Antares announced that David Brackett, co-CEO and a founding partner of the firm, will become sole CEO following the retirement of Antares co-CEO John Martin at the end of April. Brackett and Martin have served as co-CEOs since 2015, and both were founding partners of the firm in 1996.
“Antares has grown and thrived under the outstanding leadership of these two visionary business builders and friends,” said Melina Higgins, chairman of the Antares Midco Board of Directors. “John has been a tireless advocate and driver of growth, and today the firm is stronger and better positioned than ever before.”
Under Brackett’s and Martin’s leadership, Antares was acquired by GE Capital in 2005. Brackett and Martin played key roles in the successful integration of the business into GE Capital’s middle market lending platform and continued to build the business into a leading provider of capital to private equity-backed companies in North America.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to be one of the leaders of this innovative and dynamic organization for 22 years,” said Martin. “The Antares team is second to none and I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished together. I look forward to Antares’ continued success under Dave’s exemplary leadership.”
In August 2015, Antares was divested from GE Capital and sold to an affiliate of CPPIB Credit Investments Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. Since the sale, together Brackett and Martin led the buildout of the firm’s core infrastructure functions and accelerated the growth of Antares’ asset management platform and financing strategies. Through their roles on Antares’ Investment Committee, Brackett and Martin oversaw the growth of Antares’ middle-market loan portfolio, reinforcing Antares’ leading market position.
“John has been a friend and mentor to so many throughout his esteemed career,” said Brackett. “It has been a privilege leading this company in partnership with John, and on behalf of the entire Antares community, I thank John for his foresight and fortitude, and wish him and his wife, Cathy, the very best in their exciting and well-deserved next chapter.”
Under Brackett’s and Martin’s leadership, Antares experienced double-digit growth in borrower commitments and core assets in 2018, while also meaningfully diversifying its access to capital. With one of the largest portfolios of middle market borrowers in the industry, Antares is well positioned to continue successfully delivering for private equity sponsors, borrowers and investors.
“Dave has been a consummate leader for more than twenty years, driving growth for Antares and its clients,” said Higgins. “Antares is well-served by extraordinary talent within the firm and has built a broad and deep bench of senior talent helping to ensure Antares’ continued success today and in the future.”
In recognition of Martin’s many contributions to the firm, the Antares Board of Directors is making a $50,000 donation to Midtown Educational Foundation and a $50,000 donation to Folds of Honor.