RIDGEFIELD, Conn., May 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- &vest, an
investment platform founded in 2019 focused on SPACs and private
investments, today announced that Bill
Hinman has joined the company as Partner.
Hinman served as Director of Corporation Finance at the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from 2017 to 2020, where
he was primarily responsible for overseeing regulations and
processes for initial public offerings and other corporate
disclosures. During his tenure at the SEC, Mr.
Hinman spearheaded nearly 50 policy and rulemaking initiatives
designed to strengthen public markets as well as modernize and
improve the framework for companies accessing capital markets,
including addressing the large increase in SPAC offerings.
Prior to his tenure at the SEC, Hinman was as a partner at
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (where he recently returned as a
senior advisor). Mr. Hinman played a leading role in the IPOs of
Alibaba, Facebook, Google, eBay, Square, Agilent, Seagate and
VMware, among many others, and he has represented a wide range of
issuers and underwriters in capital-raising transactions and
corporate acquisitions.
At &vest, Hinman will serve as a partner advising on capital
markets efforts, as well as key legal and regulatory matters.
"Bill's professional experience is unmatched as we navigate the
shifting SPAC regulatory landscape and continue to engage with
companies preparing to enter the public markets," said Doug Jacob, &vest founder. "His unique blend
of public and private service as well as his insight into the
regulatory changes we know will come to the SPAC market provide us
and the companies we combine with a significant strategic
advantage. We are thrilled he has joined our team and believe
he will have a tremendous impact on all &vest
stakeholders."
&vest was founded in 2019 by Doug
Jacob and Michael Lastoria as
an innovative investment platform that leverages the firm's
branding, operational, and financial capabilities to create unique
investment opportunities across a variety of strategies.
Initially focused on growth and venture investments, &vest
in 2020 launched FAST Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: FST), a $200M SPAC that recently announced a definitive
agreement to merge with Fertitta Entertainment Inc. in a
$6.6B transaction. &vest
has since launched FAST Acquisition Corp. II (NYSE: FZT) focused on
consumer and hospitality targets, and Velocity Acquisition Corp.
(NASDAQ: VELO) focused on digital transformation companies.
&vest's private investments include &pizza – a 50-unit fast
casual pizza brand that Jacob co-founded with Lastoria in 2010,
Beauty Labs – a beauty technology business that recently announced
that it had agreed to be acquired by Amyris Inc. (NASDAQ: AMRS),
Rumble Fitness – which recently was acquired by Xponential Fitness,
and Butler Hospitality, among others.
Collectively, through its SPACs and private investments,
&vest has raised nearly $2B of
investment capital.
"I am excited to join Doug and the &vest team," said Mr.
Hinman. "The SPAC model offers companies that are seeking to
raise capital in the public markets an attractive alternative to
the traditional IPO. This is particularly the case when the
SPAC sponsor offers a skill set that goes beyond access to public
investors. In the case of Doug and the &vest team, I am
impressed with their track record in brand development and in
wisely deploying capital. Doug and the entire &vest team
has recognized that meeting the regulatory and compliance
challenges that accompany joining the public markets through a SPAC
is a key to success. I look forward to assisting &vest
and its partners as we tackle these challenges and work to develop
companies that thrive in the public markets."
Prior to joining Simpson Thacher in 2000, Hinman was the
managing partner of Shearman & Sterling's San Francisco and Menlo Park offices. Hinman received his B.A.
from Michigan State University with
honors in 1977 and his J.D. in 1980 from Cornell University Law School. He is a member of
the Bar in the States of California and New
York. He is also a fellow of the American Bar
Foundation.
About &vest
&vest is a unique investment platform founded by
Doug Jacob and Michael Lastoria in 2019 that leverages its
branding, operational, financial and partnership capabilities in to
create bespoke investment opportunities for its investors. To date,
&vest has successfully launched three SPACS: FAST Acquisition
Corp., FAST Acquisition Corp. II, and Velocity Acquisition Corp.,
as well as a series of private growth and venture
investments. &vest is headquartered in Ridgefield, Connecticut. More information can
be found at https://andvest.co.
Media Contact:
Hiltzik Strategies
Chris Cunningham
ccunningham@hstrategies.com
View original
content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/former-sec-director-of-corporation-finance-bill-hinman-joins-vest-as-partner-301292947.html
SOURCE &vest
