Managing Director

Job Title: Managing Director (or Vice President), Deal Team

Company: Dark Alpha Capital LLC

Company Overview:

Dark Alpha Capital LLC is an investment firm focused on acquiring private companies. We partner with successful businesses seeking a pathway to an exit transaction. Our investors include specialized financial institutions, family offices, and current and former entrepreneurs with extensive experience owning, managing, and operating successful private companies across the lower middle market.

Job Summary:

We are seeking an experienced Managing Director (or Vice President) to join our Deal Team. The primary role involves leading deal formation, negotiation, valuation, financial analysis, and closing transactions. The successful candidate will oversee and ensure that due diligence is conducted and that legal documentation is properly drafted, though they will not perform due diligence on their own deals. While some origination activities may be involved, this is not the primary focus. The role also includes providing leadership and mentorship to associates and interns involved in transactions.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Deal Formation and Closing:

• Transaction Analysis:
• Analyze target companies to ensure alignment with Dark Alpha Capital's investment criteria.
• Review and assess management teams to ensure suitability for leveraged buyouts (LBOs).
• Screen confidential information memoranda against the company's deal screening questionnaire.
• Negotiation:
• Negotiate Letters of Intent (LOIs) with sellers and present them to the Investment Committee.
• Oversee the execution of LOIs.
• Identify key compensation structures for owners of target companies (e.g., equity, earn-outs, upfront cash, seller financing).
• Negotiate terms of transitional services, employment, and consulting agreements between buyers and sellers.
• Negotiate net working capital (NWC) surplus/deficit formulas and compute target NWC.
• Project Management:
• Prepare, lead, organize, and manage due diligence activities in coordination with the company.
• Act as Project Manager for due diligence activities and attend working group meetings.
• Work diligently toward successfully closing transactions on behalf of the company.
• Assist and participate in any other activities necessary for the successful closure of each transaction.

2. Valuation and Financial Analysis:

• Financial Assessment:

· Assess historical and actual EBITDA for each target company.

· Evaluate historical financial trends, growth rates, and performance metrics.

· Collaborate with target companies to identify and implement normalization adjustments to EBITDA, ensuring compliance with quality of earnings standards.

• Valuation:

· Conduct valuations of target companies using appropriate methodologies.

· Communicate value expectations to targets via Indications of Interest (IOIs).

· Supervise and utilize support staff and interns to conduct valuation and financial analysis.

3. Oversee Due Diligence and Legal Documentation:

• Due Diligence Oversight:
• Oversee the due diligence process across financial, operational, commercial, legal, tax, ESG, human resources, integration, and risk assessment areas.
• Ensure all due diligence activities are thorough and align with the company's standards, though not performing due diligence personally on own deals.
• Legal Documentation:
• Collaborate with the company's attorneys and legal counsel in negotiating and drafting purchase agreements, employment contracts, and consultant agreements.
• Ensure all legal documents are properly drafted, negotiated, and executed in a timely manner.

4. Team Leadership and Management:

• Supervision:
• Act in a supervisory and advisory capacity for associates and interns assigned to specific projects or transactions.
• Oversee the work performed by associates and interns, ensuring adherence to company standards and client expectations.
• Provide guidance, mentorship, and support to team members.
• Facilitate communication between team members and relevant parties.
• Ensure timely completion of work and satisfaction of all stakeholders.

5. Origination (Secondary Responsibility):

• Deal Sourcing:
• Utilize commercially reasonable efforts to identify and originate potential investment opportunities that meet the company's investment criteria.
• Engage in networking and relationship-building activities to uncover new deal opportunities, though origination is not the primary focus.

Qualifications:

• Education:
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field.
• MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• Experience:
• Minimum of 3 -10 years of experience in investment banking, private equity, corporate development, or a related field.
• Proven track record in deal formation, negotiation, valuation, financial analysis, and closing transactions.
• Experience overseeing due diligence processes and coordinating with legal counsel.
• Skills and Competencies:
• Strong understanding of financial statements, valuation methodologies, and financial modeling.
• Excellent negotiation skills with experience in LOIs, purchase agreements, and transaction documentation.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• High level of integrity and professionalism.
• Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple transactions simultaneously.
• Deep knowledge of lower middle market M&A transactions.

Additional Information:

• Employment Status:
• This position is structured as an independent contractor role, not as an employee of Dark Alpha Capital LLC.
• The candidate may have other business interests and shall devote as much time as necessary to perform duties under this agreement.
• Compensation:
• Compensation structure to be discussed; may include transaction-based fees and performance incentives.
• The candidate will be compensated based on successful transaction closings and specific responsibilities undertaken, as outlined in the consulting agreement.
• We will not pay a retainer or salary for this position

How to Apply:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume.

Dark Alpha Capital LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Contract

Pay: Up to $350,000.00 per year

Work Location: Remote