Monday, May 13, 2019

New England Patriots Make Grants to Youth Teams and Schools


As the chief financial officer of New 2ND Capital in New York City, Kate Merli manages transactions, audits, and cash flow on all investments. And every fall, Kate Merli roots for the New England Patriots professional football team.

The Patriots recently awarded 33 grants to high school and other youth teams throughout New England. Each grant is worth up to $1,000 and provides a range of athletic equipment and uniforms to young people in financial need. The Patriots made the grants in partnership with USA Football and the NFL Foundation.

USA Football, an organization that oversees America’s youth football programs, will provide funds totaling $1.5 million for 2019. Since 2006, the organization has given some $14 million to about 500,000 players around the country.

Its corporate sponsors donate such items as uniforms (Badger Sport), tackle football equipment (Riddell Sports), and practice aids (Gilman Gear, Tackle Tube, and Shadowman Sports). Additional items include flag football equipment, wearable tech (Catapult), and background checks (Peopletrail).

USA Football holds a seat on the US Olympic Committee and operates teams for international competition. It promotes safe participation in the sport by building alliances with medical providers and child advocacy organizations.

Working alongside USA Football is the National Football League Foundation. The foundation pools the resources of the league’s 32 franchises to enhance the safety and wellness of players.

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Types of Venture Capital


A graduate of Bentley University, certified public accountant Kate Merli works as CFO at New 2nd Capital, where she oversees employee payroll and benefits, manages fiduciary account cash flows, and maintains cash flow planning for each fiduciary account. Through her years of professional experience, Kate Merli has developed a wealth of experience in different areas, including venture capital.

Startup businesses that may potentially flourish require an investment. Looking at the long-term growth, investors put in their money into such businesses. The capital invested is called venture capital, while those that invest their money are known as venture capitalists. 

Venture capital is categorized based on the stage of business when the investment is made. Its three main classifications of funding include early-stage financing, expansion financing, and acquisition or buyout financing.

Early Stage: Divided into three phases, this stage involves seed funding, startup funding, and first-stage funding. In the first phase, an entrepreneur receives a small amount as his or her startup loan. The second phase entails an amount given for the purpose of expanding or completing a product or service development. The third phase takes place when companies need to finance their initial business activities but have used up their starting capital.

Expansion: This type of venture capital is divided into two types: second stage and bridge funding. Second stage funding is intended for companies that are moving towards growth or expansion. Bridge funding comes as a finance option with a small-term interest for the purpose of major business strategies such as initial public offers. 

Acquisition or Buyout: This is also composed of two types, acquisition funding and management funding. The former discusses acquiring a portion or an entire company. The latter talks about obtaining a specific product from another company.

Monday, April 15, 2019

What to Expect at AICPA ENGAGE 2019


An accomplished executive in finance, Kate Merli serves as the CFO of New 2nd Capital, a private equity firm with substantial investments in middle market companies. A prominent figure in the industry, Kate Merli is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), a global network of more than 430,000 members of the accounting profession.

In addition to providing guidance and developing standards for audits, AICPA hosts events such as the upcoming ENGAGE 2019, which will be held at the MGM Grand Las Vegas June 9-13. The five-day event will include a series of conferences on estate planning, personal financial planning, career development, tax strategies, technology, and advanced accounting and auditing. 

With more than 3,800 attendees annually, AICPA ENGAGE is an opportunity to learn about other areas of accounting and to network with other accountants and financial professionals. For those unable to attend the live event, AICPA offers streaming of audio and video sessions accompanied by slides. For more information, visit www.aicpaengage.com.

Friday, April 5, 2019

US Venture Capital Investment Hits All-Time High in 2018


As the CFO of New 2nd Capital in New York City, Kate Merli oversees the onboarding, fund administration, cash flow planning, and valuation of client accounts managed by the company. With a postgraduate degree in accountancy from Bentley University, Kate Merli has solid knowledge and experience in many areas of finance, including private equity and venture capital.

The year 2018 was by far the biggest for United States-based startups, with a reported investment of $130.9 billion from venture capitalists, according to the joint report published by PitchBook and the National Venture Capital Association. However, the number of deals decreased from 9,400 to 8,949 even though the investments in 2018 increased by more than 57 percent, from $87 billion in 2017.

According to the report, deals exceeding $100 million dominated among startup companies, venture capitalists, and private equity investors. One notable example was $1.3 billion for Epic Games, the video game company that created Fortnite. 

