Christina Chang

TCW/Crescent Mezzanine focuses on investments in companies in the manufacturing and services sectors. The firm invests in companies that are controlled by private equity sponsors and have annual revenues greater than $100 million. They provide mezzanine capital to equity sponsors and management teams to complete LBOs, balance sheet recapitalizations, project financings, add-on acquisitions and later-stage growth financings. TCW/Crescent Mezzanine seeks to invest in market-leading companies with predictable demand that have the potential to grow organically or through consolidation. The firm tends to avoid investments in real estate, turnaround situations and start-ups. They look for companies with a history of strong earnings and revenue growth, sustainable margins, proprietary products or processes, clear competitive advantages in well-defined market niches and superior management teams. TCW/Crescent targets investments of $30 million to $150 million, but the firm may commit as much as $500 million in a single transaction. Investments are typically structured as subordinated debt or minority equity with some level of current cash pay return and a share in the upside value generated by the underlying company.