Peter S. Kaufman is an American investment banker and private equity investor. He is the President and Head of Restructuring and Distressed M&A at Gordian Group LLC, an investment banking firm. He is also a Managing Partner of Bacchus Capital Management, a winery investment concern.[1]

Peter S. Kaufman
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Virginia Law School
Yale University
Occupation(s)Investment Banker; Investor
President; Head of Restructuring and Distressed M & A at Gordian Group; Managing Partner of Bacchus Capital Management
Children2

Early life and education edit

Kaufman attended the Edgemont Junior High School in Westchester County, New York and graduated from The Taft School cum laude. He attended Yale College, where he lettered in varsity lacrosse, was an editor of the Yale Daily News, and had a double major in art history and history, graduating with Honors. He was in the top quarter of his class at the University of Virginia School of Law.

Career edit

Kaufman practiced law in New York City before going into investment banking. Leaving the First Boston Corporation as a Vice-President, Kaufman joined Gordian Group LLC, the leading boutique investment bank specializing in distressed and/or complex financial challenges. Along with CEO Henry Furlow Owsley III, Kaufman is co-author of the definitive works in the field, Distressed Investment Banking: To The Abyss and Back - Second Edition, Beard Books 2015, Equity Holders Under Siege: Strategies and Tactics for Distressed Businesses, Beard Books LLC, 2014 and Distressed Investment Banking: To The Abyss and Back, Beard Books 2005.[2][3] Both books are "must-read" for boards of directors, management teams and shareholders and/or owners of financially stressed situations, as well as for buyers and professionals. He was the founding Co-chairman of the Committee on Investment Banking of the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI).

Kaufman serves as an Adjunct Faculty/Lecturer at the University of Virginia School of Law teaching a course entitled "Advising Boards of Directors Under Siege"; he also assists in teaching courses at University of Virginia Darden School of Business.

He is a Contributor to SportsIllustrated.com/Morning Read on golf.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] Kaufman had an article selected by Sports Illustrated as one of the ‘best golf reads’ in each of 2021 and 2022.[13][14] He is a member of the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association. He is also a Brand Ambassador for The Towson Watch Company.

He is perhaps the nation's most frequent commentator on national television regarding restructurings and distressed financial matters, as well as economic policy issues. He has been called the "Nastiest Man in Restructuring"[15] by financial creditors and recognized by the media as "a top restructuring and distressed debt expert."[16] Kaufman has appeared on, among others, Yahoo! Finance discussing the future and whether more companies will file for Chapter 11,[17] Healthcare Bailouts and Hertz Trying to Sell Equity,[18] the COVID-19 government bailout,[19] Bloomberg TV, CNBC,[20][21] CNN (including Anderson Cooper 360), Fox Business with Maria Bartiromo,[22][23][24][25][26][27][28] Fox Business,[29][30][31][32][33] NBC (Today Show) and WSJ TV, on matters relating to insolvency, corporate reorganization, federal "bailout" issues and broader stimulus and economic issues, including General Motors (GM),[34][35] Chrysler and British Petroleum (BP),[36][37] American Airlines[38] & Hostess Brands,[39][40] as well as municipal and state insolvency issues.[41][42] He also discusses private equity on television and elsewhere.[43] He is often cited in leading publications and international news sources such as The New York Times,[44] The Wall Street Journal[45] and Reuters,[46] and was the subject of a Bloomberg feature.

Kaufman's investment banking practice primarily encompasses advising Boards of Directors, private equity firms, and buyers and sellers of distressed, stressed or "story" situations. Because it does not represent creditors, Gordian is able to achieve meaningful equity recoveries in insolvent situations. In 2013, he testified in front of the ABI Commission on Bankruptcy Reform in regards to valuation. At Bacchus Capital, he is actively involved in the fund's selection and oversight of portfolio company wineries.[47][48][49]

Representative engagements where Kaufman led or co-led the matter include: Alexander Gallo Holdings (debtor), Alphatec (debtor), American Airlines (TWU - Mechanics Union), Enron, Jobson Healthcare (Private Equity), Lee Enterprises (Private Equity), Madoff Bankruptcy (Trustee), Mendocino Brewing, Metalico (debtor), ModSpace, MolyCorp (expert witness engagement for counsel), Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railroad (debtor), Nuo Therapeutics (debtor), Spansion (debtor), Strata, Trans Energy (debtor), Vivaro and Xtreme Power (debtor).

Professional recognition edit

External videos
  You can see video interviews of Peter S. Kaufman on CNBC, Fox Business News and Bloomberg TV here: [1], [2], [3] .

