business expanded, Campeau ventured into the United States, looking for acquisitions that would add shopping mall real estate to his portfolio of assets.

The dramatic jolt to Bloomingdale's, Abraham & Straus, Jordan Marsh, and the other proud stores reflects his overreaching grasp and oversized ego.

"[7] Campeau resided in a lakeside castle in Austria and he became involved in some real estate projects including developing a large subdivision in Teltow (former GDR) near Berlin, Germany.