Private Equity - Merrill Lynch

2007
December


Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity group ("MLGPE") invests in private equity transactions in select companies with the objective of medium- to long-term capital appreciation.

MLGPE opportunistically invests in companies with high growth/profitability prospects or strong cash flow characteristics and capable and experienced management teams.

Our dedicated team of private equity professionals invests globally, across industries including general manufacturing, consumer products, as well as business and consumer services.

MLGPE takes a partnership approach to investing with both management teams and other financial or strategic investors.



As the private equity investment arm of one of the preeminent financial services firms in the world, Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity group ("MLGPE") is uniquely able to leverage the global resources of the firm for the benefit of existing and prospective portfolio companies. MLGPE, in conjunction with other teams within Merrill Lynch, offers unparalleled combination of financial expertise, in-depth industry knowledge and innovative financial solutions.

MLGPE selectively pursues private equity opportunities across industries and geographies, leveraging its global network to source, execute and ultimately realize superior returns on its investments.

MLGPE targets established, profitable businesses which have a defensible market position in their industry or region, and which are high value-added businesses with commensurate margins and manageable capital requirements, resulting in strong cash flow characteristics. In particular, MLGPE looks for companies led by capable and experienced management teams who have a demonstrated history of superior operational performance. MLGPE targets a wide range of industries, with industry focus driven by a rigorous investment analysis applied to current market trends and conditions.

MLGPE undertakes growth capital, financial restructuring or change of control investments and focuses both on significant minority and control ownership positions. MLGPE typically holds investments for the medium- to long-term (3 to 7 years).

MLGPE takes a partnership approach to investing, both with respect to company management teams as well as other sources of capital including strategic corporate partners.

MLGPE professionals have a diverse mix of backgrounds including private equity, mergers and acquisitions, leveraged finance and corporate restructuring. These professionals are located around the world, including New York, London, S㯠Paulo, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Sydney. This extensive experience base and global perspective is a value-added resource to portfolio companies.





GMI Home > Private Equity > Portfolio Companies



http://www.asmnet.com

Advantage Sales & Marketing is a leading sales and marketing agency in the U.S., providing outsourced sales, merchandising, and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers, and producers of consumer packaged goods. The Company manages thousands of food and non-food products on behalf of a client base comprised of more than 1,200 manufacturers.






Aeolus Re is a start-up Bermuda reinsurer founded by Peter Appel (former President and C.E.O. of Arch Capital) and David Eklund (former President and Chief Underwriting Officer of Renaissance Re). The company operates as an unrated reinsurance platform targeting the property catastrophe segment of the worldwide reinsurance market. Aeolus offers insurance and reinsurance companies a means to reduce risk in peak exposure zones and manage capital more effectively. As an unrated vehicle, Aeolus has significant flexibility and capital management advantages over other rated competitors. Joining Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity in its investment are management, Warburg Pincus, and Arch Capital Group Ltd.





http://www.atriumcompanies.com

Atrium is the largest aluminum window manufacturer and second largest vinyl window manufacturer in the US, with over 50 years experience. The company has a national presence and sells into both the new construction and replacement markets.





http://www.convermex.com

Convermex is Mexico's leading producer and distributor of plastic disposable tableware products. The Company uses proprietary technology to manufacture expanded polystyrene ("EPS") cups and containers. In addition, the Company manufactures and sells an extensive variety of thermoformed cups, foamed and hard plates, trays, containers, as well as matching lids. The Company has 5 manufacturing plants, 18 distribution centers and serves retailers, wholesalers and institutional customers nationwide.





http://www.cremer.com.br

Cremer S.A. is the leading brand in the hospital wound care market in Brazil. The company manufactures wound care products and industrial adhesives and distributes them, together with other general health care products manufactured by third parties, through its proprietary national distribution and sales infrastructure.






