Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman both tout their work as private sector businessmen, as well as their time in government. It appears that at one point, both men's companies met to the tune of a 600 million dollar deal.
The Deseret News reported in February of 2001 that Bain Capital was making a largest investment in the Huntsman Corporation.
Jon M. Huntsman -- the father of the candidate -- said when the deal was done: "Together (Huntsman and Bain) see significant potential for consolidation . . . in the global chemical industry and look forward with great anticipation to future investment opportunities. We are confident that Huntsman and Bain Capital will have a long and mutually beneficial relationship."
Jon Huntsman, Jr. was an executive at the company at the time; he would leave later that year to serve in the Bush Administration. Romney was on a leave of absence from Bain at the time to run the Olympics.
Huntsman tonight largely avoided the opportunity to pile on Romney's record at Bain.
"Romney can say whatever he wants," he said.