Peter Kaufman and his work have been featured in Bloomberg News.[50]

In The Deal financial restructuring league tables, Kaufman is consistently named one of the country's top 10 restructuring investment bankers, and has been ranked #1.[51][52]

The industry organization, M&A Advisor awarded Gordian Group LLC as Boutique Investment Bank of the Year award for the seventh time in nine years.[53] Gordian Group was named a winner for the Out-Of-Court Restructuring of the Year (Over $100MM): Restructuring and Sale of Trans Energy, Inc.; and Cross-Border Restructuring Deal of the Year (Under $1B): Cross-Border Restructuring of Alphatec.[54] It also awarded Gordian on behalf of their restructurings of Jobson Medical Holdings (Professional Services category) and Elyria Foundry (Industrial, Manufacturing & Distribution category).[55][56] In 2014, the University of Virginia awarded him an honorary appointment as a Visiting Executive Lecturer at the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration.

Kaufman was honored with the 2015 M&A Advisor Leadership Award for his contribution to and accomplishments in the industry at the 9th Annual Turnaround Awards Gala in Palm Beach, FL.[57] Later that year, Kaufman was inducted into the M&A Advisor Hall of Fame at the 14th Annual M&A Advisor Awards Gala in New York City.[58]

Personal life edit

Kaufman grew up, and lives, in Westchester County, New York. He is also an owner on Chebeague Island, Maine. He has two daughters.

Publications edit

  • Co-author, "Warnings Persist for Corporate Directors Evaluating LBO and Other Multi-Step Transactions" (Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance, July 21, 2021) https://corpgov.law.harvard.edu/2021/07/21/warnings-persist-for-corporate-directors-evaluating-lbo-and-other-multi-step-transactions/
  • Co-author, Distressed Investment Banking: To the Abyss and Back - Second Edition(Frederick, Md.: Beard Books, 2015)
  • Co-author, Equity Holders under Siege: Strategies and Tactics for Distressed Businesses.(Frederick, Md.: Beard Books, 2014)
  • Co-author, Distressed Investment Banking: To the Abyss and Back.(Frederick, Md.: Beard Books LLC, 2005)
  • Co-author, "The Role of the Investment Banker," in Bankruptcy Business Acquisitions (New York: Lex Med Publishing, 1998)
  • Co-author, "Trading in the Distressed Market," in Investing in Bankruptcies and Turnarounds (New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1991)

