About
We are an independent investment banking firm providing M&A, capital raise advisory and related corporate finance services to middle market and emerging growth companies and their owners. 555 is a trusted advisor and delivers highly focused, personalized and customized services to its clients backed by its success in completing hundreds of transactions valued in the billions of dollars.
Firm & Founder Background
Andre Guardi
After 20+ years building and leading investment banking transactions at larger firms, Andre Guardi founded 555 Capital Advisors in 2015. With expertise in mergers & acquisitions, leveraged/management buyouts, debt & equity capital markets and principal investing extending from public companies to lower middle market private companies, he launched 555 to provide companies and their owners independent, senior level commitment and client advocacy - free of product conflicts, overhead and bureaucracy.
Prior to starting 555, Andre held partner and/or managing director positions at Friend & Co. and its post-merger with B. Riley FBR and later with Moss Adams Capital.
Andre is a FINRA-registered General Securities Principal with Series 7, 24 and 63 licensing and earned a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. He earned a B.S. degree in Finance from the University of Utah where he was an All-American football player before entering the NFL. He was also named an Academic All-American every year of his college career.
Outside of 555, Andre’s main interests are family life, deep sea fishing, golf and music.
Client Profile
555 Capital Advisors clients are middle market and emerging growth companies.
Our expertise in a variety of industry sectors, led by:
Our target clients include:
Family owned, owner operator, closely held or institutionally sponsored private companies
West Coast geographic preference with national interest in selected industry segments
Enterprise value of $20 million to $400 million
Financing requirements of approx. $10M +
History of positive earnings and/or quantifiable financial or strategic assets
Proven ownership and/or management leadership
Investment Profile: 555 Capital Partners
555 Capital Partners is a pledge fund that collaborates and partners alongside successful company managers in friendly management led buyouts and other special situation transactions.
555 Capital Partners strategy is to invest in companies that are (i) generating material revenue and cash flow positive or at least, very close (ii) have a proven and repeatable economic model.
555 Capital Partners includes a network of successful entrepreneurs and senior executives, wealthy individual investors, family offices, institutional investors, lenders, and service professionals.