Financo Announces Three New Managing Directors to Support Firm’s Retail and Consumer Mergers & Acquisitions Practice

Announcement Demonstrates Acceleration of Growth Initiatives

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Financo, a leading consumer-focused investment banking boutique, announced today the promotion of Vennette Ho to Managing Director, effective immediately. The Company also announced the appointment of two new Managing Directors, Timothy Dahms and Audrey Kirdar, effective October 2^nd and November 5^th, respectively.

“On behalf of our entire organization, I would like to congratulate Vennette on this promotion”

“On behalf of our entire organization, I would like to congratulate Vennette on this promotion,” said Colin Welch, President and COO. “She has been an integral force in building Financo’s beauty and personal care M&A practice. We are also very pleased to welcome Tim and Audrey to our senior team. Their appointments are a demonstration of our commitment to expand Financo’s capabilities and strengthen the firm’s core retail and consumer strategic advisory franchise. Both bring to the firm deep execution experience in mergers and acquisitions and will help Financo accelerate our growth and enhance our capabilities.”

Vennette Ho will continue to be responsible for the firm’s Personal Care and Beauty coverage effort. Since joining Financo in 2004, she has worked on a number of high profile transactions in the beauty space, including the sale of Laura Mercier to Alticor, purchase of Stila by Sun Capital Partners, the Perfumania acquisition of Parlux and the recapitalization of e.l.f. Cosmetics by TSG Consumer Partners. Ms. Ho’s broader transaction experience includes the recapitalization of Soft Surroundings by Brentwood Associates, the sale of Superba to PVH and the sale of Andrew Marc to G-III. Prior to joining Financo, Ms. Ho was an Equity Research Associate at Lazard Capital Markets, where she covered the retail industry. Ms. Ho began her career at Bloomingdale’s as part of the merchandising program.

Timothy Dahms will lead Financo’s expanded coverage into hardgoods retailing, discount retail, sporting goods and athletic footwear and apparel. With 14 years of investment banking experience specializing in the retail industry, Mr. Dahms most recently served as a senior member of the Retail Investment Banking team at Moelis & Company, where he was responsible for origination and relationship management of corporate and sponsor clients, and launched coverage of the footwear and sporting goods sector. Prior to that, Mr. Dahms was a Vice President at Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., where he led the execution of M&A transactions as well as equity and fixed income offerings. As part of Mr. Dahms’ expertise, he has worked on advisory transactions and financings for a wide range of retail and consumer clients including Burlington Coat Factory, Charlotte Russe, Church & Dwight, Estée Lauder, Fifth & Pacific, Hudson’s Bay, J.Crew, Lord & Taylor and United Retail Group.

Audrey Kirdar brings over 15 years of investment banking experience to Financo. Ms. Kirdar will be responsible for apparel specialty retail, wholesale apparel and department store coverage and will assist with the enhancement of the firm’s cross-border expertise and build-out of its European operations. Most recently, she spent 10 years at Rothschild Inc., in the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions Group, specializing in consumer, retail and apparel. During her tenure, she focused on providing a full range of advisory services to retail and apparel companies in the US, Europe, Latin America and Asia as well as served as the US coordinator of global retail sector coverage. Ms. Kirdar began her investment banking career at Morgan Stanley in New York and London where she was involved in a broad range of domestic and cross border transactions. Her advisory experience includes work with Esprit, PPR, Wal-Mart, Borders, Dr. Martens, Varsity Brands, Coty, Bill Blass, Nautica, Liz Claiborne, Caribbean Joe, NexCen, Donna Karan, IMG Worldwide, and Tommy Hilfiger among others.

About Financo

Financo, headquartered in New York City, was founded in 1971. It is an independent investment banking boutique providing merger and acquisition and other financial advisory services to the global retail and branded consumer products sectors. The Firm’s significant transaction history is concentrated in the apparel, fashion, footwear, cosmetics, fragrance, e-commerce, and other merchandising-related sectors. For additional information, please visit the company’s web site at www.financo.com.