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Dundee's 'Wine by Joe' receives 'significant' cash investment from San Francisco private equity company. The Oregonian, February 7, 2013.
  2. ^ Kaufman, Peter S. & Owsley, Henry F., Distressed Investment Banking: To the Abyss and Back - Second Edition, Washington, D.C., Beard Books, 2015.
  3. ^ Kaufman, Peter S. & Owsley, Henry F., and Equity Holders Under Siege: Strategies and Tactics for Distressed Businesses, Washington, D.C., Beard Books, 2014.
  4. ^ 'Catching up with Chi Chi'. Morning Read, March 18, 2021.
  5. ^ 'Does Phil Mickelson Rate Among Top 10 All-Time? It's Complicated'. Morning Read, June 7, 2021.
  6. ^ 'Assessing Royal St. George's Place in the British Open Rota, and the Field of Contenders This Week'. SportsIllustrated.com, July 14, 2021.
  7. ^ 'Where Does Collin Morikawa Rank Among the Greatest Young Golfers In History'. SportsIllustrated.com, August 5, 2021.
  8. ^ 'The Two Greatest Ryder Cup Upsets That History Has (Almost) Forgotten'. SportsIllustrated.com, September 20, 2021.
  9. ^ 'Christie Is Kerr Plotting A Comeback Season, But She's Already Thriving in her Next Chapter as a Winemaker'. SportsIllustrated.com, January 20, 2022.
  10. ^ 'Stray Shots: Musings on Zach Johnson's Captaincy Shane Lowry's Bad Break and Bryson's Bulk'. SportsIllustrated.com, March 2, 2022.
  11. ^ 'Golf's (Augusta) National Treasure: 99-Year-Old Past Champion Jackie Burke'. SportsIllustrated.com, March 30, 2022.
  12. ^ 'Brookline Has a Storied History, and Latest Renovations Have Set It Up for More Drama'. SportsIllustrated.com, June 12, 2022.
  13. ^ Morning Read's 2021 'Best Reads of the Year'. SportsIllustrated.com, December 31, 2021.
  14. ^ Best Golf Stories of 2022, From Sports Illustrated. SportsIllustrated.com, December 28, 2022.
  15. ^ Episode 2 Peter Kaufman, Middle Market Musings April 2021.
  16. ^ 'Cavuto on Fox Business'. 11 Feb. 2009. Web.
  17. ^ More companies will file for chapter 11 in the near future: Gordian Group President Peter Kaufman, Yahoo! Finance, May 27. 2020.
  18. ^ Rural and inner city hospitals are not getting funds they need: Gordian Group President: Peter Kaufman, Yahoo! Finance, June 19. 2020.
  19. ^ There is no panacea to make this all right: Gordian Group President Peter Kaufman, Yahoo! Finance, March 26. 2020.
  20. ^ "Assessing Corporate Balance Sheets, CNBC, October 31, 2011". Archived from the original on April 3, 2012. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
  21. ^ "How to Fix the Economy, CNBC, September 6, 2011". Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2011.
  22. ^ Does Trump's Business Background Make him the Best Candidate?, Fox Business, June 16, 2016,
  23. ^ Economy Good Enough for Interest Rate Hikes?, Fox Business, September 3, 2015
  24. ^ Greece Unlikely to Leave Eurozone?, Fox Business, June 29, 2015.
  25. ^ What's Next for Greece?, Fox Business, July 6, 2015.
  26. ^ Current Debt Deal Bad for Greece?, Fox Business, July 13, 2015
  27. ^ The Most Hated Bull Market?, Fox Business, July 18, 2014.
  28. ^ The Regulatory Environment, Inversions and Your Money, Fox Business, July 18, 2014.
  29. ^ American Airlines and Unions, and Bankruptcy Environment. Fox Business, February 2, 2012.
  30. ^ MF Global Acquisition Opportunity? Fox Business, October 31, 2011.
  31. ^ What GM Will Cost Taxpayers. Fox Business, December 21, 2009.
  32. ^ Why the Auto Industry Has Already Failed. Fox Business, December 21, 2009.
  33. ^ Sectors Most at Risk for Bankruptcy. Fox Business, September 26, 2011.
  34. ^ Will GM’s Management Changes Rattle Investors? USA Today, August 23, 2010.
  35. ^ GM Creditors Will Let Asset Sale Go Forward While They Appeal. Bloomberg.com, July 7, 2009.
  36. ^ Riding Roughshod Over Chapter 11? NY Times DealBook, June 9, 2009.
  37. ^ Complications in BP’s Asset Sales. NY Times DealBook, July 20, 2010.
  38. ^ Transport Workers Union Retains Gordian Group. www.TWU.org, January 19, 2012. Archived January 1, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  39. ^ Hostess Bakers Union Hires Investment Bank Gordian in Asset Sale. January 21, 2013.
  40. ^ Battle for Bankrupt Hostess. CNBC, February 5, 2013.
  41. ^ Who Feels Most Pain from Muni Bankruptcies? Fox Business, August 9, 2012.
  42. ^ Is Detroit Saved? Fox Business, December 4, 2013.
  43. ^ Alternative Capital for Tapped Out Winemakers, February 13, 2013.
  44. ^ Cuban Tells Why He Is No Longer in Cubs’ Lineup. New York Times, January 7, 2009.
  45. ^ Creditors Cry Foul at Chrysler Precedent. Wall Street Journal, June 13, 2009.
  46. ^ Less Corporate Stress but a Long Way from Health. Reuters.com, October 4, 2010.
  47. ^ Boutique Vintners Turn to Private Equity for Help. New York Times, April 25, 2013.
  48. ^ Squeezing Green From Grapes Fox Business, January 17, 2014.
  49. ^ Wave of Mergers And Acquisitions Sweeps U.S. Wineries Forbes, August 11, 2016.
  50. ^ Bloomberg Morning Briefs: Peter S. Kaufman Archived 2014-02-02 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 1-28-2014.
  51. ^ Bankruptcy League Tables - Top Investment Banks and Bankers, The Deal, November 7, 2007 Issue.
  52. ^ ‘’The Deal’’ financial restructuring league tables, 2011.
  53. ^ Winners Announced for the 13th Annual Turnaround Awards, PR Newswire, December 20, 2018
  54. ^ PRNewswire, Winners Announced for the 11th Annual Turnaround Awards, January 30, 2017
  55. ^ Winners Announced for the 8th Annual M&A Advisor Turnaround Awards Archived 2014-02-02 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 1-28-2014.
  56. ^ The M&A Advisor: The 8th Annual M&A Advisor Turnaround Awards Winners Archived 2014-02-02 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 1-28-2014.
  57. ^ Peter S. Kaufman, Randall S. Eisenberg, J. Scott Victor To Receive The 2015 M&A Advisor Leadership Award, PR Newswire, February 20, 2015
  58. ^ Winners Announced for the 14th Annual M&A Advisor Awards, PR Newswire, November 20, 2015