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Mesco Ltd

 

Critical input for transactions in play

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OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW

Mesco Ltd is a private boutique active in capital formation for early stage companies and real estate. We are an investor and can also access capital globally based on our existing relationships. We also provide  advisory services principally related to mergers and acquisitions, disposals,  sales, joint ventures, licensing activities, distress entities and restructurings. Our strategy is to use our experience and apply intense focus and expertise in complex transactions which at times involve an international component.  Our counterparties are typically ownership, the board of directors and C-level executives.  Our integrity and tenacity are reflected in the successful transactions we have achieved.

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In Mesco's capital formation activities, we have provided value well beyond our capital input, particularly as we have become deeply involved with thinly-staffed, early-stage companies and opportunities in real estate.  Our direct investments are typically in conjunction with our previous partners, which have included U.S. and foreign funds, wealthy U.S. and international families, Venture Capital Firms and Endowment Funds.  Our extensive relationships with capital sources globally, together with our expertise in the capital markets have helped construct optimal capital structures.

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Since having created Pharma/wHealth in 1993, we have been the prime mover for 25 years in delivering superior returns to European investors seeking enhanced exposure to the global healthcare universe.   This open-end fund trades daily and is invested in all aspects of healthcare including biotechnology, pharma, generics, medical technology, healthcare services and an increased focus on companies meeting fast-growing healthcare needs of the emerging markets.  Pharma/wHealth has delivered a net annual return of over 10.7% to its investors in the first 25 years of its existence.  We continue to consult the fund.  Historical performance, of course, is not a guaranty of future performance.

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Mesco was founded in 1990 by Joel Mesznik, who started his career as an investment banker on Wall Street.  His vision remains to provide select clients with high-value, specialized advice and capital at critical strategic junctures.  We select and work with multiple experienced sector professionals in most transactions to benefit from their expertise, operational and strategic, to achieve optimal outcomes.  This strategy greatly expands our bandwith.

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CAPITAL FORMATION
CAPITAL FORMATION

Mesco has provided value well in excess of actual investment.  Our direct investments, typically through single-purpose investment vehicles, are in most cases in conjunction with affiliates and previous partners which have included U.S. and international families, U.S. and foreign funds and endowment funds.  Our reputation, extensive relationships with capital sources globally and our understanding of capital markets combined with an established track record have helped construct optimal capital structures.

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As part of our disciplined approach, we direct our focus on a limited number of transactions at any one time.  Our primary function is to add value without attracting attention to our contribution.  Investment returns have been enhanced by our ability to remain resolute in critical negotiations and to streamline and facilitate transactions. Mesco's goal is to make transactions efficient, manageable and transparent to our partners and clients.  Our long and well-recognized track record with partners in the United States and Europe facilitates access to capital globally in combination with our firm's resources.

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We have been active primarily in three sectors:

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  • Healthcare

  • Marketing Services, Media and Technology

  • Finance and Real Estate

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ADVISORY ACTIVITIES
ADVISORY ACTIVITIES

We have been retained in selective transactions which are complex, require intense focus and at times rely on international expertise.  Our mandates have included mergers and acquisitions, disposals, outright sales, joint ventures, licensing matters, distressed entities, restructuring and capital formation.  Mesco has the creativity and tract record to solve complex financial and capital challenges.  Our clients have benefited from our ability to be disciplined in critical negotiations and our goals to streamline and facilitate transactions.  Our experience and approach make transactions efficient, manageable and transparent to our partners and clients.

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We have been active primarily in three sectors:

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  • Healthcare

  • Marketing Services, Media and Technology

  • Finance and Real Estate

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TRANSACTIONS
TRANSACTIONS
HEALTHCARE

Pharma/wHealth Fund

(Luxembourg)

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  • In conjunction with Bank Sal Oppenheim jr. & Cie. (now wholly-owned by Deutsche Bank) structured this open-end healthcare fund in 1993.  The Fund has ranged in size from $100 million to $600 million.  Pharma/wHealth has delivered a net annual return of over 10.7% to its investors in the first 25 years of its existence.  Historical performance, of course, is not a guaranty of future performance.  We continue to provide advice regarding strategy, portfolio management, manager selection, marketing and reporting.

