The Team

Cliff Atherton Jr.

Cliff is an investment banker with more than 25 years of experience in corporate finance and 34 years of experience teaching finance at the graduate level. He joined GulfStar in 1995 and has completed numerous corporate finance assignments for business owners. Most of Cliff’s clients are entrepreneur- or family-owned businesses with enterprise values between $25 and $250 million. His transaction experience is split evenly between sales to strategic buyers and recapitalizations with private equity firms. His industry experience includes representation of upstream, midstream and downstream energy service companies as well as manufacturers, distributors, and industrial services firms. Cliff served on the faculty of Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business for 34 years (full-time 1981 to 1987 and 1989 academic years) and on the faculty of the University of Houston’s Bauer College of Business for five years (1993 to 1997). Prior to joining GulfStar, he was managing director of McKenna & Company from 1992 to 1995, president of Emprise Consulting Group, Inc. from 1990 to 1992 and an independent consultant from 1978 to 1990.

Education

Cliff earned a Bachelor of Arts from Rice University and Ph.D. and Master of Business Administration degrees from The University of Texas. He is also a CFA® charterholder.

Recent Transactions

• 

  Has Been Acquired By

  Certified Safety

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• 

  Has Been Acquired By

  W-Industries

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• 

  has completed a private placement of Common Membership Units

  $4,000,000

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Bryan C. Frederickson

Bryan has 22 years of investment banking and corporate finance experience that includes execution of merger and acquisition, private placement, recapitalization and restructuring transactions. Bryan joined GulfStar in 2005 from Navigant Capital Advisors, LLC, the broker-dealer unit of national consulting and financial advisory firm Navigant Consulting, Inc. At Navigant, he was involved in the firm’s investment banking activities and responsible for principal investing by Sextant Corporate Finance, Navigant’s $500 million debt opportunities fund. Prior to that, Bryan served in Wachovia Securities’ media and communications corporate finance, merchant banking and loan syndications groups. He started his career with KPMG LLP’s corporate transactions group. He is active in the Houston chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth.

Education

Bryan holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Accounting, Beta Gamma Sigma, from Vanderbilt University.

Thomas M. Hargrove

Tom is a co-founder of GulfStar Group and has more than 30 years of investment banking experience. Prior to GulfStar’s formation, he served as a senior vice president of Rotan Mosle Inc. from 1986 to 1990 and first vice president at Underwood, Neuhaus & Co., Inc. from 1979 to 1986, where he was responsible for institutional private placements. Prior to 1979, he served as assistant vice president in the corporate finance department at First City National Bank. He is a director of RIMCO Royalty Partners and Headway Workforce Solutions and a board member for Paragon Southwest Medical Waste, LLC.

Education

Tom received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from The University of Texas.

G. Kent Kahle

Kent is a co-founder of GulfStar and has more than 35 years of investment banking experience. Before founding GulfStar, he was a senior vice president and director of Rotan Mosle Inc. from 1982 to 1990, and from 1977 to 1980, he was manager of investor relations at Geosource Inc., an oil services company. From 1975 to 1977, Kent worked in President Gerald Ford’s administration as a special assistant to the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior. Kent has served on more than 15 public and private company boards.

Education

Kent has a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree with honors from Brown University.

Stephen A. Lasher

Steve is a co-founder of GulfStar and has more than 30 years of experience in the securities industry. He began his career in 1970 at Rotan Mosle Inc. where he served in a variety of positions including executive vice president of sales and marketing. From 1985 to 1990, Steve managed Rotan Mosle’s corporate finance department. He is currently a director of Weingarten Realty, Inc. and several other private companies, and has served on several other publicly listed company boards.

Education

Steve has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Vanderbilt University.

Brian J. Lobo

Brian joined GulfStar in 2006 and has more than 15 years of investment banking and corporate finance experience. As a Managing Director, he is responsible for all aspects of the deal process, including transaction sourcing, structuring, negotiation and execution, while also serving as an integral part of the firm’s business development efforts. Since joining the firm, he has been involved in the successful closing of more than 50 assignments, including sell-side and buy-side M&A, recapitalizations, and debt and equity private placements. His experience ranges across a variety of industries, including industrials, energy, consumer products, aerospace and business services and across numerous business models, including manufacturing, distribution and service. Prior to joining GulfStar, Brian worked in the New York office of Lazard Middle Market, where he represented private equity-backed and privately owned companies in M&A transactions, primarily in the consumer and automotive industries. Previously, Brian was an analyst in the corporate treasury group of Advanced Micro Device, Inc. (AMD).