http://www.debenhams.com

Debenhams is the second largest department store chain in the UK, with a 200 year trading history. The company’s main focus is apparel retailing, but it also sells home, health, and beauty products. Debenhams has 141 stores across the UK and Republic of Ireland with franchises operating in more than 16 countries.







http://www.hcahealthcare.com

HCA Inc. is the leading provider of healthcare services in the United States. The Company owns and operates approximately 170 hospitals and 113 outpatient centers in 20 states and England. HCA is dedicated to providing quality patient care through a comprehensive array of healthcare services. Founded in 1968, the Company has approximately 180,000 employees and 35,000 affiliated physicians.







http://www.hertz.com

Hertz is the largest worldwide general use car rental brand and the third largest North American equipment rental business. In its car rental business segment, Hertz and its independent licensees and associates accept car rental reservations at approximately 7,700 locations in approximately 145 countries. In its equipment rental business segment, Hertz rents equipment through over 360 branches in North America, France and Spain, as well as through its international licensees.






http://www.npcinternational.com

NPC International is the largest Pizza Hut franchisee in the United States with approximately 891 stores. Founded in 1962, NPC International operated stores in 24 states with significant presence in the Midwest, South and Southeast.







http://www.nwglobalvending.com

N&W Global Vending S.p.A., headquartered in Italy, is the leading European and largest manufacturer worldwide of Hot & Cold and Snack & Food vending machines with a market share in Europe of 34%. The Company designs, produces and markets, Hot & Cold, Snack & Food and Can & Bottle vending machines. N&W has the most comprehensive product range available on a pan-European basis. Production plants are located in Bergamo (Italy) and Odense (Denmark), and the Company operates in more than 80 countries worldwide.







http://www.rexel.com

Rexel is the largest network in the distribution of electrical parts and supplies, with approximately 7% market share in the countries it operates. The Company supplies customers involved in residential, commercial and industrial construction, maintenance and renovation and currently has a network of approximately 1,950 branches and over 25,000 employees in 29 countries, providing over 1.2 million products and related services.







http://www.tongjitang.com

Tongjitang Chinese Medicines Company (?Tongjitang?) is a leading vertically integrated and profitable specialty pharmaceutical company focusing on the development, manufacturing, marketing and selling of modernized traditional Chinese medicine. Tongjitang?s flagship product, Xianling Gubao, is the leading traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of osteoporosis in China. Its product portfolio consists primarily of Xianling Gubao and three other SFDA-approved modernized traditional Chinese medicines designed to address large market opportunities.




http://www.validusre.bm

Validus Holdings, Ltd. is a newly-formed Bermuda Class 4 reinsurance company that underwrites property catastrophe, per risk, marine and energy, retrocession and other specialty short-tail lines of business. The Company is led by an experienced management team including Edward J. Noonan, who serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and George Reeth who serves as President & Deputy Chairman.





http://www.vedaadvantage.com

Veda Advantage Limited ("Veda") is the largest custodian of credit-related information in Australia and New Zealand, holding credit records on more than 16.5 million individuals and 3.5 million companies in Australia and New Zealand. Veda also provides commercial risk management and consumer behavioural marketing information and related services to assist businesses in the management of customer acquisition and value optimisation activities.


http://gmi.ml.com/private/portfolio.asp
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Nathan C. Thorne
Mr. Thorne is a Senior Vice President of Merrill Lynch and President of Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity. Prior to this role, Mr. Thorne was head of International Private Equity and Vice Chairman of Global Private Equity. Since joining Merrill Lynch in 1984, he has served in a number of senior positions within Investment Banking, including Head of the High Yield Finance and Restructuring Group, and Head of Corporate Finance, High Yield Finance and Real Estate. In 1987, he founded the Financial Restructuring Group. Mr. Thorne earned a B.A. degree in English Language and Literature from Yale College in 1976.