 

Centerpulse (Swiss Stock Exchange)

  • Helped negotiate settlement with U.S. plaintiffs on behalf of Swiss shareholders.

  • Advised in selecting the optimal banking team and the structuring and execution of $850 million global debt and equity financing.

  • Advised in the sale of Centerpulse to Zimmer for CHF 4.8 billion in 2003.

  • Sale resulted from first ever successful  takeover bid in Switzerland.

  • Transaction was named "The 2003 Healthcare Deal of the Year" by Investment Dealers Digest.


Frankel Group, Inc.

(NY and Cambridge, MA - Private)

  • Advised this Life Science Strategy Consultancy on ownership options.

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Medical Device Company 

(European - Private)

  • Advised on global commercial and technology license arrangements.

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Medical Device Company 

(European - Private)

  • Advised on the sale of family owned business.

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Physicians' Weekly (US - Private)

  • Initiated, negotiated and closed sale.

 

Private Equity Vehicle (European - Private)

  • Structured off-shore biotechnology private investment vehicle for wealthy family.

  • Board of Directors (former)

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The healthcare related private equity investment activities by our clients, our affiliates and us include:

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» Pharma/wHealth - Europe
» Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - U.S.
» Axxima Pharmaceuticals AG - Europe
» Biota Holdings Limited - Australia
» Cadus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - U.S.
» Caliper Life Sciences - U.S.
» Conceptis Technologies Inc. - U.S.
» Geneprot Inc. - U.S.
» Health Hero Network, Inc. - U.S.
» Lynx Therapeutics, Inc. - U.S.
» Memory Pharmaceuticals Corp. - U.S.
» Ontogeny, Inc. - U.S.
» Orchid BioSciences, Inc. - U.S.
» Peptimmune, Inc. - U.S.
» Physiome Sciences, Inc. - U.S.
» PrediX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - Israel
» Precept Inc. - U.S.
» Signal Pharmaceuticals Inc. - U.S.
» Structural Genomix, Inc. - U.S.
» SWITCH Biotech AG - Europe
» Tularik Inc. - U.S.
» Valentis lnc. - U.S.
 

MARKETING SERVICES, MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY

Our advisory and capital formation transactions have included: 

Alignable (Private - US)

  •  Investment by affiliate.

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Applause (previously uTest Inc.)

(Private - US)

  • Angel Investor

  • Investment by affiliate in A, B, C, D, E and F rounds.

  • Board of Directors (former)

  • Sold to Vista Equity Partners.


Ateliers des Charmilles SA (Private - Swiss)

  • Advised on the consolidation, creating largest cable TV system in Switzerland.

  • Sold to Alcatel.

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Estimize (Private - US)

  • Investment by affiliate.


Gametron LLC (Private - US)

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • Board of Directors (former)

  • Advised on the sale to Paul G. Allen (Vulcan).


Greenfield Online, Inc. (NASDAQ - US)

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • Board of Directors (former)

  • Initiated, negotiated and arranged the funding for Management Buyout.

  • Advised on recapitalization and ultimate IPO.

  • Advised on purchase of European competitor.

  • Sold to Microsoft.


IAG, Inc. (Private - US)

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • Sold to The Nielsen Company.


Impulse Marketing Group, Inc. 

(Private - US)

  • Advised on the sale to a private equity fund.


Inceptor, Inc. (Private - US)

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • Board of Directors (former)

  • Advised on multiple financing rounds.

  • Sold to Verizon Communications, Inc.


Insight Capital Partners (Private – US) 

  • Investments by affiliate.

  • Co-investments in four transactions.


MediaPassage, Inc. (Private - US)

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • Board of Directors (former)

  • Advised on multiple financing rounds.

  • Sold.


METROMarketing Resources (Private - US)

  • Advised one of the two owners in the buyout of the other partner and advised on financing.


NetByTel, Inc. (Private - US)

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • Board of Directors (former)

  • Advised on multiple financing rounds.

  • Advised on investment by Deutsche Telekom.

  • Sold to TuVox, Inc.


