Mesirow Adds to Infrastructure/P3 Team

CHICAGO – Chicago-based Mesirow Financial has hired veteran infrastructure banker and public-private partnership specialist Walter Kulakowski in its New York office.

Kulakowski joined the firm's New York team this month at the managing director level, the firm announced Monday. He spent the last four years at Guggenheim Securities, where he developed P3 development projects. During his tenure, he worked on two asset deals that were the centerpiece of a recovery plan tied to Harrisburg's efforts to avoid bankruptcy.

The Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority issued $287 million of revenue bonds to fund a 40-year lease of parking assets to Harrisburg First, a consortium of Guggenheim Securities, Piper Jaffray & Co., Standard Parking Corp. and Trimont Real Estate Advisors. Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority issued bonds in 2012 to complete a $130 million purchase of the city incinerator. Guggenheim was primary underwriter.

Kulakowski built his banking career at Citi between 1987 and 2007 where he served as co-head of the firm's water and sewer finance practice and worked on deals valued at more $21 billion in alternative energy, water, wastewater, state revolving fund, project finance, and privatization.

After Citi, he did brief stints at Stone & Youngberg, Roosevelt & Cross and Environmental Capital LLC. Before joining Citi, he was an assistant commissioner in the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

"As we continue to grow our national presence centered around key credit and infrastructure needs, Wally brings the firm a fantastic array of specialization and diversity needed to serve our expanded presence," said Mesirow's president of capital markets Dominick Mondi.

Mesirow ranks 39th so far this year among senior managers nationally with 55 deals valued at $760 million, according to data from ThomsonReuters.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
New York
MORE FROM BOND BUYER