Mandakini Puri
Ms. Puri is a Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity and has been part of Merrill Lynch?s private equity business since 1994. Prior to that, she was in the Leveraged Finance, Restructuring and Mergers & Acquisitions groups within Investment Banking at Merrill Lynch. Ms. Puri joined Merrill Lynch in 1986 after receiving an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

George A. Bitar
Mr. Bitar is a Managing Director and Co-Head of the United States region within Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity and has been part of Merrill Lynch?s private equity business since 1994. Prior to that, he was in the Leveraged Finance and Restructuring groups within Investment Banking at Merrill Lynch. Mr. Bitar joined Merrill Lynch in 1991 after receiving an M.B.A. from the Columbia Business School.

Robert F. End
Mr. End is a Managing Director and Co-Head of the United States region within Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity. Prior to re-joining Merrill Lynch in 2004, Mr. End was a founding partner of a $1 billion independent private equity fund established in 1994. Prior to leaving Merrill Lynch in 1994, he was a Managing Director of Merrill Lynch Capital Partners, the firm?s private equity group, which managed $1.9 billion of capital raised from institutional investors. He joined Merrill Lynch in 1986 and worked in the Investment Banking Division before joining the private equity group in 1989. Mr. End earned an A.B. degree in Government from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College.

Victor Nesi
Mr. Nesi is a Senior Vice President of Merrill Lynch and Global Head of the Technology, Telecommunications and Media Industries Group within Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity. Immediately prior to joining the group in 2007, Mr. Nesi was the Head of Americas Investment Banking at Merrill Lynch with responsibility for the firm?s investment banking origination activities for corporate, financial and sovereign clients in the U.S., Canada and Latin America. Prior to assuming that role in March 2005, Mr. Nesi was head of the Telecom & Media Investment Banking Group, with responsibility for investment banking activities in the telecom and media sectors. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch in 1996, Victor spent seven years as an investment banker at Salomon Brothers Inc. and Goldman Sachs and practiced corporate and securities law for four years with the law firm of Shea & Gould. Victor received a B.A. from Georgetown University in 1982 and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law School in 1985.

Michael Rubinoff
Mr. Rubinoff is a Managing Director and Global Head of the Financial Services and Related Industries Group within Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity. Immediately prior to joining Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity in 2007, Mr. Rubinoff led a joint venture with Apollo Management to invest in financial institutions globally. Prior to that, Michael partnered with and advised the Bronfman family in their acquisition of the control stake of Israel Discount Bank. From 1990 to 2003, Mr. Rubinoff served in various roles at Goldman Sachs and was named a partner in 1998. He also served as head of the Americas Financial Institutions Group of Goldman Sachs. Mr. Rubinoff earned a J.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S.E. degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Christopher J. Birosak
Mr. Birosak is a Managing Director with Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity. Mr. Birosak joined Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity in 2004, where he focuses on investments in the health care, energy & power and industrial sectors. Since joining Merrill Lynch in 1994, Mr. Birosak has worked in various capacities in Leveraged Finance with particular emphasis on leveraged buyouts and M&A related financings. He also co-founded the syndicated loan business at Merrill Lynch in 1994. Mr. Birosak earned a B.A. degree in Economics from Wayne Sate University and an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Detroit.

http://gmi.ml.com/private/senior_professionals_ny.asp

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Contact

Global

Nathan (Nate) C. Thorne
President/Group Head
(212) 449-8316
Nate_Thorne@ml.com

Mandakini (Mandy) Puri
Chief Investment Officer
(212) 449-9624
Mandy_Puri@ml.com

Financial Services and Related Industries
Michael Rubinoff
Industry Head
(212) 449-2261
Michael_Rubinoff@ml.com

Technology, Media and Telecommunications
Victor Nesi
Industry Head
(212) 449-9808
Victor_Nesi@ml.com

United States

George Bitar
Region Co-Head
(212) 449-8222
George_Bitar@ml.com

Robert (Bob) End
Region Co-Head
(212) 449-9237
Robert_End@ml.com

http://gmi.ml.com/private/contact_us.asp
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