Offerpop (Private - US)

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • Exited.


Passage Events, Inc. (Private - US)

  • Advised on multiple financing rounds.

  • Board of Directors (former)

  • Exited.


Peoples Telephone Company (Swiss - US)

  • Advised on the acquisition of Ascom Communications, Inc., US.


Pixel Devices International, Inc. 

(Private - US)

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • Board of Directors (former)

  • Advised on the sale of technology to Agilent, Inc.


Private Company (European - US)

  • Advised European gaming entity in joint venture with US public company.

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Reimagine Holdings (Private - US)

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • Board of Directors (former)

  • Sold to Dynata.


SiteBridge Corporation (Private - US)

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • Board of Directors (former)

  • Advised on financing round.

  • Advised on sale to eGain Communications Corporation.

  • Successful IPO


SwissCom AG (Swiss Stock Exchange)

  • Advised in negotiations leading to minority investment in SPT Telecom (Prague, Czech Republic) with a total transaction value of $1.43 billion.


TRM, Inc. (NASDAQ - US)

  • Board of Directors (former)


T-Ventures (Private - Germany)

  • Advised private U.S. company in negotiations leading to investment by Deutsche Telekom affiliate.


Ukrainian National Lottery

(Private - Ukraine)

  • Advised licensee in joint-venture negotiations.


USAData, Inc. (Private - US)

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • Board of Directors (former)

  • Sold to private buyer.

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Wizeo, Inc. 

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • Board of Directors (former)

  • Exited.

FINANCE & REAL ESTATE

Our advisory and capital formation transactions have included:

Aquiline Capital Partners LLC (Private - US)

  • Investment by affiliate.


Atlas Growth Partners (US)

  •  Board of Directors (former)


BethRam LP (Private - US)

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • General Partner

  • Advised on purchase and financing of hotel and conference center in Bethesda, Maryland.

  • Sold.


Centerpulse (Swiss Stock Exchange)

  • Helped negotiate settlement with US plaintiffs on behalf of Swiss shareholders.

  • Advised in selecting the optimal banking team and the structuring and execution of the $850 million global debt and equity financings.

  • Advised in the sale of Centerpulse to Zimmer for CHF 4.8 billion.

  • Sale resulted from first-ever successful  takeover bid in Switzerland.

  • Transaction was named "The 2003 Healthcare Deal of the Year" by Investment Dealers Digest.


Columbia Mall Associates LP (Private - US)

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • General Partner

  • Advised on purchase and financing of 440,000 sq. ft. enclosed shopping mall. 

  • Exited.


Cypress Run Investors Ltd

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • Multi-family housing in Tampa, Florida

  • Sold.


Edgewater Drive LP (Private - US)

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • General Partner

  • Advised on purchase and financing of two office buildings in Norwood, Massachusetts.

  • Sold.


846 LP (Private - US)

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • General Partner

  • Advised on purchase and financing of office building in Norwood, Massachusetts.

  • Sold.


Estimize (Private - US)

  • Investment by affiliate.


Europa Investimenti S.p.A. (Private - Italy)

  • Advised on sale of a minority interest.


Excel Bank NA (Private - Brazil)

  • Advised on foreign acquisition.

  • Board of Directors (former)


Frankel Group, Inc. 

(NY and Cambridge, MA - Private)

  • Advised this Life Science Strategy Consultancy on ownership options.


Greenfield Online, Inc. (NASDAQ - US)

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • Board of Directors (former)

  • Initiated, negotiated and arranged the funding for Management Buyout.

  • Advised on recapitalization and ultimate IPO.

  • Advised on purchase of European competitor.

  • Sold to Microsoft.


Hospitality (Private - Swiss)

  • Advised on repositioning and joint-venture with U.S. public company.


IAG (Private - US)

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • Sold to The Nielsen Company.


InCentive Capital Group 

(Swiss Stock Exchange)

  • Negotiated CHF 1.55 billion credit facility for takeover bid.

  • Board of Directors (former)


InCentive (Jersey) (Private - Europe)

  • Board of Directors (former)


Matuschka GMBH (Private - Germany)

  • Provided restructuring management services for distressed privately owned German Bank.


