Aurora Capital Group Announces Management Appointment and Promotions

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Aurora Capital Group ("Aurora"), a Los Angeles-based private equity firm with over $2 billion of assets under management, today announced that it has made the following additions to, and promotions within, Aurora Capital Group, Aurora Private Equity and Aurora Resurgence.

Aurora Capital Group

• Steven D. Smith joins as Partner

Aurora Private Equity

• Michael J. Marino promoted to Partner

Aurora Resurgence

• Ryan McCarthy promoted to Partner

Gerald L. Parsky, Chairman of Aurora Capital Group, said, "We are very proud to make each of these announcements. The addition of Steve Smith, whose investment and leadership experience spans a highly distinguished career at UBS and DLJ in leveraged finance and restructuring, will add value not only to each of our traditional investment programs in Private Equity and Resurgence, but also as we expand our capabilities across other areas of the middle market."

With respect to the firm's internal promotions, Parsky added, "Aurora is focused on firm culture and on developing talent from within.  We believe having a team committed to long-term careers with Aurora creates an environment that attracts and retains the highest caliber professionals who are committed to the long-term interest of our Limited Partners.  Congratulations to Michael and Ryan on their well-deserved promotions."

John T. Mapes, Managing Partner of Aurora Private Equity, said, "Michael is an outstanding investor and contributor to the private equity team and – together with Ryan McCarthy who was promoted on the Resurgence side of the firm – exemplifies the exceptional depth of talent at Aurora, which positions us for our future success."

Anthony DiSimone, Managing Partner of Aurora Resurgence, said, "We proudly acknowledge Ryan's accomplishments.  He has been an integral contributor to Aurora Resurgence's successes and we look forward to continuing to benefit from his expertise.  We congratulate him, as well as Michael Marino at Private Equity."

Biographies:

Steven D. Smith, Partner, Aurora Capital Group

Mr. Smith is a Partner of Aurora Capital Group.  He joined Aurora effective January 2012.  He previously held a variety of leadership positions at UBS Investment Bank including Global Head of Restructuring, Global Head of Leverage Finance and Americas Head of Financial Sponsors.  He also served on the Americas Executive Committee and Global Management Committee.  Before joining UBS in 2001, Mr. Smith was a Managing Director at Credit Suisse and DLJ, where he was a member of the restructuring and leveraged finance groups.  Mr. Smith began his career in leveraged finance and restructuring as an associate at Latham & Watkins.

Mr. Smith received a BA in English and American Literature from the University of California, San Diego and a JD/MBA from UCLA.  He served as a judicial clerk on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals following his graduation from UCLA.  He currently serves on the advisory board of the American Bankruptcy Institute and is a member of the Turnaround Management Association.

Michael J. Marino, Partner, Aurora Private Equity

Mr. Marino is a Partner of Aurora Private Equity.  He joined Aurora in 2003 and then rejoined the firm after earning a master's degree in business administration from Harvard Business School.  Previously, Mr. Marino was a member of the Mergers & Strategic Advisory / Industrials Group of Goldman, Sachs & Co in New York.  Mr. Marino currently serves on the Board of Directors of Porex Corporation and served on a number of Aurora's successfully realized portfolio companies, including Anthony International, Douglas Dynamics and K&F Industries.

Mr. Marino received a BA in Economics, with honors, from Boston College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Ryan McCarthy, Partner, Aurora Resurgence

Mr. McCarthy is a Partner of Aurora Resurgence where he is responsible for the origination, evaluation, management and execution of private equity investments, including buyouts, recapitalizations and distressed debt transactions.  Mr. McCarthy also serves on the Board of Directors of Aurora Resurgence control investments.

Mr. McCarthy has over 13 years of direct restructuring, turnaround and private equity experience.  He was formerly a Senior Director at Alvarez & Marsal, a leading consulting and turnaround management firm.  While at Alvarez & Marsal, Mr. McCarthy led turnaround and restructuring engagements and served in numerous interim management roles including COO, CFO and Treasurer.  Prior to A&M, Mr. McCarthy was an investment banking analyst in New York.

Mr. McCarthy holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance from the Kelly School of Business at Indiana University and attended Boston University's International Business program in London, England. He is also a founding member of the LA Restructuring Society and is active in fund raising for the Children's Bureau, an LA based non-for-profit.

About Aurora Capital Group

Aurora Capital Group is a Los Angeles-based private investment firm managing over $2.0 billion of capital across several private equity funds.  Aurora's traditional private equity vehicle, Aurora Equity Partners, focuses principally on control-investments in middle-market businesses with leading market positions, strong cash flow profiles, and actionable opportunities for growth in partnership with operating management.  Aurora's special situations fund, Aurora Resurgence, invests in debt and equity securities of middle-market companies and targets complex situations that are created by operational or financial challenges either within a company or a broader industry.  Aurora's investors include leading public and corporate pension funds, endowments and foundations active in private equity investing.  For more information about Aurora Capital Group, visit www.auroracap.com or www.aurorares.com.

Contacts:
Sharon Stern / Joseph Berg
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
(212) 355-4449

SOURCE Aurora Capital Group