Cerberus Business Finance, LLC, the middle-market direct lending platform of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P., announced that it has launched a new office in San Francisco, hiring Scott Johnston and Kurt Peterson to lead its dedicated efforts to deliver financial solutions to the region’s leading businesses and financial sponsors.

Johnston, Managing Director, will be responsible for sourcing, underwriting, and managing new investment opportunities across Northern California and the Pacific Northwest for CBF and its affiliated funds, which currently manage approximately $14 billion of capital dedicated to middle-market business. Johnston has over 26 years of experience in commercial finance and direct lending with extensive expertise in loan originations, credit underwriting, and portfolio management across industry sectors.

Peterson, Vice President, has over eight years of experience in the sourcing, underwriting, execution, and monitoring of middle-market credit and will work closely with Johnston to implement CBF’s strategy to partner with companies headquartered in the region.

Daniel Wolf, CEO of Cerberus Business Finance, said, “We are pleased to launch our San Francisco office dedicated to businesses in the Bay Area and the Pacific Northwest. Scott and Kurt immediately bring trusted expertise and relationships across a wide range of private equity sponsors and leading middle-market companies. We expect our team’s cohesive efforts will build upon our multi-decade track record of success.”

Johnston stated, “I am excited to be a part of the establishment of the San Francisco office of Cerberus Business Finance and I look forward to working with this talented team. CBF is a well-established direct-lending platform with a successful track record and reputation spanning over 22 years. I see an extraordinary opportunity to drive future growth by expanding and deepening CBF’s position in this market.”

As Cerberus Business Finance strategically expands its market-based solutions, its New York headquarters will maintain responsibility for credit decisions and no changes will occur in the day-to-day management or operation of CBF or its time-tested investment process.

Gerry Daniello, Vice Chairman of Cerberus Business Finance, said, “The San Francisco Bay Area and the Pacific Northwest are growing markets for middle-market business across a wide spectrum of industries. We are excited to deepen our relationships and offer our financing solutions and expertise as a long-term, proven partner.”