Meadows LP (Private - US)

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • General Partner

  • Advised on purchase and financing of an office building in Framingham, Massachusetts.

  • Sold.


Memphis Towers and Garage, LP 

(Private - US)

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • General Partner

  • Advised on purchase and financing of apartments and garage in Memphis, Tennessee.


METROMarketing Resources (Private - US)

  • Advised one of the two owners in the buyout of the other partner and advised on financing.

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Metro Plaza

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • 284-room hotel--Phoenix, Arizona


Metropolitan Opera, NY

Pro bono

  • $100 million Bond Issue

  • Advised on structuring and public sale.

  • Advised on bank financing.


Muni Funding Company of America 

(Private - US)

  • CEO and Board of Directors (former)

  • Sold to Tiptree, Inc.


New England Mortgage Associates 

(Private - US)

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • General Partner

  • Advised on purchase and financing of pool of non-performing mortgage loans. 

  • Portfolio sold.


New Water Street Corporation 

(Distressed - US)

  • Advised European banks in the restructuring of $550 million indebtedness secured by the 3.2 million square foot office building in New York, NY.


Off-shore Vehicle (Private - Bermuda)

  • Structured investment vehicle for private investors.

  • Board of Directors (former)

  • Advised on investment portfolio selection.


Off-shore Vehicle (Private - Channel Islands)

  • Board of Directors (former)


Pharma/wHealth Management Company 

(Luxembourg)

  • In conjunction with Bank Sal Oppenheim jr. & Cie. (now wholly-owned by Deutsche Bank) structured this open-end healthcare fund in 1993. The Fund has ranged in size from $100 million to $600 million. Pharma/wHealth has delivered a net annual return of 10.7% to its investors in the first 25 years of existence. We continue to provide advice regarding strategy, portfolio management, marketing and reporting.


Private Company (Europe)

  • Negotiated license joint venture in Eastern Europe with NYSE-listed company.


RAIT (New York Stock Exchange)

  • Specialty finance company active in the real estate industry.

  • RAIT originated and managed over $1 billion of mezzanine and bridge loans.

  • Board of Directors (former)


Renewable New England, Inc. 

(Private - U.S.)

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • Advised on purchase and financing of hydroelectric dam in Maine.

  • Sold.


Tallahassee, Florida Student Housing

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • Osceola Village Suites – Sold.

  • Osceola Village Hall – Sold.

  • Sweet Bay Club – Sold.


223 West 16th Street LLC, Chelsea, NY

  • Investment by affiliate in multi-family housing.

  • Sold.


Watch Company (Private - Swiss)

  • Advised seller in the management buyout of private label watch manufacturer. Equity provided by Prudential Venture Managers, London, England.


Westcore SARL (Private - Swiss)

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • Ateliers des Charmilles Logistics – Geneva - Sold. 

  • Satigny Business Park – Geneva – Sold.

  • Mont-Blanc Plaza – Geneva – Sold.

  • Logistics - Bussigny – Sold.

  • Publigroupe Offices – Lausanne – Sold.

  • Commercial Plaza – Fribourg – Sold. 

  • Cardinal Office Park – Zurich – Sold.

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Westcore SARL (Private, Germany)

  • Berner Office Building – Frankfurt

  • Einstein Office Building – Berlin – Sold.

  • Hutport Portfolio – multiple locations

  • Sun Park Flex/Industrial Building – Leipzig


Westcore SARL (Private - UK)

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • Ludgate Office Building – London –Sold.

  • Hexagon Office Building – London – Sold.

  • Kings' Road Office Building – Reading


Westcore SARL (Private - Austria)

  • Investment by affiliate.

  • Green Park Center – offices – Vienna

  • High Tech Campus – offices – Vienna

  • Lembock Office Building – Vienna

  • Tech Park – Logistics – Vienna


Whitney (Private)

  • Investments by affiliates.

  • Multi-family housing.

  • Indianapolis, Indiana 

  • O'Fallon, Missouri

  • Winston-Salem, North Carolina

  • Germantown,Tennessee

  • DeSoto, Texas

  • Dallas,Texas

CONTACT
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