Middle market investment firm Victory Park Capital has promoted five Chicago-based investment professionals. Advancing to Partner are Charles Asfour and Tom Affolter; advancing to Principal are Robert Goldstein and Tom Welch; and Geoff Mikelsons has been promoted to Vice President.
Victory Park Capital invests from $10 million to $50 million per transaction in small cap public companies and middle market private companies that typically generate less than $150 million in revenue and less than $30 million of EBITDA. The firm focuses on complex situations and seeks to build long term sustainable value in its companies. Victory Park was founded in 2007 and is based in Chicago with additional offices in Boston, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco (www.victoryparkcapital.com).
“Each of these individuals has been instrumental in the firm’s growth and development,” said Richard Levy, CEO and founder of VPC. “We look forward to the valuable contributions they will add to the firm’s senior investment team. There is no doubt that their dedication and strong vision will help drive our business forward.”
Mr. Asfour will continue to be responsible for originating, executing and managing private debt and equity investments in middle market companies across a number of industries but specifically within the transportation and retail sectors. He joined VPC in 2010 and has more than 11 years of experience as an investment professional.
Mr. Affolter has been responsible for the development of VPC’s SBIC fund, which he currently manages. He is also responsible for sourcing, underwriting, executing and managing private debt and equity investments in lower middle market companies, including those in the specialty finance sector. He joined VPC in 2009 and has more than 20 years of experience in middle market investing, including structuring and underwriting, workouts and turnaround management, capital markets and business development.
Mr. Goldstein is primarily involved in developing and implementing operational and strategic initiatives within VPC’s portfolio companies and working with the management teams on various value creation initiatives. He will continue to be active in originating investment opportunities for the firm. Mr. Goldstein, who is a CPA and attorney, joined VPC in 2011, and has worked with middle market companies for more than 25 years.
Mr. Welch is involved in sourcing, underwriting, executing and managing private debt and equity investments, primarily in the specialty finance and industrial sectors. Mr. Welch joined VPC in 2009 and has more than seven years of experience as a lender to middle market businesses.
Mr. Mikelsons is involved in the origination, analysis, transaction execution and management of private debt and equity investments with a focus on the consumer and retail sectors. He also works on value creation initiatives and strategic alternatives for VPC investments. Mr. Mikelsons joined VPC in 2012 and has more than nine years of investing and operational experience.
© 2015 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 3-6-15
