Alexander Hanrath
Verified Expert in Management Consulting
Finance Expert
London, United Kingdom
Toptal member since September 13, 2017
After raising $3 billion to fund acquisitions for blue-chip businesses while at J.P. Morgan, Alexander moved into venture capital, investing in clean technologies. As CFO of an LED technology startup, he raised profitability by 50%, and now, he enjoys helping other businesses grow strategically and sustainably. Working as a freelancer gives him flexibility with location and frees up his time to pursue social and environmental impact projects.
Career Highlights
Education Highlights
Case Studies
M&A Sale/Fundraising Process
Acquisition Modeling and Returns Analysis
Industry and Value Chain Analysis
Industry Expertise
- Investment Banking
- Venture Capital & Private Equity
- Financial Modeling
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
- P&L Forecasting
- Renewable Energy
- Sustainability
Software Expertise
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Other Expertise
- CleanTech
- Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)
- Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
Work Experience
Finance and Strategy Consultant
Independent Consulting
- Created a three-year financial forecast and model for a SaaS startup acquired by a blue-chip corporation; also produced the output for CEO's board presentation.
- Developed the business plan, financial strategy, and raised funding for a startup in a community energy space.
- Estimated the market size, assessed the business plan viability, reviewed the business model, and analyzed the path to profitability for a food startup.
- Produced a fundraising pitch deck for an internet security startup.
- Developed a business plan and social impact criteria for a startup in a sustainable living space.
CFO
Nualight Ltd
- Joined a portfolio company as the CFO and made the acquisition of a Dutch lighting company—raising €10 million and leading the M&A and due diligence process. Completed three funding rounds for €15 million total.
- Led deep restructuring efforts to increase gross margin percentage from 23% to over 40%. This included stronger financial controls, a pricing strategy, a revamped product platform, a better supply chain and production, and new, higher margin products.
- Led the annual strategy reviews—leading the move into new markets and new product strategy.
- Spoke at international conferences; maintained relations with industry players and venture capital funders across the EU, US and Asia; explored partnerships and acquisitions, winning some business along the way.
- Developed a rolling 18-month forecast model; trained the finance and sales team to maintain the model and processes; also, built short-term cash flow projections, and detailed output template for monthly board reports. Led the efforts to improve forecasting detail and accuracy.
- Oversaw the financial accounting and controlling team; overhauled ERP and accounting system.
Associate Director
Climate Change Capital Private Equity
- Worked on all aspects of the investment process at this $300 million clean technology fund, investing in early-to-late-stage cleantech businesses in Europe and North America.
- Evaluated 300 businesses and business plans in clean power, waste and water treatment, clean transport, and bioplastics per year.
- Won the investment approval, negotiated the term sheets and legal as well as completed investments in LED lighting, anaerobic digestion, water treatment, solar energy, and smart grid businesses.
- Built financial models, performed due diligence, assessed market size, and wrote investment memos to support investments in solar energy, plastics recycling, anaerobic digestion, gasification, waste management, water treatment, and LED lighting.
- Researched and presented market reports on solar energy and LED lighting markets.
- Supported a portfolio company's project finance rollout. Participated in board meetings for portfolio companies.
Associate
Climate Change Capital Advisory
- Advised blue-chip energy companies for Climate Change Capital, the leading merchant bank for the carbon sector.
- Advised an oil-&-gas major on the spin-out of four solar energy businesses in India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
- Coached local management teams to develop business plans for each entity; built financial models and investor slide decks. Organized investor road trips; controlled and coordinated all communications.
- Marketed the businesses to over 40 international investors, running the sale process through three stages; advised the client on best process management.
- Successfully negotiated and completed the spin-outs, with assurances for the client protecting personnel/reputation.
Journalist
Financial Times/Bloomberg News
- Wrote news and feature pieces, primarily for the Financial Times, as a freelance journalist from Mexico City; covered topics such as microcredit, corruption, legal obstacles to investment, and the nascent domestic bond market. Conducted investigative journalism into corporate governance abuses, resulting in international breaking news.
- Covered UK politics for Bloomberg News London, reporting on the Blair government as well as writing in-depth features and news stories on climate change, energy, pensions, and other British government policies.
Associate, Investment Banking
J.P. Morgan
- Analyzed and structured financing packages for high-risk corporate acquisitions and leveraged buyouts with values in the billions of dollars.
- Progressed from financial modeling and due diligence to supervising analysts, drafting terms, developing structures, liaising with client CFOs and presenting to credit committee.
- Completed a $2 billion acquisition loan for biotech acquisition by pharmaceutical client Roche; executed and originated a $300 million Eurobond issue for Nestle.
- Built financial models, including complex debt structures, to support transactions during French smart card acquisition and oil & gas services merger. Led due diligence efforts and wrote investment memos for credit committee. Helped introduce new structures to optimize credit risk.
- Built LBO models and executed due diligence for LBOs in the plant hire industry and capital leasing businesses.
Education
Master's Degree in Environmental Technology and Policy
Imperial College - London, UK
Master's Degree in Financial and Business Economics
Erasmus Universiteit - Rotterdam, Netherlands
Skills
Finance
Fundraising, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Three-statement Modeling, Cash Flow Modeling, Cash Flow Forecasting, Profitability Optimization, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Data Analysis, Budgeting, Budget Controls, Venture Funding, Late-stage Funding, P&L Forecasting, Financial Modeling, Due Diligence, Market Research, Credit Analysis, Lending, Corporate Finance, Bank Debt Raises, Leveraged Buyout Modeling, M&A Modeling, Banking Provision Models, Financial Advisory, Cross-border M&A, Financial Reporting, Return Analysis
Output Software
Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint
Industry Expertise
Solid-state Lighting, LED Lighting, Alternative Energy, Venture Capital, Renewable Energy, Sustainability, Bioenergy
Geographic Expertise
Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Europe, EMEA, Netherlands, Canada, France, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Portugal, Germany, Egypt, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, India
Data & Analysis Software
Bloomberg
Other
Impact Investing, Investments, Business Planning, Acquisitions, Strategy, Growth Strategy, Strategy Planning, CleanTech, Financial Presentations, Funding Presentations, Board Presentations, Investor Presentations, Investment Banking, Financial Analysis, Family Office, Family Office Management, Sustainable Advisory, Business Research, Industry Analysis, Waste Management, Solar, Energy Efficiency, Early-stage Funding, Journalism, Modeling, Financial Forecasting, Investment Cases, Value Chain, Presentations, Software as a Service (SaaS)
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