Amherst Partners Appoints Ray Dallavecchia, Jr as an Operating Partner

8/29/18

Amherst Partners is pleased to announce that Ray Dallavecchia, Jr. will be joining the firm’s leadership team as an Operating Director.

About Ray

Ray Dallavecchia, Jr. is a Partner at Venetian Associates, LLC, a Michigan based family office focused on acquiring lower-middle market consumer products companies in North America. Venetian Associates’ primary investment is Acclaim Lighting, Inc., a designer and importer of decorative indoor and outdoor lighting fixtures headquartered in Acworth, Georgia.

Previously, Ray was the Founder & Chief Executive Officer of POOF-Slinky, Inc. Founded in 1991, the company ultimately acquired nine toy companies including the well-known brands of POOF®, IDEAL®, SCIENTIFIC EXPLORER®, and SLINKY®. With domestic manufacturing operations and product sourcing capability globally, POOF-Slinky was able to successfully cross-merchandise its multiple product lines through a variety of common distribution channels. The business achieved impressive scale and was sold in 2012 to the private equity firm Propel Equity Partners of Greenwich, Connecticut.

“Ray provides significant experience in the retail/consumer products sector, which is an important industry focus for Amherst,” said Chas Chandler, a Partner in Amherst’s Investment Banking group. “He also provides insights into the challenges and opportunities of sourcing products internationally, as well as how to best to integrate the operations of a newly acquired business, which will be useful to our clients. We are pleased that Ray has chosen to support Amherst Partners as an Operating Director.”

Amherst Partners created the Operating Director role in 2016 to help the firm augment its professional experience and industry expertise in key sectors. Ray joins current Operating Directors Jon Cotton, Tom Saeli, and Stu Robbins, who also serves as the firm’s non-executive chairman.

For more information about the Amherst Partners Leadership Team, please visit www.amherstpartners.com/professionals.

About Amherst Partners

With a track record that spans over 20 years, Amherst is one of the Midwest’s most reputable boutique investment banking, corporate restructuring, and management advisory firms. Among its core services, Amherst provides middle-market companies with hands-on involvement from senior-level advisors with deep expertise in business divestitures, acquisitions, capital raises, and other corporate finance transactions. Our professionals share a commitment to developing a “trusted advisor” relationship with our clients and referral partners and have amassed an extraordinary track record of success, with over 450 domestic and cross-border transactions exceeding $20 billion in total transaction value. Securities related transactions are offered through Amherst’s wholly owned subsidiary, One Amherst Partners LLC, a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC.

Through our IMAP partnership, Amherst Partners maintains a well-established network of international offices in over 35 countries. In 2017, IMAP closed 191 deals valued in aggregate at over $12 billion. Through our IMAP partners, Amherst’s clients benefit by having seasoned deal professionals “on the ground” across the globe with first-hand knowledge of the local cultural and business environment.

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