June 9, 2009 – Los Angeles, CA – A May 7, 2009 BusinessWeek cover article discussing private equity’s place in the current economic downturn – and its place in the economy’s eventual recovery – quotes statistics from research firm Preqin, that state that private equity firms have, despite this economic bust, amassed purchase pocketbooks of $1 trillion. In an effort to help their clients to capitalize on some of this available wealth, five seasoned investment bankers have joined forces to create a new investment banking firm, Diamond Capital Partners.
Diamond Capital’s managing partners, David Herman, Bruce Kobritz, Mark Ross, Robert Smith, and Robert K. Whyte, bring a combined 125 years of varied investment banking experience to the table, in a multitude of industry arenas. The team boasts a vast array of transactional and negotiating skills, along with real, corporate operational expertise. Diamond Capital Partners is headquartered in Century City, Los Angeles, with additional operations in New York and Nashville.
Diamond Capital’s five managing partners consider themselves to be “generalists,†able to seamlessly assist each of their clients with their respective mergers, acquisitions or buyouts, or with the process of securing valuations, or raising equity or debt capital, among other funding dilemmas. The firm will focus on the lower end of the mid-market spectrum, providing services to companies with revenues of $20 million to $200 million. Diamond Capital’s dedication to customer service – providing hands-on, day to day interaction with their customers, by each of its managing partners – will afford clients a sense of security and truly personalized service, and highly customized deal structuring.
The Diamond Capital team’s experience, expansive contact roster and general know-how, will allow the firm to conduct high-end, more efficient auctions for client companies looking to be sold, thus alleviating longer waiting periods and financial headaches, when time is of the utmost importance. Diamond Capital is looking to take the most direct route in any given transaction situation; honing in on targeted opportunities, in order to present the best possible scenario to its clients, allowing the client to focus on, and attain, their most optimal deal results.
“A liquidity or secession event requires preparation and skill,†says Robert K. Whyte, Diamond Capital managing partner. “We [at Diamond Capital] have completed hundreds of successful transactions ranging from $10 million to over $200 million.â€
Mr. Whyte continues, “Raising capital in today’s market, whether for expansion or buying out a partner, requires more than a database. We are bankers who understand how to structure the deal and possess the industry knowledge to get to the closing table; it all adds up to credibility.â€
With all of the private equity that is currently chasing down deals, it can be difficult for some companies in need of a helping hand to sort through the dialogue and offers. That is where Diamond Capital Partners comes in to play – the firm is hoping to capitalize on all of the cash availability, narrowing down its clients’ options, helping them to use the cash flow towards its best end, and sticking by their sides through the entire transaction process.
Mr. Whyte adds, “The private equity sector has been quietly bulking up, during this trying economic time. Our phones are actually quite busy, and we hope to be able to match all of this money with our clients’ financial needs, desires and wholly individual situations.â€
For further information and updates on Diamond Capital Partners, its individual management team members, completed transactions and services offered, please visit: www.diamondcapitalpartners.com.
About Robert K. Whyte
As a current Managing Partner at Diamond Capital Partners, Mr. Whyte retains his financial focus in media and entertainment. His clients include both private and public firms looking to grow or acquire assets or expand internationally. Prior to becoming a partner at Diamond Capital Partners, Mr. Whyte held the position of Managing Director at Mosaic Capital Securities, LLC. Prior to that, Mr. Whyte founded the Los Angeles office of Morgan Joseph & Co. Here, as Managing Director and member of the Media and Entertainment group, he specialized in broadcast and entertainment financing, acting as agent for mergers or acquisitions together with sourcing funding for middle market media companies, through PIPEs, SPACs, and traditional funding methods.
Before moving to Los Angeles, Mr. Whyte was a partner in the New York City-based Media and Broadcast Group of Daniels and Associates. His investment banking transactions in this media sector assisted companies in expanding their asset base and entering new areas of media. Here, he also acted as an agent in media and broadcast M&A transactions. Prior to this, Mr. Whyte was a merchant banker in Toronto and New York where he also specialized in communication and media financing. He completed various radio, cable and print projects in Canada, the United States, Mexico and China.
Historically, Mr. Whyte was one of the founding partners in the Canadian affiliate of Home Shopping Network and, in 1986, led the company as its COO through its IPO on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Mr. Whyte currently serves as Past President of the Los Angeles Venture Association, the city’s oldest community business association. He is also Co-Chair of the annual Los Angeles charity event, The MeatEaters Ball (www.meateatersball.org), which attracts hundreds of guests each year from the who’s who of the financial and entrepreneurial worlds; financial players from equity, hedge, lending and private placement firms, nationwide. The next MeatEaters Ball will be held in May of 2010.
Mr. Whyte attended Sir George Williams University, where he earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree, and holds Series 7 and General Principals Series 24 FINRA licenses. Mr. Whyte is available for interviews and/or comment, as well as public speaking opportunities, as a financial and media expert. He most recently spoke at the Miami International Film Festival, as the guest expert on independent film financing.
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