Mr. Sokol began to weigh a management-led buyout, and broached through a go-between the idea of doing a deal with Berkshire.

WSJ: David Sokol Had a Rapid Ascent at Berkshire Hathaway

He said the management buyout - backed by an investor syndicate - would not have gone ahead if they did not have faith in the business.

BBC: Border Precision Engineering owners voice job optimism

In mid-June BA unloaded Go in a management buyout.

FORBES: Proving Papa Wrong

NeuStar, the 1999 management buyout from Lockheed Martin that acts as a third-party administrator of 160 million North American phone numbers (so one phone can reach another), is angling to be a digital-ID custodian.

FORBES: Where Everybody Knows Your Name

The Motherwell-based company said it had completed a "secondary" management buyout with Arlington Capital Partners.

BBC: MB Aerospace to make acquisitions after buyout

The company now is recommending that its high-powered investors agree to a buyout from a group including Brookfield Asset Management Inc.

WSJ: Verde Sale Questioned

His 12-employee management firm, Cequel 3, which currently operates three companies, is run just like a buyout shop, with one big difference: He avoids raising cash from lots of investors.

FORBES: Strategies

Team boss Ross Brawn sealed their survival with a management buyout in early March, ensuring most employees initially stayed to help rebuild a fresh team after the under-performing Japanese outfit pulled out of the sport because of the global financial crisis.

BBC: Brawn GP reveal heavy job losses