Colt Luedde

Colt has 29 years of investment banking and corporate finance experience. Throughout his career, Colt has completed approximately 200 merger and acquisition transactions helping entrepreneurs obtain liquidity via the sale of their business to either a strategic buyer or to a private equity firm. In addition, he has completed numerous merger and acquisition advisory assignments helping business owners expand their business by acquiring other companies and, in many cases, has also raised the capital required to complete the acquisition via the private placement of both equity and debt. He has deep transactional experience advising the owners of manufacturing, distribution, service and software businesses in the industrial and energy sectors of the economy. He has also worked extensively in other sectors such as aerospace, business services and consumer. Colt serves on the board of, and is a past-president of, the Association for Corporate Growth (Houston Chapter). Additionally, he is a former board member of the Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Center for Private Equity Finance at The University of Texas at Austin.

Scott D. Winship

Scott joined GulfStar in 2010 and brings over 25 years of experience advising clients in the consumer products and information technology industries. He has successfully closed more than 90 transactions with an aggregate value in excess of $20 billion across a broad range of public and private market equity and debt financings, mergers and acquisitions and strategic advisory assignments. Previously, Scott was a managing director at 6Pacific Partners in Los Angeles where he advised clients in the food, beverage and branded consumer products industries. Prior to that, Scott led the packaged food and beverage group at BMO Capital Markets in Chicago and held senior positions in the technology industry groups at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and at Cowen & Company in San Francisco.

Alan J. Blackburn

Alan has 32 years of experience in investment banking. Prior to joining GulfStar in 2006, he was most recently a managing director at Growth Capital Partners, a middle-market investment bank, where he was responsible for the firm’s oilfield services practice as well as its private equity sponsors group. Prior to joining GCP, Alan spent 16 years in Merrill Lynch’s investment banking group in Houston, focusing primarily on the energy and construction materials industries. He has also worked in investment banking with CIBC World Markets Corp. and Kidder, Peabody & Co. Previously, Alan was an associate with the international management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, where he focused on clients in the oilfield service and equipment industry. He also served as a CPA with Deloitte, Haskins & Sells.

Chip Cureton

Chip has 40 years of investment banking experience. He was previously with Cureton & Co., Incorporated, a private investment firm, from 1978 to 1998 serving as President from 1989 to 1998. Prior to 1978, Chip was a Vice President of Rotan Mosle Inc. where he was involved in various corporate finance activities including public offerings, private placements, and mergers and acquisitions. Chip served in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1971 and attained the rank of Lieutenant. He has served on the board of directors of a number of private and public companies.

Brian J. Lobo

Brian joined GulfStar in 2006 and has more than 15 years of investment banking and corporate finance experience. As a Managing Director, he is responsible for all aspects of the deal process, including transaction sourcing, structuring, negotiation and execution, while also serving as an integral part of the firm’s business development efforts. Since joining the firm, he has been involved in the successful closing of more than 50 assignments, including sell-side and buy-side M&A, recapitalizations, and debt and equity private placements. His experience ranges across a variety of industries, including industrials, energy, consumer products, aerospace and business services and across numerous business models, including manufacturing, distribution and service. Prior to joining GulfStar, Brian worked in the New York office of Lazard Middle Market, where he represented private equity-backed and privately owned companies in M&A transactions, primarily in the consumer and automotive industries. Previously, Brian was an analyst in the corporate treasury group of Advanced Micro Device, Inc. (AMD).

Scott D. Winship

Scott joined GulfStar in 2010 and brings over 25 years of experience advising clients in the consumer products and information technology industries. He has successfully closed more than 90 transactions with an aggregate value in excess of $20 billion across a broad range of public and private market equity and debt financings, mergers and acquisitions and strategic advisory assignments. Previously, Scott was a managing director at 6Pacific Partners in Los Angeles where he advised clients in the food, beverage and branded consumer products industries. Prior to that, Scott led the packaged food and beverage group at BMO Capital Markets in Chicago and held senior positions in the technology industry groups at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and at Cowen & Company in San Francisco.

Colt Luedde

Colt has 29 years of investment banking and corporate finance experience. Throughout his career, Colt has completed approximately 200 merger and acquisition transactions helping entrepreneurs obtain liquidity via the sale of their business to either a strategic buyer or to a private equity firm. In addition, he has completed numerous merger and acquisition advisory assignments helping business owners expand their business by acquiring other companies and, in many cases, has also raised the capital required to complete the acquisition via the private placement of both equity and debt. He has deep transactional experience advising the owners of manufacturing, distribution, service and software businesses in the industrial and energy sectors of the economy. He has also worked extensively in other sectors such as aerospace, business services and consumer. Colt serves on the board of, and is a past-president of, the Association for Corporate Growth (Houston Chapter). Additionally, he is a former board member of the Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Center for Private Equity Finance at The University of Texas at Austin.

