The Alta Group has expanded its merger and acquisition (M&A) advisory services to the equipment leasing and asset finance industry with the addition of James R. Jackson, Jr. Jackson has extensive expertise in turnaround management, M&As, and executive leadership for equipment finance companies. He most recently served as senior vice president and chief financial officer of MicroFinancial Incorporated, based in Burlington, MA.
Alta CEO John C. Deane announced that as a new Alta director, Jackson joins Bruce Kropschot, senior managing director and M&A Advisory Practice leader, and Alta Director Patricia Voorhees in providing services for buyers and sellers in North America. Alta M&A experts have decades of experience arranging more than 200 equipment leasing and specialty finance business acquisitions, locating funding sources and additional capital for companies, and completing formal valuations. “We welcome Jim Jackson to our M&A Team. Alta is experiencing substantial growth in M&A activity, and Jim’s diverse background in several equipment finance segments will be of great value to our clients,” Kropschot said.
“I’m excited to be part of The Alta Group,” Jackson said. “I’ve been in the industry for 30 years, and Alta is clearly the premier leasing and equipment financing consulting group in the world.”
His tenure at MicroFinancial began in 2002, where shortly thereafter, the banks called the company’s credit line. Jackson helped spearhead the company’s turnaround, from an after-tax loss of $22.1 million in 2002, to net income of $9.8 million in 2013. The company’s share price rose 520% during the same period.
Earlier in his career Jackson was vice president of finance for Deutsche Financial Services when the bank first launched its leasing company. Prior to joining Deutsche, he held several positions at AT&T Capital in Framingham, MA, including serving as the manager of business planning and financial point person for all proposed M&A activity.
Jackson gained turnaround experience early in his career at Signal Capital Corp.’s Portfolio Management Division in Hampton, NH, where he rose to the rank of vice president and controller. There, he was responsible for the financial management of a $70 million workout portfolio.
He holds a master’s degree in business administration from Babson College in Wellesley, MA, and a bachelor’s degree from Hawthorne College in Antrim, NH.
He is married with two sons. When he is not at the office or traveling to help clients, Jackson is a licensed pilot who enjoys flying and vacationing at Lake Winnipesaukee, NH.