Sergio is available for hire
Hire SergioSergio Ermacora
Verified Expert in Finance
Finance Expert
Location
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Toptal Member Since
March 16, 2017
Sergio is an investment banker with 12+ years of experience in complex environments. He has advised company owners and C-level executives on M&A transactions as a partner at RSM International as well as on intellectual property and strategy for high-tech companies like Yahoo, Sony, and Panasonic while at Black Stone IP/Houlihan Lokey. Sergio enjoys freelancing at Toptal to continue working on interesting projects while starting his own company.
Career Highlights
Partner, M&A
RSM International
Senior Financial Analyst
Black Stone IP (Part of Houlihan Lokey)
M&A Director | Head of Research
Ascendant Capital Advisors (Member of IMAP)
Education Highlights
Certificate
University of Michigan | Coursera
Master of Science
Staffordshire University
Bachelor's Degree
University of Rijeka
Case Studies
Industry Expertise
Other Expertise
Work Experience
CEO
2015 - PRESENT
Koola
- Raised angel and seed funding from a corporate venture capital in the automotive industry.
- Built several investor and pitch decks tailored to different investor types and presentation lengths.
- Defined and implemented a go-to-market strategy.
- Conducted market and competition research in the connected car segment.
- Built a business development list; implemented several partnership agreements.
- Built a financial model for internal projections and external fundraising efforts.
- Implemented a 6-month pilot project with an automotive OEM.
Focus areas: Fundraising
Partner, M&A
2013 - PRESENT
RSM International
- Advised 10+ mid-sized companies and startups in their fundraising efforts with outside investors—including private equity firms, venture capital funds, and angel groups.
- Created 3-statement integrated financial models and valuations with trading comparables analysis, precedent transactions, discounted cash flow (DCF), and leveraged buyout analyses for acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures.
- Identified hundreds of acquisition targets and potential buyers. Created lists using several tools like Capital IQ and Mergermarket.
- Built a financial model and presentation, and negotiated a debt restructuring deal valued at more than €30 million.
- Advised the leading website and classified ads site in the Balkans on the sell-side mandate. The company was eventually sold to Naspers.
- Performed company, industry, market, and competitor research.
Focus areas: Bank Debt Raises, Private Equity, Venture Funding, Angel/Seed Funding, Fundraising, Debt Restructuring, Project Finance, Corporate Finance, Financial Modeling, Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
Senior Financial Analyst
2013 - 2016
Black Stone IP (Part of Houlihan Lokey)
- Created a valuation model and sell-side strategy for the sale of Yahoo's patent portfolio.
- Helped build the licensing strategy model for HEVC Advance patent pool (includes companies such as Sony, Panasonic, and Dolby).
- Developed a patent portfolio valuation model and sell-side strategy for a segment of Broadcom's patent portfolio.
- Developed an intellectual property strategy for Dolby.
- Identified non-core patents for SAP and assisted with valuation and sell-side advisory.
- Led the intellectual property strategy and valuation for HID Global.
Focus areas: Pastel, Valuation Modeling, Valuation, Financial Modeling, Three-statement Modeling, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), Strategy, Intellectual Property
M&A Director | Head of Research
2010 - 2013
Ascendant Capital Advisors (Member of IMAP)
- Advised 3 of the largest private security companies in the South Eastern European region in their sell-side mandate with Securitas (valued at more than €30 million).
- Advised a German automotive company on the buy-side of a regional injection moulding company.
- Created research memorandums for different industries with a focus on Central Eastern Europe.
- Created several buy-side and sell-side long lists for international and regional clients.
- Led the fundraising process (both debt and equity) with a pool of local banks and IFC for a Bosnian automotive company in the total amount of €18 million.
- Created more than 30 financial models, teasers, and information memorandums for clients.
- Worked on mandates with a total value of more than USD $500 million.
Focus areas: Valuation Modeling, Valuation, Three-statement Modeling, Private Equity, Venture Funding, Angel/Seed Funding, Fundraising, Project Finance, Pitch Decks, Financial Engineering, Financial Modeling, Strategy, Debt Restructuring, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
M&A Director
2008 - 2010
Prevent DEV
- Screened several hundred potential acquisitions.
- Analyzed financials, operations, potential synergies, and conducted interviews with management for more than 20 potential acquisitions.
- Worked on 9 potential acquisitions, analyzing detailed financials, potential synergies, and negotiated share purchase agreements.
- Closed 4 acquisitions with a total value of more than USD $100 million and revenues exceeding USD $600 million.
- Led the team on the acquisition of Eybl International—an Austrian company with revenues exceeding USD $500 million in the automotive sector and more than 10 locations around Europe.
Focus areas: Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
Financial Analyst | Portfolio Manager
2006 - 2008
Raiffeisen
- Built several financial and valuation models for listed companies including BHTelecom, Hrvatski Telekom, Elektroprivreda BiH, and Sarajevska Pivara.
- Advised on equity portfolios for different client types ranging from wealthy individuals, and international mutual and hedge funds.
Focus areas: Transaction Advisory, Portfolio Management, Portfolio Analysis, Equity Research
Education
2015 - 2015
Certificate in Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills
University of Michigan | Coursera - Online
2005 - 2006
Master of Science in Business Analysis
Staffordshire University - Stoke-on-Trent, UK
2000 - 2004
Bachelor's Degree in Finance
University of Rijeka - Rijeka, Croatia