Scott Sperling is the co-president of THL Partners, which has invested in over 100 businesses with an aggregate value in excess of $125 billion. No doubt, it's one of the top private equity firms.

Well, this week, he did a spot on CNBC and talked about some of his key investment themes.

First, Sperling is bullish on media. After all, THL Partners is a financial sponsor of the Clear Channel (NYSE: CCU) buyout.

While Sperling says that advertising revenues are slowing down (across the board – even with dot-coms), he likes mature media companies since they generate strong cash flows. Sperling also said he has modeled his deals with a "recession case."

Moreover, Sperling thinks there are some long-term growth trends, especially in the Latin media market. To this end, THL Partners owns a piece of Univision.

Sperling is also upbeat about the ethanol space. He thinks the growth prospects remain strong. And Sperling said that the technology is proven. One of his ethanol investments is Hawkeye Holdings -- the fourth largest producer in the US.

Oh, and does he think the US economy is in a recession? He didn't hesitate when he answered "yes."

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including The Complete M&A Handbook and The Edgar Online Guide to Decoding Financial Statements. He also operates MergerBook.com.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• Wendy's International Inc (NYSE: WEN), struggling since the 2002 death of founder Dave Thomas, and pressed by investor Nelson Peltz to improve results, will today announce a deal with Peltz, the Wall Street Journal reported.
• The Wall Street Journal also reported that the House Financial Services Committee voted to approve $15B in loans and grants so that local governments can buy foreclosed homes throughout the U.S. Committee chairman Barney Frank said the bill will avoid abuse, including requiring that purchased homes be a minimum 60 days into the process.
• Adding to evidence of a rally in corporate credit markets, the Financial Times reported that Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE: DB) is preparing another big sell-off of its leveraged loans in Europe.

• Several e-mails that have been obtained by the New York Post sent between Wall Street banks may prove a serious setback in the fight over the takeover Clear Channel Communications Inc (NYSE: CCU). The e-mails reportedly show the banks, led by Citigroup Incorporated (NYSE: C) and Deutsche Bank, looking to get out of financing the buyout by Bain Capital and THL Partners by offering terms "they know the [firms] won't be able to accept."