Laurent Chassepot has extensive experience as an international CFO and board member, having worked in over 15 countries across multiple industries. He has successfully completed 4 leveraged buyouts, 3 turnarounds, and 3 start-ups. Most recently, he served as CFO of Pretend LLC, a movie industry software developer, where he helped develop strategies for revenue growth, business model, and raising $3 million in investment. Prior to that, he was CFO of Permaswage Group, an aerospace company, where he orchestrated its acquisition through an LBO and doubling of revenues to $181 million, preparing it for acquisition by Precision CastParts. He has a track record of developing corporate strategies, financial operations
1. L A U R E N T P . C H A S S E P O T
L o s A n g e l e s - C a l i f o r n i a
(310) 415-6733 - lchassepot1@gmail.com
Inter na ti ona l C FO & B oa r d M ember
Corporate Strategy - Financial Operations - M&A - P&L - Raising Capital - LBOs
Born in England, Adventure is my driver: Lived in 3 different continents (Africa, Europe and North America), worked in more
than 15 countries (incl. 15 years in United States), completed successfully 4 LBOs, 3 turnarounds and 3 start-ups in at least 7
different industries (Aerospace, Software, Automotive, Logistics, Medical Devices, Beverages, Agriculture). Work is fun,
dynamic, challenging, and leading the team you formed and nurtured to action, and driving the company to outperform to see
the EBITDA reach new summits is extremely rewarding.
Extensive experience working with multi-national industry leaders.
Hands-on leadership experience in turnaround, hyper-growth, start-up and consolidation
environments. Served as Chief Financial Officer of companies going through the
metamorphosis of revenue growth – consolidation of operations – complete financial
restructuring – and Private Equity. Brought companies through highly successful Leveraged
Buyouts and turnarounds.
Developing, and implementing corporate strategy – responsible for positioning enterprises
to grow, prosper and execute a viable exit strategy. Managed strategic planning, budgets,
forecasting, financial modeling, financial reporting and analysis, debt restructuring, ERP
implementations, contracting, tax planning and transfer pricing.
C A R E E R S Y N O P S I S
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Venice,CA
April 2014 - Present
Pretend LLC – movie industry software developer
Serve as a principal advisor on corporate strategy. Developed revenue & product strategies, Business Model and Investment
Memorandum. In the process of raising $3m. Author of Operating Agreement on member rights and obligations.
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER & EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER Los Angeles, CA
April 2008 – Feb. 2014 Paris, France
Permaswage Group - market leader in aerospace hydraulic fittings Suzhou, China
Orchestrated Leveraged Buyout (LBO) of 800 employee company with manufacturing sites in USA, France, and China. With
revenues of $181 million and EBITDA at 30%, acquired by Precision CastParts in Oct.2013. Served as interim CEO.
Ran Finance, IT, HR, Legal, Insurance, Tax, Banking, Investor Relations, and Purchasing. Doubled revenue to $181 million in
2013.Provided financing for $65 million of capital expenditures and acquisitions, Prepared company for sale.
Financial Reporting:Replaced antiquated reporting with detailed transparent reporting encompassing comprehensive
summaries, consolidated financials, Gross Margin analyses, and breakdown on working capital
Strategic Long-Term Planning: UsingOEM aircraft backlogs, defined aircraft ship-set value, built a 5yr Revenue Model.