The report also revealed the significant growth of capital investments in life science startups, with more than $23 billion invested across 1,308 deals. California, New York, and Massachusetts remain the leading hubs for venture investment activity, with 79 percent of the total amount invested and 53 percent of the number of deals.

Monday, March 11, 2019

Three Popular Hikes Near New York City


The chief financial officer of New 2ND Capital, a private equity fund based in New York City, Kate Merli possesses more than 10 years of experience in the finance sector. In her free time, Kate Merli maintains an active lifestyle and enjoys hiking.

New York City is not commonly associated with hiking, though several hiking spots are nearby. A few of the popular hiking trails near the city are:

- The Appalachian Trail. The world’s longest hike, it runs from Maine to Georgia, but New York hikers can access the trail near Bellvale Mountain, about 90 minutes from New York City.

- Kazimiroff Nature Trail. A two-mile hike, this trail winds through Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx. The looped trail takes hikers through meadows and forests along the rocky coastline facing Long Island Sound. The hike offers great views of the surrounding landscape.

- Breakneck Ridge Trail. For a challenge, this trail comes with some rock climbing and steep ascents. The 10-mile trail takes roughly six hours to complete, though hikers can enjoy smaller segments of the trail.

Monday, March 4, 2019

The Astor House - NYJL Headquarters and Event Venue


Financial executive Kate Merli serves as the CFO of New 2ND Capital in New York City. Outside of work, Kate Merli enjoys volunteering and is an active member of the New York Junior League (NYJL).

The largest women’s volunteer organization in New York, the NYJL has more than 2,800 volunteers who give over 250,000 hours of service to their community each year. NYJL operates from its headquarters at the Astor House. The organization moved into the house in 1950.

Located on the Upper East Side, the Astor House is a five-story townhouse that overlooks Park Avenue. Recognized as a historical landmark, the building features a combination of modern amenities and traditional details. The Astor House is near major public transportation, including the Penn and Grand Central railroad stations.

One of the largest rooms in Astor House is the Harriman Room. Approximately 70 tables can fit comfortably inside the room. When combined with the Pine Room, the space can accommodate 225 guests.

Saturday, February 23, 2019

An Overview of Secondary Transactions


Certified public account Kate Merli serves as the chief financial officer of the New York City-based investment and private equity firm New 2nd Capital. She brings a decade of experience in accounting and fund management to her position, which includes extensive work with vendors. Kate Merli and the New 2nd Capital team concentrate on investing in and developing high-potential mid-market companies through customized secondary transactions based on the special situations each potential investment may encounter.

While private equity firms often make new investments through primary transactions, acquired through the issuing company as the seller, they may also find it advantageous to build up value through pursuing secondary transactions. 

In a secondary transaction, an equity firm purchases interest in a fund from an already-existing investor. The price of these assets is negotiated directly between buyer and seller, and the buyer typically agrees to take on any currently-unfunded financial obligations from the seller. The company whose assets are being exchanged typically plays no part in the deal.

Transactions in the secondary capital market can become particularly attractive during periods of market turbulence. In this case, a rush for liquidity often drives many of a fund’s original investors to cash out their interests in a variety of products that may include endowment and pension funds, as well as funds of funds.

Friday, February 8, 2019

An Overview of Common Private Equity Fees


Possessing more than a decade of financial experience, Kate Merli serves as the CFO of New 2nd Capital, a private equity fund based in New York City. Over the course of her career, Kate Merli has gained extensive experience in private equity fund matters.

Private equity funds, investment vehicles composed of investors and the funds they are investing in private companies, have two common fees: management fees and performance fees. Management fees are collected to cover the operating expenses of a private equity firm. These fees ensure that fund managers are compensated for their time and expertise. 

While the exact structure of a management fee depends on each fund’s needs, the average fee is 1.5 percent to 2 percent of the total asset amount. Management fees are assessed regardless of how investments in the fund perform.

Conversely, the performance fee is directly affected by how private equity funds perform. If the fund experiences only losses, performance fees are not charged that year. Many private equity funds adhere to the “2 and 20” fee rule in which a 2-percent management fee and a 20-percent performance fee are charged on the fund’s asset value and profits each year.

Thursday, January 31, 2019

Breathing Properly as You Hike


New York City-based financial executive Kate Merli provides leadership to New 2nd Capital as the firm’s chief financial officer. Away from her work, Kate Merli stays active by hiking.

