We believe sound ESG practices have the potential to improve performance while promoting a positive impact on society and the greater environment. We embrace and integrate ESG factors into our investment strategy and believe doing so enhances our ability to build better businesses and create value. Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, Engine & Transmission Exchange is a leading independent remanufacturer of aftermarket vehicle transmissions and other automotive aftermarket repair and replacement parts. ETE offers a number of complementary services, including transmission repair, engine and transfer case repair and replacement, and servicing of torque convertors. With a legacy spanning over 35 years, the Company’s proven remanufacturing process returns used transmissions to “new” or “better-than-new” condition by using reclaimed and re-machined components.
Based in New York, Audax Private Debt is a leading debt capital partner for North American middle market companies. Since its inception in 2000, the firm has invested more than $36 billion in support of over 275 private equity sponsors. Audax Private Debt is an experienced and trusted partner with senior leadership averaging more than 26 years in private credit and 15 years working together at the firm through multiple economic cycles. Audax Private Debt invests in established middle market companies through first lien, stretch senior, unitranche, second lien, subordinated debt, and equity co-investment solutions.
Audax Private Debt issued its eighth new issue middle market CLO, adding a number of new lenders to the Audax Senior Debt CLO platform and bringing its CLO AUM to $3.9 billion. BNP Paribas priced the upsized $505.5 million Audax Senior Debt CLO 8 LLC transaction. Before joining Audax in 2019, Steve worked for Great Point Partners, where he focused on evaluating and executing leveraged buyouts and growth equity investments in the Healthcare Industry. The lawyers at Plovdiv Legal are experienced in debt collection of contractually owed debt from legal entities and individuals residing in Bulgaria.
The ESG Committee is responsible for the implementation of our ESG Policy and assesses the quality and consistency of our approach to ESG integration and risk management. At Audax Private Debt, Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) principles have been an important factor in our investment decision Mary Hoover Drucker making and our management process since our inception. Vortex Companies is a provider of trenchless infrastructure rehabilitation products and services. Prior to Blackstone’s acquisition of GSO Capital in 2008, Colleen joined GSO with a team from the RBC Capital Markets’ Debt Investments Group.
Since joining Audax in 2000, Young has invested in more than 40 Audax platform companies. Young primarily focuses on business services, specialty distribution, and medical devices and products. Prior to joining Audax, Young was with Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co.
The Company has grown rapidly, both organically and through acquisitions, since its founding in 2007. Today, A1 is one of the largest and most reputable residential garage door service providers in the country. Since joining Audax in 2006, David has been involved with over 30 of Audax’ platform companies. David primarily focuses on medical products and healthcare services, business and industrial services, and specialty distribution. Audax Group targets investments in the U.S. middle market, the world’s third largest economy as measured by Gross Domestic Product . Prior to joining Audax in 2015, Jason worked at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP and Bingham McCutchen LLP as Counsel, where he advised private fund clients and other investment advisers.
Solid relationships and flexible solutions are key to private debt’s ongoing success in the PE mid-market, says Audax Private Debt president Kevin Magid. Our team is collaborative, experienced, and has built lasting relationships, establishing Audax Private Debt as a trusted name in the U.S. middle market. Chelsea is a Principal at Audax Private Debt, overseeing portfolio management for our Originated Debt platform. Prior to joining Audax in 2009, Alex was a Manager of Business Development at Arrowstreet Capital, where he built relationships with institutional investors on a global basis. Prior to Arrowstreet, Alex was a Principal at Hamersley Partners, where he helped emerging managers raise capital.
Headquartered in Philadelphia, Magna provides litigation support services to over 13,000 law firms, corporations, insurance carriers, and government agencies. The Company provides critical support to its clients throughout the litigation process, including court reporting, translation, videography, records retrieval, jury evaluation and consulting, graphic design, and trial presentation services. Magna was founded in 2007 and has established itself as one of the industry’s leading and fastest growing litigation support providers, with offices across the US serving clients in all 50 states. Audax Private Debt seeks to collect meaningful, performance-based, and comparable ESG data from its portfolio companies.
Audax Private Equity Partnering with middle market leaders to fuel growth and build value. The observation that everything old is new again, ironically, never seems to get old. This is particularly true in 2023, as vinyl records again outsell CDs and acid-wash jeans plot their own unlikely comeback.
Rob is a Principal at Audax Private Debt, and a member of our senior debt investment team. Even in benign environments, mezzanine debt holds unique appeal, with attributes that senior-only facilities don’t provide. Mezzanine, today, is being used by sponsors not just for new platform financing arrangements but also portfolio company expansion, when sponsors need to fund M&A but are reluctant to reprice existing credit facilities at today’s higher rates. Tim is an Analyst at Audax Private Debt, and a member of our senior debt investment team.
As our investment operations and businesses have scaled, our dedication to this segment remains unchanged, creating a competitive advantage and edge to source, support, and help grow middle market companies. The demand for mezzanine today, from borrowers as well as other lenders, is fuelled by the flexibility this form of financing provides. Borrowers can attach mezzanine facilities behind various senior debt levels and ultimately utilise more leverage than all-senior deals.
This has translated into widening spreads for unitranche loans and LBO leverage levels generally trending lower. A few significant differences distinguish the gravitation to mezzanine debt from other fashion trends. The surge in interest is an outgrowth of more fundamental drivers, ranging from escalating interest rates to the ongoing retrenchment of “traditional” bank lenders. Also, while vinyl records have been collecting dust, mezzanine financing never went away.
Prior to joining Audax in 2021, Alexander worked at HighBrook Investors, where he was Chief Financial Officer and oversaw the finance, portfolio management and debt capital markets functions. Prior to that, Alexander worked at Lexington Realty Trust, focused on corporate transactions. The role of mezzanine within the capital structure isn’t always obvious from the outside looking in.