Company: Avista Capital Partners

Industry: Finance, Private Equity

Founders: Thompson Dean, former Managing Partner of DLJMB; Steven Webster, former Chairman of DLJMB Global Energy Partners; James Finkelstein, former Chairman of DLJMB Global Media Partners; Larry Pickering, former Chairman of DLJMB Global Healthcare Partners; David Burgstahler; Robert Cabes; David Durkin; OhSang Kwon.

History:

Avista Capital Partners is a leading private equity firm specializing in growth energy, healthcare and media. Avista Capital Partners has offices in New York, NY and Houston, TX. Avista Capital Partners’ strategy is to make assist influential minority investments primarily in growth-oriented media, healthcare and energy companies. Through its team of seasoned investment professionals and industry experts, Avista Capital partners with exceptional management teams to invest in and add value to well-positioned businesses.

Avista Capital Partners has grown to be an established institution in the private equity business. Founded in 2005 and with main offices in New York City, New York, and Houston Texas, Avista Capital Partners boasts a portfolio of high-profile clients and continues to expand and grow roots in the international private equity market.

Avista Capital Partners was founded by private equity professionals who have a combined experience of 70 years. All of these have pooled their expertise with DLJ Merchant Banking Partners, also a respected institution in the private equity business.

The individuals behind the creation of Avista Capital Partners developed the Global Partnership Strategy during their tenure with DLJ Merchant Banking Partners – a business approach that fuses investment experts with industry professionals. The same business strategy became Avista Capital’s cornerstone in doing business with their clients.

Leadership at Avista Capital Partners:

• Thompson Dean – former Managing Partner of DLJMB and Avista Capital’s current CEO;
• Steven Webster – former Chairman of DLJMB Global Energy Partners and Avista Capital’s President;
• James Finkelstein – former Chairman of DLJMB Global Media Partners and Industry Partner of Avista Capital;
• Larry Pickering – former Chairman of DLJMB Global Healthcare Partners and Industry Partner of Avista Capital;
• David Burgstahler – former Partner of DLJ Merchant Banking Partner and current director of Avista Capital-owned assets such as Visant, Warner Chilcott and WideOpenWest;
• Robert Cabes – former Member of DLJMB Global Energy Partners and presently based in Houston. He serves as Director of several Avista Capital’s investments, including Manti Exploration, MedServe and Pinnacle Gas Resources;
• David Durkin – former Partner of DLJ Merchant Banking Partners and currently serves as Director of Frontier, IWCO, Merrill, and the Prometheus Laboratories;
• OhSang Kwon – former Partner of DLJ Merchant Banking Partners and presently serving InvestorPlace Media, Star Tribune, and Thompson Publishing as director.

Avista Capital Partners appointed Steven E. Marder media industry adviser in 2008.

Avista Capital Partners Appointed Gerhard Kurz to enhance energy practice.