During any type of physical activity, your heart pumps faster to deliver the blood and oxygen your muscles need to work efficiently. Without enough oxygen, your muscles feel tired. This often occurs if you aren’t breathing properly when hiking.

To avoid this issue, decide whether breathing through your nose or your mouth works best for you. Typically, inhaling through the mouth and exhaling through the nose is the most efficient way of getting the air your body needs. However, breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth filters small bugs and particles from the air.

After you choose your preferred breathing method, focus on breathing at a steady rate throughout your hike. To keep your breathing steady, time it to match your footsteps. 

Finding the right breathing speed is individual and depends on your personal fitness level. If you are running out of breath as you hike, consider slowing your pace.

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

New England Patriots Foundation Distributes Winter Coats to Homeless


Employed at New 2nd Capital in New York City, Kate Merli is responsible for tracking investment data, managing the annual financial review process, and overseeing providers of external services. In her free time, Kate Merli enjoys watching New England Patriots football. 

During the 2018 football season, the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation and the Kraft company hosted a marathon and half marathon in Gillette Stadium. The race served as a Boston Marathon qualifying event, the only one held entirely inside an NFL stadium, and it raised more than $70,000 for the Patriots Foundation to serve the homeless. 

In December 2018, the Patriots Foundation used the funds from the marathon to buy more than 700 water-resistant winter coats. Specially made to transform into sleeping bags, the “Empowerment Coats” were designed by a young entrepreneur named Veronika Scott who wanted to help people facing life on the streets. 

Ms. Scott started by passing out the coats herself in Detroit. She later began hiring men and women who are homeless to make more coats. For the past five years, the Patriots Foundation has helped distribute Ms. Scott’s Empowerment Coats to homeless people across New England.

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

What is a Middle Market Company?


A graduate of Bentley University, Kate Merli holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accountancy. Since completing her education, she has worked in positions as senior audit associate for KPMG and controller for Atlas Venture. Today, Kate Merli serves as CFO of New 2ND Capital, a private equity fund dedicated to investing in middle market businesses.

Middle market companies are those that occupy the middle of the market in which they operate. Although there is not set value for revenues of a middle market firm, some believe these companies make between $5 million to $3 billion a year, on average. However, there are outliers in any industry, and entities may fall outside this range depending on the other companies in the market.

Since the annual revenue of middle market companies varies so much, it is generally divided into three subcategories: lower, middle, and upper middle market. Lower middle market companies operate in the lowest range of middle market businesses and typically make between $5 million and $50 million in annual revenue. Middle companies make between $50 million and $500 million, and upper middle market businesses make more than $500 million. These distinctions are important, since buyers and investment banks may specialize or focus only on a specific subcategory.

While revenue is the most common way to define middle market companies, these businesses are also categorized by the number of employees they have on staff. Most businesses are considered middle market firms if their employment ranges between 100 and 2,000 employees. Again, this varies depending on what is the middle for a specific industry.

Friday, January 4, 2019

Three Conventional Approaches to Company Valuations


New York-based finance professional Kate Merli serves as chief financial officer of New 2ND Capital, a private equity fund focused on investing in middle market companies. Possessing more than a decade of experience, Kate Merli has a strong understanding of valuations.

There are three conventional approaches to valuing a company: the cost approach, income approach, and market approach. To properly value a business, professionals may use any of these approaches individually or combine them. Each is briefly described below:

Income approach
Focused on a company’s future, the income approach to valuation converts predicted returns on investment to a current dollar amount, based on estimates of future cash flow. These estimates include future revenue growth, operating profitability, working capital requirements, and capital expenditure needs. To account for the risks associated with achieving the projected cash flow, the current valuation amount is often lower than the predicted income.

Cost approach
This approach determines valuation from a company’s current asset value, compared to the estimated value of liabilities. In many cases, this amount represents the floor value of the company, or the value a company can generate if its assets are entirely liquidated. Since cost approach valuations do not reflect future value, they are primarily used in the valuation of a holding company or capital-intensive business.

Market approach
Unlike income and cost approaches to valuation, a market approach focuses largely on the valuation of a business’ competing companies. The idea of this approach is that current stock market data of recently sold companies can provide an accurate idea of the value of a business with similar revenue, transactions, and growth.