Profile
Anthony Polazzi is a Senior Executive with over 17 years experience in acquiring and advising businesses. Throughout his career in Private Equity and Leveraged Finance, Anthony reviewed hundreds of transactions and executed over 40 highly successful acquisitions. Post-closing he had continuous involvement in driving improvement in operations including strategic planning, process improvement, financial reporting, budgeting, and recruiting and hiring top executives. Due to this breadth and depth of involvement, Anthony has developed significant experience and relationships in the restaurant, retail, and consumer products industries. Key areas of expertise include:
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· Strategic planning and financial budgeting · Establishment of key business processes/controls · Capital raising in public and private markets · Transaction due diligence / Financial modeling |
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· Negotiation of contracts |
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· Management / Leadership / Culture |
Current Roles:
APFC: Founder & President. Apr 2016-Present
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Owner and operator of differentiated emerging restaurant businesses.
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Raised funds and closed first investment less than 2 months after inception
Bean Sprouts, LLC: Board Member. May 2016-Present
- Added as a director to provide support to the Founders in the areas of strategic planning, financial planning and budgeting, process improvement, etc.
University Preparatory Academy: Board Chairman. 2013-Present
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Non-for-profit charter management organization (“CMO”) dedicated to developing high quality free education in the urban core. Student population >90% minority and >90% economically disadvantaged.
- Opened first campus in South Saint Petersburg in 2013 and second campus in West Palm Beach in 2015
- Recruited current CEO in 2014 and have spent substantial time working with him and his team to improve the educational outcomes in these areas
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Involved in all aspects of the finances and operations of the CMO including leading bi-monthly Board Meetings, chairing the Finance Committee and signing off on all material contracts.
Past Work Experience:
Sun Capital Partners: Managing Director, Principal, Vice President, Associate. 2003-2016
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Senior deal member handling sourcing, negotiation and execution of transaction, and oversight of operations and growth once acquired
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Head of restaurant industry vertical and co-head of consumer and retail verticals.
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Closed over 40 transactions during tenor at Sun including 20 as a Managing Director or Principal.
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Executed transactions ranging from reasonably healthy, growth businesses to severely distressed businesses on the verge of bankruptcy.
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Spent considerable time and effort working with our portfolio and our senior management teams to improve execution and create value in our portfolio companies post-closing.
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Lead Director for Sun on Bar Louie, Garden Fresh, Smokey Bones, Creekstone Farms and Kraco.
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Developed deep relationships with the middle market and boutique investment banks that cover restaurants and retail generating a steady stream of deal flow including closing two new platform transactions in 2016.
CIBC World Markets: Associate, Analyst – Corporate & Leveraged Finance. 1998-2003
- Worked on deal teams to propose and negotiate structures of Bank, Bond and M&A transactions with significant involvement in all stages of the transactions.
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Executed transactions in public and private markets during both robust and weak financing markets
Education/Interests
Claremont McKenna College: Bachelor of Arts in Economics/Accounting & Math. Graduated 1998
Interests: Family (Rachel, Andrew, Matthew, Katie and Albert), Sports (Baseball, Golf, Running, Swimming), Education, Reading