BATON ROUGE, La., January 4, 2021 / PRNewswire / – Bernhard Capital Partners Management, LP (“Bernhard Capital” or the “Company”), a service and infrastructure-focused private equity management firm, today announced that Luther C. “Luke” Kissam, IV. To Bernhard Capital came as a partner.
Mr. Kissam is a visionary leader and investor in the transition energy space, with two decades of experience in the operational and financial aspects of large global companies. Previously, he was Chairman and CEO of Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB), a global company with leadership positions in the lithium and fast $ 16 billion Market capitalization. In this role he led Ablemarle $ 6.2 billion The 2014 acquisition of Rockwood Holdings, Inc. helped Albemarle become a global leader in the fast-growing lithium business, which is critical to electrical reliability, energy storage, and the emerging clean energy economy. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Albemarle, DuPont de Nemours Inc. and OGE Energy Corp.
Jim Bernhard, Partner at Bernhard Capital, said: “Luke is an excellent addition to our team and we are excited to welcome him to the company. He brings strong experience in our core areas of expertise and a history of innovative and forward-looking investments in the transitional energy and renewable future – which we believe will be a major focus in 2021 and beyond. Luke’s hugely successful 17 year track record as an executive (including CEO) at Albemarle will improve our skills. Luke is a true manager of successful companies and a good fit our firm, which is composed mostly of industry experts who understand what it takes to achieve excellence and help our portfolio companies succeed. ”
Luke Kissam said: “I am very happy to be part of this very successful company. I knew it Jim Bernhard The Bernhard Capital team has a unique combination of operational know-how and expertise in the infrastructure sector. You have long worked with management teams to build successful companies – which I love to do. Working as a partner at Bernhard Capital is the perfect further development of my time as a leading Albemarle and allows me to continue my passion for leading and investing in great companies. ”
Bernhard Capital also announced this Jeffrey Koonce and Jonathan de Lauréal have been promoted to partner and managing director, respectively. Mr. Koonce has been with the company since then January 2015. Mr. de Lauréal has been with the company since then August 2013.
Jim Bernhard continued, “We are very pleased to recognize Jeff and Jonathan, who both have formidable backgrounds and have made significant contributions to our success. Jeff’s extensive and widely recognized expertise in tax and transactions has proven extremely effective in his role We look forward to welcoming him to the partnership. During his years here at Bernhard Capital, Jonathan has taken on increasing responsibility due to his investment background.
Luther C. Kissam, IV biography
Mr. Kissam was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Albemarle Corporation of September 2011 to April 2020. He was elected to the company’s Board of Directors in 2011 and was Chairman of the Board of Directors from 2016 to April 2020. Mr. Kissam joined Albemarle in 2003 as Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary and has served as Senior Vice President, Manufacturing and Legal and Company Secretary of January 2008 until his promotion to president in March 2010.
Prior to joining Albemarle, Mr. Kissam was Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Merisant Company, a manufacturer of artificial sweeteners. Prior to Merisant, he was Deputy General Counsel of Monsanto Company, a provider of agricultural products and solutions. In addition to his board mandates in public companies, Mr. Kissam has served on a number of municipal and non-profit bodies and associations. He graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English from The citadel 1986 and magna cum laude from the University of South Carolina Law school in 1989.
Jeffrey Koonce biography
Mr. Koonce is a partner at Bernhard Capital. He is active in all areas of the company’s investment activity. Prior to joining Bernhard Capital, Mr. Koonce was a partner at Phelps Dunbar, LLP, where he focused on federal and state taxes, company formation and business transactions. Mr. Koonce was recognized by Chambers United States of America: America’s premier business lawyers and Louisiana Super Lawyers in tax law, and was named “Lawyer of the Year” in tax law by The Best Lawyers in America. He is a past president of the Baton Rouge Chapter of the Society of Louisiana CPAs, a past board member of the Louisiana Society of Certified Public Accountants, and a past chairman of the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Tax Advisory Board. Mr. Koonce received his BS in Accounting from Louisiana State University and is an auditor (inactive). He got his JD from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center and his LLM in Taxation of Boston University Law school.
Jonathan de Lauréal biography
Mr. de Lauréal is Managing Director at Bernhard Capital. He is active in all areas of the company’s investment activity. Before joining Bernhard Capital, he was an associate at Lightyear Capital in New York, NY. During his tenure at Lightyear, Mr. de Lauréal was involved in all aspects of the investment process, including evaluating new investment opportunities, structuring and executing deals, and monitoring existing portfolio companies on an ongoing basis. Prior to Lightyear, Mr. de Lauréal was a member of the Financial Institutions Group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he worked on various mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts and capital increases for clients in the wealth management and insurance industries. Mr. de Lauréal received his BS in Finance from the University of Georgia.
About Bernhard Capital Partners
Bernhard Capital Partners is a service- and infrastructure-oriented private equity management company founded in 2013 by Jim Bernhard, Jeff Jenkins and a team of experienced private equity professionals. Bernhard Capital wants to create sustainable value by using his experience in acquiring, operating and expanding service and infrastructure companies. Bernhard Capital’s portfolio companies include Allied Power, National Water Infrastructure, Atlas technical advisors, Bernhard Energy Solutions, brown and Root, Charah Solutions, Epic Piping, The Lemoine Company, and United Utility.
contacts
Karen Doty
Bernhard Capital Partners Management, LP
225-228-2500
SOURCE Bernhard Capital Partners Management, LP