Washington, DC (January 20, 2003) – FOCUS Enterprises, Inc., the region’s premier investment banking and consulting firm providing merger, acquisition and corporate finance services for middle-market and smaller company clients, today announced that three new Partners have joined the firm. Announcing that former C-Level executives Ed Stevens, Manan K. Shah and Mark L. Capaldini have joined the firm comes as FOCUS Enterprises closes out 2002, with record revenues and profits. FOCUS recorded a prosperous 2002, with completion of four major transactions, and expects significant growth in 2003, due to a strong pipeline and the addition of the new Partners to continue the momentum.
“Adding these seasoned professionals to our team reinforces the unique value proposition this firm offers to our clients,” explained Marshall Graham, Chairman of FOCUS Enterprises. “Each Partner in our firm brings significant C-Level operating experience to client engagements, which is invaluable in this current mergers, acquisition and corporate finance environment. Our team understands the ‘value drivers’ of any potential transaction from an operating management position; a perspective which delivers a level of service far broader than the typical investment banking professional.”
Joining FOCUS is Ed Stevens, a seasoned financial and operations veteran with more than 25 years of senior level experience as CFO and a board member with four high growth public companies. Previously, he was President of the Stevens Group, after serving as CFO and board member of The Peak Technologies Group, the largest international industrial bar code systems provider, which grew from $20M to $300M during his tenure. Mr. Stevens also held positions as CFO, board member and senior level executive with Electrocomponents, an international direct marketing distributor of technology products and services; KLP Investments, an international marketing services organization; and, the Whitlock Corporation, a specialty retailer of automotive parts and accessories.
Mr. Shah has more than twelve years of consulting and management experience, providing financial advisory, M&A, strategic and corporate development-related consulting services to mid-size, technology based companies and government contractors. Until recently, he was a Vice President of S3, an investment-banking firm serving companies with revenues of $20M to $50M. Previously, Mr. Shah founded two software companies. He was President and CEO of Creative Technology, a next generation broadband application company; Vice President of Digital Reach, a human asset management software company; and, Director at ERP Technologies, an ERP systems integrator. Mr. Shah also served as a Principal at Cap Gemini, a global systems integrator.
Prior to becoming a FOCUS Partner, Mark Capaldini was President of three companies in the specialty publishing, information services, and database sectors, ranging up to approximately $50 million in revenue. He served as President and COO of PC Data; President and CEO of Congressional Information Service, a subsidiary of LEXIS-NEXIS and Reed Elsevier; and, President of LEGI-SLATE, a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company. Mr. Capaldini was, formerly, Managing Director at MCG Capital, a publicly traded middle-market specialty finance company firm in Arlington, Virginia.
The three newest Partners join Douglas E. Rodgers and Alain Chetrit, who joined FOCUS Enterprises earlier during 2002. Mr. Rodgers has CEO experience in software, information technology, aerospace, e-commerce, manufacturing and distribution. Previously, he was Vice President of the Strategic Business Solutions unit of Holland & Knight Consulting LLC. Prior to consulting, he had 15 years of CEO experience including President and CEO of Corcentric, Inc., an e-commerce services provider spun off from Litton Enterprise Solutions; CEO of Global Software Corporation; and, President and CEO of Perfection Equipment. Prior to FOCUS, Mr. Chetrit was CEO of First Regional Telecom, where he took the company from a regional telecommunications company to a full-service communications solutions provider. Prior to First Regional Telecom, Mr. Chetrit owned a majority interest in HBS Holdings, the holding company for Hugo Boss stores, where he held the title of President from 1987 to 1995. Detailed biographies of FOCUS Partners and professional staff are available at www.focusbankers.com.
About FOCUS Enterprises, Inc.
FOCUS Enterprises is the region’s first investment banking firm that focuses solely on the needs of mid-market and smaller company clients providing merger, acquisition, divestiture, corporate finance and strategic partnering services combined with corporate and strategic development consulting services. The firm, founded in 1982, has developed a unique business approach that integrates process-based transaction advisory services with strategic and corporate development consulting services to meet the investment banking needs of its clients. To find out more about the specialized services of Washington, D.C.-based FOCUS Enterprises, visit www.focusbankers.com.
