The Alta Group expands M&A services

Global consultancy The Alta Group has expanded its merger and acquisition (M&A) advisory services to the equipment leasing and asset finance industry with the addition of industry veteran James Jackson, who has extensive expertise in turnaround management, M&As, and executive leadership for equipment finance companies.

Jackson most recently served as senior vice president and chief financial officer of MicroFinancial Incorporated, based in Burlington, Massachusetts.

Alta CEO John. Deane announced that as a new Alta director, Jackson joins Bruce Kropschot, senior managing director and M&A advisory practice leader, and Alta Director Patricia Voorhees in providing services for buyers and sellers in North America.

Alta M&A experts have arranged more than 200 equipment leasing and specialty finance business acquisitions over several decades, locating funding sources and additional capital for companies, and completing formal valuations.

“Alta is experiencing substantial growth in M&A activity, and Jim’s diverse background in several equipment finance segments will be of great value to our clients,” Kropschot said.

“I’m excited to be part of The Alta Group,” Jackson said. “I’ve been in the industry for 30 years, and Alta is clearly the premier leasing and equipment financing consulting group in the world.”

At MicroFinancial, Jackson helped spearhead the company’s turnaround, from an after-tax loss of $22.1 million in 2002, to net income of $9.8 million in 2013. The company’s share price rose 520% during the same period.

Earlier in his career Jackson was vice president of finance for Deutsche Financial Services when the bank first launched its leasing company. Prior to joining Deutsche, he held several positions at AT&T Capital, including serving as the manager of business planning and financial point person for all proposed M&A activity.