Alan J. Blackburn

Alan has 32 years of experience in investment banking. Prior to joining GulfStar in 2006, he was most recently a managing director at Growth Capital Partners, a middle-market investment bank, where he was responsible for the firm’s oilfield services practice as well as its private equity sponsors group. Prior to joining GCP, Alan spent 16 years in Merrill Lynch’s investment banking group in Houston, focusing primarily on the energy and construction materials industries. He has also worked in investment banking with CIBC World Markets Corp. and Kidder, Peabody & Co. Previously, Alan was an associate with the international management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, where he focused on clients in the oilfield service and equipment industry. He also served as a CPA with Deloitte, Haskins & Sells.

Chip Cureton

Chip has 40 years of investment banking experience. He was previously with Cureton & Co., Incorporated, a private investment firm, from 1978 to 1998 serving as President from 1989 to 1998. Prior to 1978, Chip was a Vice President of Rotan Mosle Inc. where he was involved in various corporate finance activities including public offerings, private placements, and mergers and acquisitions. Chip served in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1971 and attained the rank of Lieutenant. He has served on the board of directors of a number of private and public companies.

Bryan C. Frederickson

Bryan has 22 years of investment banking and corporate finance experience that includes execution of merger and acquisition, private placement, recapitalization and restructuring transactions. Bryan joined GulfStar in 2005 from Navigant Capital Advisors, LLC, the broker-dealer unit of national consulting and financial advisory firm Navigant Consulting, Inc. At Navigant, he was involved in the firm’s investment banking activities and responsible for principal investing by Sextant Corporate Finance, Navigant’s $500 million debt opportunities fund. Prior to that, Bryan served in Wachovia Securities’ media and communications corporate finance, merchant banking and loan syndications groups. He started his career with KPMG LLP’s corporate transactions group. He is active in the Houston chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth.

Education

Bryan holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Accounting, Beta Gamma Sigma, from Vanderbilt University.

Thomas M. Hargrove

Tom is a co-founder of GulfStar Group and has more than 30 years of investment banking experience. Prior to GulfStar’s formation, he served as a senior vice president of Rotan Mosle Inc. from 1986 to 1990 and first vice president at Underwood, Neuhaus & Co., Inc. from 1979 to 1986, where he was responsible for institutional private placements. Prior to 1979, he served as assistant vice president in the corporate finance department at First City National Bank. He is a director of RIMCO Royalty Partners and Headway Workforce Solutions and a board member for Paragon Southwest Medical Waste, LLC.

Education

Tom received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from The University of Texas.

G. Kent Kahle

Kent is a co-founder of GulfStar and has more than 35 years of investment banking experience. Before founding GulfStar, he was a senior vice president and director of Rotan Mosle Inc. from 1982 to 1990, and from 1977 to 1980, he was manager of investor relations at Geosource Inc., an oil services company. From 1975 to 1977, Kent worked in President Gerald Ford’s administration as a special assistant to the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior. Kent has served on more than 15 public and private company boards.

Education

Kent has a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree with honors from Brown University.

Stephen A. Lasher

Steve is a co-founder of GulfStar and has more than 30 years of experience in the securities industry. He began his career in 1970 at Rotan Mosle Inc. where he served in a variety of positions including executive vice president of sales and marketing. From 1985 to 1990, Steve managed Rotan Mosle’s corporate finance department. He is currently a director of Weingarten Realty, Inc. and several other private companies, and has served on several other publicly listed company boards.

Education

Steve has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Vanderbilt University.

Cliff Atherton Jr.

Cliff is an investment banker with more than 25 years of experience in corporate finance and 34 years of experience teaching finance at the graduate level. He joined GulfStar in 1995 and has completed numerous corporate finance assignments for business owners. Most of Cliff’s clients are entrepreneur- or family-owned businesses with enterprise values between $25 and $250 million. His transaction experience is split evenly between sales to strategic buyers and recapitalizations with private equity firms. His industry experience includes representation of upstream, midstream and downstream energy service companies as well as manufacturers, distributors, and industrial services firms. Cliff served on the faculty of Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business for 34 years (full-time 1981 to 1987 and 1989 academic years) and on the faculty of the University of Houston’s Bauer College of Business for five years (1993 to 1997). Prior to joining GulfStar, he was managing director of McKenna & Company from 1992 to 1995, president of Emprise Consulting Group, Inc. from 1990 to 1992 and an independent consultant from 1978 to 1990.

Education

Cliff earned a Bachelor of Arts from Rice University and Ph.D. and Master of Business Administration degrees from The University of Texas. He is also a CFA® charterholder.

Recent Transactions

• 

  Has Been Acquired By

  Certified Safety

  VIEW MORE
• 

  Has Been Acquired By

  W-Industries

  VIEW MORE
• 

  has completed a private placement of Common Membership Units

  $4,000,000

  VIEW MORE