Katonah Capital is continuing its rebuilding process with the addition of a senior analyst, John Stack. Stack was most recently a managing director at Société Générale. He will work with John Oberle, senior analyst, who joined in April. Oberle previously worked at Mizuho Financial Group. A Katonah spokesman confirmed the hires.
Stack was the head of the SG U.S. Leveraged Finance Group several years ago. When the bank wound the business down, Stack transitioned to managing the portfolio assets, said one banker. Two weeks ago, SG, announced plans to reenter the U.S. leveraged finance business with a mixture of European and U.S. staffers (LMW, 7/5).
At Katonah, Stack will cover industrial equipment, conglomerates, gaming, business equipment and services. Oberle focuses on healthcare, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, oils and gas, utilities, food and agriculture and minerals. The pair work under E.A. Kratzman who joined Katonah from Rabobank in May to manage the new funds the firm plans to raise. Chris Lacovara, Kohlberg & Co., principal, has previously said Katonah would be launching a new fund, but would not comment on a launch date (6/24).
The most recent hire coincides with the exit of former team members, including Lee Shames-Maude, senior analyst and principal, Leslie O'Donnell, senior trader and principal, Karen Paneggiante, associate, and Ralph Della Rocca, director of portfolio operating and compliance, who left June 30.
The staffers had signed pre-existing contracts following the departure of Joyce DeLucca, and other employees, to form Kingsland Capital, that they would manage Katonah funds and complete their transfers to other asset management firms.
Sankaty Advisors took over the second, third and fourth deals, INVESCO Senior Secured Management became the replacement for the fifth deal and Blackstone Debt Advisors took over the first and sixth deals.