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Paul L. KesslerFounder and CEOMr. Kessler is CEO, Portfolio Manager and Founder of BCA. Mr. Kessler is recognized as an active deep value investor, financier, and venture capitalist. He has extensive experience with growth companies, both public and private. Mr. Kessler will often lead activist efforts with both company boards and executives focused on corporate governance, oversight, strategy, and alignment of interests with shareholders. He is well-versed at identifying deep value activist opportunities in a variety of industries including biotechnology, technology, energy, education, and consumer products. He has broad experience in operations and finance, actively sourcing and identifying investment opportunities, and negotiating, structuring and re-structuring investment transactions. He has guided and overseen over 700 investment transactions, whether as lead, co-lead, or syndicate investor, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, private equity, venture and other capital market activities. From November 2021 to March 2024, Mr. Kessler served on the "The CEO Council," an advisory group of select business leaders formed by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce to address and promote regional economic recovery. Mr. Kessler also serves as an advisor to MedTech Innovator, the world's largest accelerator of medical technology companies and the premier nonprofit startup accelerator in the medical technology industry, is a lead investor and advisor to RX3 Ventures & Act One Ventures, and co-founded Start Engine, LLC, which at the time of its founding was the largest technology incubator in Los Angeles, having launched over 50 technology companies, and is now a leading equity-based crowdfunding platform. Mr. Kessler has been featured as a guest speaker at a variety of forums, including The PIPEs Conference, Los Angeles Venture Association (LAVA), Wall Street Reporter's Pipe Conference, UCLA Anderson School of Management, and Pepperdine University's Graziadio School of Business and Management. He has attended courses at various colleges and universities, including Harvard Business School's Executive Education Program and UCLA's Extension Program. Mr. Kessler has passed the Series 65 Uniform Investment Advisor Examination. |
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Diana Derycz-KesslerCo-Founder and Co-ManagerMs. Derycz-Kessler co-founded BCA with her husband, Mr. Kessler, and acts as Co-Manager of BCA. In her role as Co-Manager, Ms. Derycz-Kessler advises on complex business or legal issues. In addition, Ms. Derycz-Kessler meets with target companies and their management and boards while assisting to identify and secure potential candidates for board seats and executive leadership, and further advises on governance and corporate strategy. Ms. Derycz-Kessler also advises on specific strategies relating to existing portfolio companies or companies being considered for investment re-allocation. Ms. Derycz-Kessler is an experienced investor with a background in law, business and finance. Her investments have included energy, biotechnology, technology, education, real estate and consumer products. As part of these investments, she has assumed active operational roles, including a 17-year tenure as CEO of the media arts college The Los Angeles Film School, and manager of commercial property partnerships. In February 2019, Ms. Derycz-Kessler became a founding member and director of LK Advisors, Inc., a mortgage lending advisory company. Since October 2019, Ms. Derycz-Kessler has been a member of the board of managers of Bristol Luxury Group LLC and Sugarfina Holdings LLC, the parent companies to Sugarfina USA LLC, a luxury candy retailer. Since December 2016, Ms. Derycz-Kessler has served as director of Tellurian, Inc. (NYSE: TELL), a company primed to provide low cost gas globally through production, liquefaction, transport and logistics. Ms. Derycz-Kessler’s early career began as a lawyer in the international oil and gas sector, working at the law firm of Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP in New York. Subsequently she joined Occidental Petroleum Corporation, overseeing legal for its Latin American exploration and production operations. During 2016-2018, Ms. Derycz-Kessler was a partner in UNESCO’s TeachHer program, a private–public sector partnership bridging the global gender gap in education. From November 2021 to March 2024, Derycz-Kessler served on the "The CEO Council," an advisory group of select business leaders formed by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce to address and promote regional economic recovery. Ms. Derycz-Kessler holds a law degree from Harvard Law School and a master’s degree from Stanford University in Latin American Studies. She obtained her undergraduate degree in History and Latin American Studies from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Diana speaks Spanish fluently. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the State Bar of California and the American Bar Association. Ms. Derycz-Kessler has passed the Series 7, 24, 63 and 66 securities law examinations. |
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Amy WangGeneral Counsel & Chief Operations OfficerMs. Wang is General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer of BCA. She oversees the negotiation, documentation, and closing of investment transactions, advises on restructurings and mergers, conducts due diligence on potential investment targets, reviews and negotiates nondisclosure agreements relating to evaluation of investment opportunities, supervises portfolio activity and operations, monitors compliance with investment terms and securities regulations, manages the activity of service providers and outside counsel, oversees the completion of annual audit procedures with the fund administrator and auditor, manages communications and scheduling of annual meetings with the fund's board of directors, drafts board resolutions and updates to the fund’s offering document, and assists the fund’s investor relations team to facilitate communication with investors and respond to investor inquiries as needed. During her tenure at BCA, Ms. Wang has overseen the negotiation and documentation of over 700 financing transactions utilizing various investment structures and instruments including common stock, preferred stock, convertible debt instruments and warrants. Ms. Wang has also worked on numerous restructurings, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and private equity financings. Ms. Wang earned her law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and her undergraduate degree in Political Science, with a specialization in Business Administration, from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Ms. Wang is a member of the State Bar of California and the American Bar Association (Business Law Division). Ms. Wang has also passed the Series 65 Uniform Investment Advisor Examination. |
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Matt BalakerAssociateMatthew Balaker is responsible for sourcing and analyzing new investment opportunities, performing fund valuations and other portfolio accounting duties, monitoring securities trading, and portfolio management. Mr. Balaker has over 15 years of experience in the investment industry and has participated in more than 300 transactions as an investment officer and portfolio manager. Mr. Balaker has advised or participated in M&A projects, capital raising, and corporate development for startup and middle market companies. Mr. Balaker holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designee. Mr. Balaker holds a BA in business economics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and earned his MBA at the USC Marshall School of Business. Mr. Balaker is a Registered Representative of Finalis Securities LLC Member FINRA / SIPC. |
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Sheila A.R. MeredithOffice ManagerSheila A.R. Meredith supports BCA operations by maintaining accounting and administrative systems. She supervises office services which include the preparation of company payroll, personnel records and accounting reports. She implements standards and procedures for offices policies and designs office systems, layouts and equipment procurement and maintenance. Ms. Meredith is also a California Commissioned Notary Public. She received her B.A. degree from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. |