An accountancy alumna of Bentley University, Kate Merli functions as the chief financial officer at New 2nd Capital in New York City. Kate Merli and the rest of the New 2nd Capital executive team focus their efforts on middle market investment opportunities, which are traditionally facilitated through secondary tactics.New 2nd Capital has succeeded, in part, thanks to a consistent focus on buyout and growth opportunities with a variety of middle market businesses throughout North America. By focusing in this area, the company is consistently poised to take advantage of a depth of attractive investment options, as well as unique situations.The average middle market profile at New 2nd Capital includes annual transactions between $10 million and $150 million combined with enterprise values as high as $250 million. Though the investment team adheres to this investment model at all times, specific middle market companies may be found in any industry. Similarly, the company is equipped to take advantage of numerous investment scenarios, such as those leading to buyouts, growth capital opportunities, and infrastructure investments. New 2nd Capital is also experienced in dealing with special situations, including spinouts and acquisitions of cornerstone positions and co-investment portfolios.
An accomplished finance industry accounting executive, Kate Merli serves as New 2nd Capital’s chief financial officer. In addition to her accounting work at New 2nd Capital, Kate Merli supports a number of local philanthropic organizations, including the New York Junior League (NYJL).One of the oldest and most well-known nonprofit volunteer organizations for women in New York City, the NYJL emphasizes the health and quality of life for children and families throughout the New York metropolitan area. As a not-for-profit, the NYJL relies on donor contributions and a series of fundraising events to maintain operations.On February 23, the NYJL will host its 67th Annual Winter Ball, a black tie fundraising event held in honor of the city’s most active and effective volunteers. The Winter Ball recognizes exceptional community work with the Outstanding Sustainer and Outstanding Volunteer Awards while highlighting specific community projects that have improved the city over the course of the last year. All proceeds of the Winter Ball are directed to ongoing NYJL programs and services.To learn more, please visit www.nyjl.org.
For more than a decade, Kate Merli has held leadership positions as an accountant, controller, and chief financial officer (CFO). Currently leading as CFO with New 2nd Capital in New York City, Kate Merli maintains strong professional interests in private equity, auditing, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and other industry topics.For much of America's early history, the federal government provided little to no oversight of the securities industry. After World War I, however, the securities market exploded, bringing with it both tremendous wealth for financiers and tremendous opportunities for fraud by the unscrupulous. This came to a head in the 1920s when widespread fraud, weak investor-protection laws, and unregulated investment vehicles helped fuel a stock market craze that ultimately crashed in 1929 and led to the Great Depression.Recognizing the dangers of an unregulated securities market, the federal government passed several laws in the early 1930s to restore investor confidence, including the Glass-Steagall Act, the Securities Act of 1933, and the Securities Act of 1934. The last of these acts called for the creation of the Securities and Exchange Commission to enforce these laws. The first commissioner of the SEC was Joseph Kennedy, father of President John F. Kennedy. Throughout the rest of the 1930s and early 1940s, Congress passed several more acts, including the Investment Company Act of 1940, designed to reduce fraud and strengthen public trust in the securities markets. Together, these laws gave the SEC much of the power and responsibility it holds today.
An accomplished accounting and financial executive, Kate Merli draws upon more than a decade of experience in her role as the chief financial officer of New 2nd Capital in New York City. Outside of her professional life, Kate Merli pursues a diverse range of hobbies that includes traveling, volunteering in the community, and hiking.For many New Yorkers used to the urban environment, the definition of a hike might simply mean getting from the Lower East Side to Washington Heights. However, New York City offers numerous traditional hiking options just a short drive or train ride away. Here are three of the most popular:Breakneck Ridge: Easily accessible by the Metro-North line of the Grand Central railroad, Breakneck Ridge lies just over an hour north of the city. Though this trail can get busy on summer weekends, hikers who complete this 4-mile hike are rewarded with commanding views of the Hudson River Valley.Stairway to Heaven Trail: Located in Hewitt, New Jersey, this spectacular 2.9-mile trail can be reached within an hour or two by car. The trail is notable for manmade features such as a suspension bridge and its picturesque landscape that includes fields of wildflowers, pristine meadows, and the summit of Wawayanda Mountain.Appalachian Trail: Manhattan might feel far removed from the Appalachian Trail, but hikers only need to travel 50 miles from the city to access the famous trail on Bellvale Mountain in Orange County. Among other highlights, this challenging 7-mile hike features Prospect Rock, the highest point of the Appalachian Trail in New York State.
