Manager Management

Merlin W. Tolstyk, CFA

**** ********* ***** *****: 678-***-****

Smyrna, Georgia 30080 *******@*******.***

Equity Research Analyst – Portfolio Manager

Summary

An investment finance professional with a diverse background and extensive experience in many facets of finance including researching global equities across a broad range of sectors, M&A and valuations. Core skills include fundamental company, competitor, industry and quantitative research, research presentations, risk management and portfolio construction. Proven ability in financial and economic analysis and equity valuation. Particular expertise with analysis techniques focusing on a fundamental bottoms-up approach to investment selection process. A CFA charter holder with an MBA degree.

Professional Experience

Equity Research & Portfolio Manager 2014 – Present

The San Blas Fund – IFS Securities Atlanta, Georgia

Conducted ongoing equity research and valuations on fund holdings and potential portfolio additions.

Developed and back tested the fund’s investment strategy & discipline.

Presents and reviews equity research, analysis, and actionable recommendations to daily investment committee meetings.

Fund outperformed the relevant benchmark (S&P 500) in first year.

Created investment presentation materials and presented the fund to potential investors.

Created and launched equity long/short investment fund. Managed all aspects of the fund’s creation, such as, legal, compliance, and trading and took it from concept stage through to live trading.

Managing Director 2009 – 2014

Structured Capital, LLC Atlanta, Georgia

Structured complex transactions, typically involving large corporate real estate projects, ranging in value from $20 million to over $400 million.

Assisted clients, mid and large corporations, in understanding the advantages and drawback of various financing schemes such as synthetic leases and 501c.3 conduits.

Lowered the effective cost of capital for clients by as much as 40% through the implementation of novel financing structures.

Developed and utilized unique and innovative ways to structure transactions thus making them economically viable while requiring less of the client’s equity capital.

Navigated clients through the highly complex legal and accounting regulations necessary to qualify for the most favorable treatments.

Global Equity Research Analyst 2001 – 2009

Certium Capital Management (formerly Trusco Capital Management) Atlanta, Georgia

Conducted equity research for a billion dollar plus global equity portfolio consisting of institutional and retail clients.

Researched equities across all industrial sectors, market cap sizes, different phases of the economic and interest rate cycle, and in multiple currencies.

Primary coverage area consisted of United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil and several Asian markets.

Fund was awarded a Five Star rating by Morningstar in February 2005.

Fund has finished in the top half of its Lipper peer group over six consecutive years.

Reviewed and utilized various quantitative and fundamental tools across various industries optimizing research recommendations and performance.

Director, Corporate Finance/Mergers and Acquisitions 2000 – 2001

Semotus Solutions, (Ticker: SMOA) San Jose, California

Developed, implemented and executed the company’s strategic mergers and acquisitions (M&A) plan. Completed four acquisitions and more than tripled corporate revenues.

Conducted due diligence on target acquisitions, including detailed review of target’s financial position and interviews with senior management to ensure the economic viability of the target.

Performed valuation analysis of acquisition targets and assisted in creatively structuring transactions that efficiently met the needs of all parties involved.

Conducted detailed economic and business analysis on both acquisition candidates and the post-merger organization for Semotus Solutions, Inc. as a successful part of the strategic mergers and acquisitions plan.

Associate – Mergers & Acquisitions 1998 – 2000

Citigroup, Inc. (The Geneva Companies operating subsidiary) Irvine, California

Conducted extensive, highly detailed equity valuations of privately held companies based upon comprehensive analysis of their current and projected financial performance and overall market conditions which provided a reference point for client decisions

Performed highly detailed pro forma financial modeling based on client input, market research, and statistical and economic analysis that served as the foundation of the valuation process.

Successfully determined the company’s opinion of value on client companies utilizing discounted cash flow analysis, comparable company transaction analysis, and other valuation techniques as appropriate.

Created and refined highly polished documentation for client delivery and for the marketing of client companies.

Professional Licenses, Designations & Affiliations

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) – Awarded by CFA Institute in 2003

Member – CFA Society of Atlanta

Member – CFA Institute

Securities Licenses Held – Series 7, 86 & 87

Education

Arizona State University

Loyola Marymount University

Tempe, Arizona

Los Angeles, California

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Emphasis in Financial Management, Markets, Analysis and Research

Double major in Finance and Economics

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