M&A Capital Professionals

Thomas J. Murphy, Managing Director

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Direct: 818-707-8322

Thomas Murphy brings to the firm and its clients a diverse background with experience in investment banking (including private placements of both senior and subordinated debt, equity placements, financial restructuring of distressed companies, and M&A advisory), commercial lending (including loan origination, loan administration, and workouts), and principal investing (including initiating and structuring leveraged buyout transactions). During his career, Mr. Murphy has been involved in a wide range of industries, including aerospace, apparel, engineering and construction, metals, printing, real estate, retail, technology and wholesale distribution.

Mr. Murphy has been responsible for over $5 billion of investment banking and financial restructuring assignments involving both private and publicly-held companies completed, including the recent $195 million financing for Wise Alloys, Inc., the sale of Viking Components, Inc. to Sanmina Corporation (NASDAQ:SANM), the sale of D&F Industries and Omni-Pak Corporation to NBTY, Inc. (NASDAQ:NBTY), and the acquisition of the domestic assets of Drypers Corporation by DSG International (NASDAQ:DSGIF). With his extensive investment banking and senior lending background, Mr. Murphy has been involved in direct principal investing activities, including the management buyout of a $90 million wholesale nursery distribution operation – Shemin Nurseries, Inc., a significant minority equity investment in a $100 million convenience store chain – Plaid Pantries, Inc., and the acquisition and management of a $25 million commercial real estate portfolio. He currently serves on the board of directors of each of these companies.

Prior to forming M&A Capital, Tom’s professional experience included serving as a Founder and Managing Director at Murphy Noell Capital, Director at Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin and a Portfolio Manager at Fleet Capital Corporation. Additionally, he has held positions with CIT Group and Union Bank, and served as CFO of two manufacturing companies.

Mr. Murphy earned a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School of Finance of the University of Pennsylvania.

Kevin D. Kelly, Managing Director

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Direct: 818-707-8323

Kevin Kelly brings to M&A Capital and its clients over twenty years of commercial and investment banking experience. In addition to leading M&A Capital’s marketing efforts and sourcing new transactions nationwide, Mr. Kelly serves as the firm’s initial contact point when M&A Capital approaches potential financing sources for client debt or equity placements. Mr. Kelly is responsible for maintaining M&A Capital’s proprietary database, which follows the activities of virtually every significant source of debt or equity capital.

During his career, Mr. Kelly has completed financing transactions totaling more than $2.0 billion in a wide range of industries for both middle market and large corporate entities. Some of his past clients included Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: WPI), Keystone Automotive Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: KEYS), Electro Rent Corporation (NASDAQ: ELRC), Southwest Water Company (NASDAQ: SWWC) and National Technical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTSC). Prior to joining M&A Capital, Mr. Kelly was with the investment banking firm of Murphy Noell Capital, LLC and financial institutions that included Mellon Business Credit, Mellon Bank, N.A., Sanwa Bank California and Barclays Bank PLC.

Mr. Kelly received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural and Managerial Economics from the University of California, Davis and is a member of the Risk Management Association, American Bankruptcy Institute, Turnaround Management Association and Association for Corporate Growth.

Jim C. Post, Consultant

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Direct: 818-707-8325

James (Jim) Post joined M&A Capital after extensive careers in both the aerospace and automotive industries. Mr. Post manages key client relationships and is active in spearheading M&A Capital’s Aerospace practice. Mr. Post brings to the firm over 25 years of technical, operational and senior management experience in a broad variety of capacities.

Before joining M&A Capital, Mr. Post was Vice President – Operations, for Litton Guidance and Control Systems prior to its acquisition by Northrop Grumman Corporation. Mr. Post came to Litton in June 1997, after careers with Barry Controls Aerospace, GM-Hughes, McDonnell Douglas Ford Aerospace, and Ford Motor Company. Mr. Post was Sr. Vice President and Managing Director at Barry Controls, the primary supplier of vibration isolation systems to the aviation industry. At Hughes, Mr. Post was Director - Enterprise Integration, for the Missile Systems Company during the consolidation of six sites following the acquisition of General Dynamics’ missile business. At McDonnell Douglas Missile Systems Company, Mr. Post was Vice President - Production Centers Division, responsible for the manufacture of the Harpoon, SLAM, Tomahawk, and several other weapon systems. He also managed all production support functions for the tactical aircraft business, including F-15, F/A-18, T-45, AV8-B, and Apache helicopter.

