NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
Gotham Private Equity Partners, L.P. ("Gotham") announced its formation as a New
York-based private equity firm focused on middle-market and lower middle-market
companies. Gotham is focused on originating, executing and managing proprietary
private equity transactions, and providing strategic advisory services to ensure
the long-term success of its partners. The firm is comprised of a cohesive team
of investment professionals who have worked together continuously since 2001 and
who have achieved a strong investment record during their many years of
investing. Gotham`s principals began their careers in CIBC`s Leveraged Finance
and Merchant Banking Group and then helped establish Trimaran Capital Partners,
a $1.0 billion private equity fund.
Gotham`s combined private equity and leveraged finance experience provides
"real-life" insight into the many challenges that arise in successfully
structuring, executing and managing private equity transactions. Since 1997, the
principals have been involved in over 50 private equity transactions in a
variety of industries including consumer, energy services, financial services,
industrial and manufacturing, media, restaurants and retail and transportation.
Previous investments in which Gotham principals were involved include, among
others: El Pollo Loco, a leading quick-service restaurant chain with over 400
locations; Reddy Ice Group, the nation`s largest producer of packaged ice;
Standard Steel, an integrated manufacturer of steel wheels and axles for the
railcar industry; and SuperNova Shipping, a leading dry bulk shipping provider.
Gotham combines its industry expertise and deal structuring experience to
acquire middle-market companies at compelling valuations. It seeks to invest in
a variety of transactions and structures including: traditional leveraged
buyouts partnering with superior management teams in companies that have
recurring earnings and significant cash flow; growth equity for less mature but
promising companies that exhibit favorable growth characteristics and have a
differentiated strategy or defensible market position; buy-and-build and roll-up
strategies in fragmented industries where Gotham has a domain expertise; and
family-owned and operated businesses that are seeking capital for further growth
or that do not have a developed succession plan.
David Benyaminy, a Managing Principal of Gotham, commented, "We are extremely
pleased to be establishing Gotham Private Equity Partners and believe that the
current market environment has set the stage for experienced investors to
provide value-added capital in a variety of situations across a number of
industries. By utilizing our industry expertise and extensive network of
executives and entrepreneurs, we believe that Gotham will be able to originate a
number of compelling opportunities for our partners."
Through its extensive network of strategic capital partners - including high net
worth partners and family offices - Gotham is able to provide value-added
capital for compelling opportunities. Gotham`s platform provides a full
alignment of interest, transparency and communication. This unique,
differentiated and creative approach leads Gotham and its partners to successful
transactions and compelling returns.
Steven Flyer, a Managing Principal of Gotham, added "The support and commitment
of a number of high net worth families and entrepreneurs, who are partners in
our firm and who will be investors in businesses that we acquire, provide Gotham
with unique operational and strategic insight. With this partnership in place,
we believe that Gotham offers a value-added approach to private equity."
Joining Benyaminy and Flyer in the formation of Gotham are Gregory Prata and
Daniel Gaspar, Vice Presidents and founders of the firm. The four have been
working together for a number of years, first at Trimaran Capital and later at a
family office prior to formally establishing Gotham. Kyce Chihi, a former
leveraged finance professional at Deutsche Bank, has been working with the team
for several years and is a founder and Senior Associate of the firm. The team
has proven experience investing and managing capital through market and economic
cycles.
Steven Flyer concluded, "Our team respects each other personally and
professionally. Each member has private equity experience coupled with a
distinct financial background that provides for different viewpoints and open
dialogue on every opportunity that we analyze. Our partnership-first philosophy,
alignment of interest with our strategic capital partners, and differentiated
approach will allow us to provide value-added services to all of our partners."
Gotham Private Equity Partners, L.P.
David Benyaminy
Steven Flyer
212-818-1818
dbenyaminy@gothamequity.com
sflyer@gothamequity.com
www.gothamequity.com
Copyright Business Wire 2009
