M.C. WILLIAMSON, CHAIR/CEO/PRESIDENT & FOUNDER

He has extensive international industry and management experience which covers North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Asia-Pacific involving Compagnie de Saint-Gobain S.A. (of France) and Calmar Inc. (of the US).  In this regard, prior experience has also involved Freeman Spogli & Co., a private equity firm (Co-Founder Ronald P. Spogli was US Ambassador to Italy & San Marino and Co-Founder Richard J. Riordan was Mayor of Los Angeles), Puig Beauty & Fashion Group (of Spain and Prestige Brands include Prada, Carolina Herrera, Nina Ricci, Paco Rabanne and Comme Des Garçons), AB Beijer (controlled by Dr. Anders Wall, founder of the Beijerinvest Group of Sweden and former Executive Chairman of Volvo), and Diamond International Corporation (controlled by the late Sir James Goldsmith).

MC Williamson has completed over USD 1 billion in cross-border international mergers & acquisitions deals (in a legal and/or financial capacity).  Private placements and public debt offerings totaled over USD 200 million. Senior secured credit facilities and refinancing totaled USD 140 million.  Unsecured credit instruments and refinancing (including the retirement of Drexel Burnham Lambert junk bond instruments) totaled USD 90 million.  Change in minority interest shareholding, as well as ultimate realization and profitable disposal of minority interest involving Svenska Handelsbanken AB (of Sweden), both of which totaled approximately USD 46 million.

The investment banking teams on such deals included Goldman Sachs & Co. (New York & San Francisco offices), Merrill Lynch (Los Angeles office) and Banker’s Trust (Los Angeles office and now part of Deutsche Bank).  Lead bankers on senior secured deals included Citigroup, Mellon Financial (now The Bank of New York Mellon), CIT Group and Eaton Vance (Cayman Islands).  Recurring corporate bankers included, among others, Wells Fargo Bank and PNC Financial Services Group (of the US), Deutsche Bank and Dresdner Bank (of Germany), Banco Santander S.A. and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (of Spain) and BNP Paribas (of France).  Leading service providers involved in some of these deals, included among others, the former KPMG Partner-In-Charge of the Los Angeles office (as well as the Southern California region) and the former Latham & Watkins Partner-In-Charge of Corporate (based in the Los Angeles office).

Industry or sector expertise during his prior employment at Deloitte & Touche LLP (Los Angeles & Orange County offices) included mutual funds & investment management, venture capital & technology, real estate, international manufacturing, banking & financial institutions, insurance, retail, and fashion & beauty. Interestingly, certain of his high-profile clients at Deloitte & Touche LLP included, amongst others, The Capital Group Companies (American Funds, Capital Bank & Trust, Capital Guardian, Capital International, Capital International Funds, Capital Research & Management), Sequoia Capital Partnerships (venture capitalist to YouTube, Google, Yahoo!, Cisco Systems, Oracle, and Apple Computer), the Equitable Real Estate Investment Management Company (including certain Sheraton Hotels and First Interstate Tower (USD 75 million fire loss & improvements year, 2nd tallest building CA, landmark high-rise in downtown Los Angeles & now Aon Center) and Equitable later sold to the Lend Lease Group of Australia), Birtcher Construction (of the Birtcher Group and year of 50% sale to Mitsui Bussan), Mitsubishi Acceptance Corporation (predecessor of Mitsubishi Motors Credit of America), National Bank of Southern California (formerly largest public bank in Orange County and ultimately acquired by U.S. Bancorp), The Doctors Company (Medical Malpractice Insurance), County of Los Angeles Hospitals (including UCLA & USC), Thrifty Corporation & Big Five Sporting Goods (Thrifty later sold to Rite Aid), and Fred Hayman Beverly Hills (including the launch of Fred Hayman Beverly Hills perfumes and formerly the world-famous Giorgio Beverly Hills and Giorgio Beverly Hills perfumes).  He served the former Deloitte US National Partners In Charge of Investments (mutual funds & alternative investments) and Real Estate.

Bar Admissions & Professional Qualifications:

• Attorney & Counselor at Law (NY & CA)
• Solicitor (England & Wales)
• Certified Public Accountant (CA) (inactive)

Education:

• Cambridge University (UK),
  • B.A. (Affiliated Student; J.D. equivalent 2 years) & M.A. Law
  • Hughes Hall (Matriculation)
  • Downing College (Director of Studies & Supervisions)
• Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law (Chicago), LL.M.
• The University of Law (UK), Dipl. LP/LPC
• The University of Michigan, Stephen M. Ross School of Business
  • (Ann Arbor), B.B.A. (with Distinction)

INVESTMENT ADVISORY PANEL

Our professional approach to alternative investments and real estate development and investments includes the introduction of a mostly independent Investment Advisory Panel.

Individuals within the Investment Advisory Panel have extensive expertise in Hedge Funds, Investment Banking, Real Estate Development & Investment, Real Estate Leasing & Brokerage, Teaching & Consulting at a leading International Research University covering Architecture, Real Estate, and International Business Strategy & Marketing.

Members of our Investment Advisory Panel include, among others, an individual with a Ph.D. in Business from the University of Cambridge (UK).