Mr. Post began his career with Ford Motor Company, working his way through various manufacturing positions to Operations Manager, Dearborn Stamping Plant. He moved to Ford Aerospace in 1982 where he worked in operations and program management positions, eventually becoming Manager of Manufacturing for the Aeronutronic Division. In this capacity, Post was responsible for the manufacture of Sidewinder missiles, Chaparral Air Defense Systems, F/A-18 Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) Pods, Trident Missile Hot Gas Valves, and components for development programs.

Mr. Post graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering. He attended graduate school at the University of Michigan.

Loc T. Van, Vice President

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Direct: 818-707-8324

Loc Van brings to the firm broad corporate finance experience, with an emphasis on mergers & acquisitions, restructurings and private placements of debt and equity capital.  Most recently, Mr. Van has been involved in the sale of Maly’s of California, Inc., a leading distributor of professional hair care products to L'Oreal; the sale of Ontic Engineering & Manufacturing, Inc. to BBA Group; the recapitalization/MBO of Goldline International, the leading numismatic coin retailer in the US; and the sale of A-Mark Financial, Inc., a $2.5 billion in sales trader of precious metals products. In addition, Mr. Van has been involved with a $20 million senior and subordinated capital raises for Bingo King Entertainment, Inc., the leading manufacturer of electronic bingo products in North America; the sale of Furr’s Restaurant Group, Inc., a $150 million per year in revenue, 55-store restaurant chain in the Southwest; and the sale of Steel Horse Automotive, Inc., a $28 million in revenue steel and molded automotive accessories manufacturer. Mr. van also gained experience in an unsecured bondholder advisory engagement with MCMS, Inc in which he assisted the company in the divestiture of certain assets.

Prior to joining M&A Capital, Mr. Van was an analyst with Murphy Noell Capital, a middle market investment bank. Previously, he also served as a real estate analyst with Western Peaks Financial Corporation where he structured numerous working capital, purchase, and renovation loans. 

Mr. Van earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and his Bachelors of Arts in Economics from the University of California at Berkeley.

L. Nicole Carnation, Associate

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Direct: 818-707-8318

Ms. Carnation has over 6 years of diversified corporate finance experience in a variety of industries, having most recently been involved in L’Oreal USA’s acquisition of Maly’s West, the largest, family-owned professional salon distributorship in the U.S; Maguire Aviation’s acquisition of Skytrails Aviation, a full service fixed based operator at the Van Nuys Airport, the busiest general aviation airport in the United States; the recapitalization/MBO of Goldline International, the leading numismatic coin retailer in the United States; and the sale of Steel Horse Automotive, Inc., an aftermarket automotive accessories manufacturer. 

Prior to re-joining M&A Capital, Ms. Carnation held analyst positions with Bank of America's middle-market banking group and Murphy Noell Capital, a middle-market investment bank. Ms. Carnation also gained experience at Rutberg & Co., a technology-focused investment bank.

Ms. Carnation earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Economics from the University of California at Berkeley.

Kamran C. Kamjou, Analyst

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Direct: 818-707-8321

Kamran Kamjou has a diverse professional background with experiences ranging from Investment Management services to the entertainment industry. Prior to joining M&A Capital, he worked as the Director of Business Development with Growthink Research, a marketing research firm that provides strategic business leads for middle-market boutique Investment banks with its proprietary database. He also supported Financial Advisors, managing over $400 Million collectively, during his time working at Merrill Lynch.

Mr. Kamjou earned his B.S. in Business Administration, Global Management Concentration, from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.

Jodi L. Wicks, Financial Consultant

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Direct: 818-707-8319

Jodi Wicks brings to M&A Capital over 20 years of diverse accounting experience having been involved in the financial services, manufacturing, retail and agriculture industries. Prior to joining M&A Capital, Mrs. Wicks was an accounting consultant. Previously, she was a Controller with California Companies, Inc. and a Supervising Senior Accountant with KPMG.

Mrs. Wicks holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from California State University, Northridge, a CPA license and is an active member of the California Board of Accountancy.