Specialty investment bank Ziegler is ramping up its efforts in the healthcare space through the creation of a new healthcare private equity practice, the company has announced.
Ziegler hired three executives from Contemporary Healthcare Capital LLC (CHC) to form the new practice: Eric Smith, former partner at CHC, which he co-founded in 2006, as managing director; Chris Claps, former senior vice president at CHC, as senior vice president; and Dan Contardi, former vice president at CHC, as vice president.
“With our extensive experience and dedication to the healthcare sector, Eric, Chris and Dan will add tremendous value not only to our clients, but also to the entire healthcare community,” says Tom Paprocki, CEO of Ziegler, in a statement.
Smith brings 20 years of experience in originating, underwriting and managing principal investments in long-term care, senior housing and healthcare services. He has served as a partner in the formation and management of seven healthcare investment funds.
At CHC, Smith was responsible for the day-to-day management and oversight of multiple investment funds.
“Throughout his career, Mr. Smith has served in an investment management role in over 300 transactions representing approximately $1 billion in senior debt, mezzanine and preferred equity investments within the long-term care, senior housing and healthcare services industries,” Ziegler says.
Prior to joining CHC, Smith was a partner in Ziegler Healthcare Capital, LLC, a former affiliate of Ziegler, which managed three investment funds.
Claps has over 14 years of finance experience, including eight years originating, underwriting and managing principal investments in long-term care, senior housing and healthcare services.
In his role as senior vice president at CHC, he served as a portfolio manager for five healthcare investment funds.
“Mr. Claps has served in an investment management role in over 150 transactions representing approximately $500 million in senior debt, mezzanine and preferred equity investments within the long-term care, senior housing and healthcare services industries,” Ziegler says.
Prior to joining CHC, Claps worked in the healthcare equity research group of Piper Jaffray & Co., was an equity analyst and junior portfolio manager for GlobalValue Investors, LLC and a senior associate in Deloitte Corporate Finance LLC’s investment banking practice.
Contardi has over seven years’ experience originating, underwriting and managing principal investments in long-term care, senior housing and healthcare services.
During this time as vice president at CHC, he served as a portfolio manager for five healthcare investment funds.
“Mr. Contardi has structured, underwritten and closed over 150 fund transactions representing approximately $500 million in senior debt, mezzanine debt and preferred equity fund investments within the long-term care, senior housing and healthcare services industries,” Ziegler says.
Written by Cassandra Dowell
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