primarily to entrepreneurs targeting underserved markets. Syncom manages a group of telecommunications venture capital funds that have capital in excess of $225 million. Wilkins has created a blueprint from which fledgling firms can follow.
Christopher Williams. Founder, Chairman & CEO The Williams CapitalGroup L.P. New York, NY. Age: 49. Bottom Line: Since its 1994 inception, Williams Capital has underwritten $365 billion of corporate asset-backed and commercial paper securities for more than 30 multinational corporations. The firm has managed 512 corporate debt offerings totaling $603 billion, including over $5 billion in transactions where it served as lead manager, and $117 billion in equity offerings. In 2005, Williams played an integral role in a $1 billion benchmark debt financing for GE Capital.
Ed A. Williams. Managing Director Black Enterprise/Greenwich Street Corporate Growth Partners New York, NY. Age: 48. Bottom Line: Williams manages the $91 million private equity fund backed by Citigroup and Earl G. Graves Ltd. (the parent company of this magazine). The firm which ranks No. 9 on the BE PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS list, invests in established minority-owned, managed, or targeted businesses such as Glory Foods, that have annual revenues ranging from $10 million to $100 million. Williams is charged with identifying investment opportunities, advising and monitoring portfolio companies, and managing investor relationships.
Willie Woods Jr. President ICV Capital Partners New York, NY. Age: 43. Bottom Line: The former investment banker at Deutsche Bank aided ICV’s rise from ranking No. 8 to No. 4 on the BE PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS list with more than $440 in million capital under management. Stand-out business ventures contributing to such success include the sale of two of its portfolio companies, Chung’s and Marshall Retail Group; several add-on acquisitions; and the close of over $255 million in commitments on its new fund, ICV Partners II L.P. (Fund II).
— Additional reporting by Denise Campbell, Hyacinth B. Carbon, Sonya A. Donaldson, Alan Hughes & Tennille M. Robinson
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