Samantha is available for hire
Hire SamanthaSamantha Cerone
Verified Expert in Finance
Finance Expert
Location
New York, NY, United States
Toptal Member Since
January 4, 2018
After beginning her career in Houlihan Lokey’s leading restructuring practice, Samantha spent over 10 years evaluating special situations investment opportunities. She has executed over $1 billion in complex, tailored middle-market transactions including recapitalizations, financings, and asset sales. Freelancing allows her to leverage her perspective as an institutional investor to provide insights for both growing and challenged businesses.
Career Highlights
Workouts Specialist
Prudential Capital Group
Investment Analyst, Private Fund
DDJ Capital Management, LLC
Financial Analyst
Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin
Education Highlights
Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree
Columbia University
Bachelor's Degree
New York University
Case Studies
Industry Expertise
Other Expertise
Work Experience
Workouts Specialist
2014 - 2017
Prudential Capital Group
- Negotiated solutions that maximized recovery on defaulted private placements through out-of-court restructurings and, as appropriate, insolvency proceedings.
- Presented investment recommendations that included secondary and new money opportunities in special situations (including senior/junior debt and equity) to investment committee.
- Managed and negotiated sale processes (and related documents) of portfolio companies.
- Performed detailed credit, valuation and recovery analysis as well as monitored portfolio companies, ranging in size from $20 million to $4 billion in revenue, in the energy, industrial, gaming and business process outsourcing sectors.
- Completed a restructuring and sale of a $200 million renewable power project that included the search and retention of an asset manager to lead operational turnaround and address fuel supply and regulatory permitting issues.
- Recapitalized a distressed manufacturing company vis-à-vis debt for equity exchange; structured new ABL facility to support go-forward business growth.
- Supported portfolio companies’ management teams to achieve a variety of capital raising objectives through creative structures that enhanced liquidity, permitted acquisitions, or provided rescue financing.
Focus areas: Valuation, Transaction Structuring, Private Equity, Private Credit, Financial Asset Impairment Models, Investment Portfolio Management, Investment Monitoring, Investment Memoranda, Investment Decision-making, Financial Restructuring, Debtor & Creditor Management, Debt Restructuring, Credit Investing, Capital Structuring
Investment Associate
2009 - 2011
Schultze Asset Management, LLC
- Evaluated and selected high yield, leveraged loan, equity and distressed investment opportunities for Schultze Asset Management, a U.S. distressed securities manager that invests in any part of the capital structure at any point in a restructuring process.
- Performed investment due diligence focused on financial, accounting, industry, environmental, and legal considerations. Industry coverage included automotive, industrial, financial services and retail sectors.
- Presented investment memoranda and quarterly updates on portfolio companies to committee.
Focus areas: Value Investing, Valuation, Investment Memoranda, Investment Decision-making, Financial Modeling, Equity Research, Due Diligence, Credit Investing, Capital Structuring
Investment Analyst, Private Fund
2007 - 2008
DDJ Capital Management, LLC
- Analyzed public and private distressed investment opportunities in automotive, industrial and retail sectors for a $3 billion private investment firm focused on mid-market, non-investment grade opportunities throughout the entire capital structure.
- Completed on-site due diligence, developed financial models, prepared investment memoranda, and presented investment and trade recommendations to investment committee. Industry coverage included automotive and retail sectors.
- Submitted asset sale bids for two automotive supply companies being sold through a Chapter 11; provided subsequent term loan financing to one of them.
Focus areas: Private Equity, Investment Memoranda, Financial Modeling, Equity Research, Due Diligence, Debtor & Creditor Management, Debt Restructuring, Credit Investing, Capital Structuring
Financial Analyst
2006 - 2008
Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin
- Performed all analyses (valuation, cash flow and LBO model, recovery and liquidation analysis) for $130 million rights offering investment by second lien lenders in an automotive supply company in Chapter 11.
- Prepared information memoranda related to refinancing and various covenant amendment requests for Salton, Inc., distributor of the George Foreman grill and other home appliances.
- Managed litigation recovery model that mapped complex inter-company relationships for Refco Inc., et al, a broker-dealer liquidation with over $4 billion of claims in dispute; explained model to creditor committee and related parties.
Focus areas: Valuation, Three-statement Modeling, Pitch Decks, Investor Presentations, Financial Restructuring, Financial Statements, Financial Modeling, Debtor & Creditor Management, Capital Structuring
Education
2011 - 2013
Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree in Finance
Columbia University - New York, NY
2000 - 2005
Bachelor's Degree in Finance, International Business
New York University - New York, NY
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