Developed a full set of financials. Got board to invest in Capex – led to new plant in China
Cash Flow Management:Builtweekly cash forecast 6 months rolling. Results: WorkingCapital reduced 37% to 28% of
revenue, inventory 182 to 125days and Free Cash Flow 68% to 89% of EBITDA
Financing & Debt Restructuring: Bank pool provided funding for acquisition with very restrictive covenants. In 2010,
company breached covenants amidst downturn. Early on identified breach – and negotiated revised covenants. Provided
$65 million required for Capex, acquisitions and a new facility
Operations Efficiencies & Cost Reduction Initiatives: Identified $8 million of margin improvements, including: negotiated
French Workers Union transfer of 40% of French production to the U.S. – margin gain of $3 million
Non-Core Activity: Identified a non-core activity (power utility fittings) embedded in the aerospace business – contributed
the net asset to a new subsidiary for $7 million and led to sale for $32 million
Managed International
Operations
Visionary Leadership
Global Business Acumen
Lead M&A activities
Driving Results and Cash
Risk Management
Corporate Governance
Auditing: 9yrs with PwC
2. Resume: Laurent Chassepot ♦ (310) 415-6733 ♦ lchassepot1@gmail.com
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER & EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER Paris, France
2005 – 2008
Groupe Soflog Telis
LBO - logistics and industrial packaging, 52 sites - Consolidated revenues: $210 million with 1,860 employees
Sold in Sept. 2007 to European Capital, subsidiary of American Capital
Responsible for Finance, IT, Legal and Purchasing, Tax, Bank Pool, Investors Relations, and Board administration
Led acquisition, due diligence and integration of Telis ($104 M) which doubled company size overnight, closed HQ
Financial Reporting:Introduced monthly consolidated reporting with snapshots of 52 sites and KPI’s
Cost Reduction & Cash Flow: Negotiated the sourcing materials saving $1.7million; Reduced net debt 25%
FOUNDER & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Paris, France
2001 – 2005
Vitamines LC
Started and ran consultancy assisting distressed companies in development and execution of turnaround plans
Served as Interim CFOof Tier 1 $400 million automotive supplier with 5 manufacturing sites and 3,000 employees
Financing: After cleaning receivables, introduced a Factor providing a $35mcredit line to distressed company
Restructuring: Developed successfully a turnaround plan with management and negotiated a $23m non-refundable
advance with its key customers (BMW, Mercedes, Renault, Volkswagen) to finance it
M&A: Prepared the sale of the company to another Tier1 supplier after restructuring
Served as COOof a $20 million B2B franchise network. Hired by English PE firm to restructure company
CFO & EVP of U.S. SUBSIDIARY Cleveland,OH
1995 – 2001 Paris, France
Sopha Medical Vision
LMBO – medical imaging equipment with turnover of $145 million, 70% in the U.S. Sold in Nov. 2000 to GE Medical Systems
Led acquisition of the distressed company through a management buy-out then brought in a U.S. Private Equity firm to help
grow company. Headed finance, legal, insurance and tax activities, banking and investor relations.
Operating Performance:Theservice organization business was sluggish. Reorganized the department, introduced
preventive maintenance contracts
Built Model to benchmark performance,equipped the team with laptops rather than books, reduced billing time, doubled
revenue to $24 million and increased margin to 55%
Organization improvements:Company manufactured two product lines of Gamma cameras. After thorough product review,
closed one line and introduced CKD cameras assembled in the US improving margins by 12ppt
Debt restructuring:Negotiated 75% debt forgiveness with French banks, secured new line of U.S. credit
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Palmerston N., NZ
1991 – 1995 Melbourne, AUS
Allflex Sold in 1995 to Goldman Sachs NY. Assumed the transition and after-sale Dallas,TX
Paris,
FR
LBO –World Leader in Animal identification with manufacturing facilities in the USA, France, New Zealand, Brazil and China
Revenues $120 million, headcount: 550. Transferred HQ from New Zealand to France. Led finance, legal, insurance, tax, bank,
investors, and board relations
Organization & Tax Planning:Closed New Zealand HQ, merged or closed nine other legal entities to simplify the group structure
(from 21 to 12 corporations). Short-term action plans leading to a 30% EBITDA. Transferred all intellectual properties to holding
company (150 patents), set management fees, royalties and R&D charge-backs
Risk & Debt Management:Renegotiated bank debts, reducing foreign currency exposure and interest rates by 35%
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Wattwiller, FR
1992 – 1995
Wattwiller – Beverages – Mineral water start-up
Contributed to the spring acquisition. Raised funds to build the factory, structured company to produce 40 Million bottles/yr
3. Resume: Laurent Chassepot ♦ (310) 415-6733 ♦ lchassepot1@gmail.com
Fluent in English, French and German - Hobbies: Mountain biking, Rowing, Sculpting - Art collector of Contemporary Art