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The Interview
Deal Maker of the Year Awards 2012
John C. K Managing Director at Iro
Cereplast raises $5m from Ironridge Global Partners
John C. Kirkland has handled several hundred billion dollars in public offerings and private placements of debt and equity securities for clients such as Goldman Sachs, SunAmerica, and Boeing Capital. As a practicing securities attorney for over 20 years, he represented bulge bracket investment banks, venture capital and private equity firms, and numerous public companies. Kirkland is a preeminent expert in the small cap equities market, and is known for developing unique and innovative public company financing structures.
John Kirkland currently serves as Managing Director of Ironridge Global Partners. He was most recently partner in charge of the securities group at Luce Forward (now McKenna Long & Aldridge), was previously partner in charge of the securities practice at the Los Angeles office of Greenberg Traurig, and began his legal career at Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft.
Kirkland is the author of “Practical Approaches to Securities Compliance Issues,” SEC Compliance Best Practices (Thomson Reuters 2010 ed.), and various articles oncorporate and securities topics. He has been repeatedly listed in Who’s Who in American Law and Southern California Super Lawyers, and quoted in publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, and New York Times.
John Kirkland received his BA in Biology-Psychology from Columbia University, and his JD from UCLA School of Law.
Q 26
Can you give an overview of Ironridge Global and its
organisational structure? Ironridge Global Partners, LLC is an
institutional investor making direct equity investments in small cap public companies. We have entered into some forty financing transactions since last year, ranging in size from a quarter million to US $10 million each, and have never shorted a single share of any company’s stock. We remain a common stockholder of every company we have invested in since inception.
Ironridge Global assists public companies in financing operations and expansion by supplying innovative funding solutions and flexible capital. We seek to unlock the full potential of cash- constrained businesses, propelling higher growth and more profitable enterprises.
Ironridge takes a tailored approach to understanding smaller companies and their unique financial situation, needs and goals. We have unbridled flexibility to create innovative and mutually beneficial financial structures, and develop individual solutions appropriate to current company and market conditions.
Q
What are the main areas of Ironridge’s expertise?
Although we view ourselves as industry agnostic, we always look for companies that we believe have significant growth potential. Ironridge has several investment divisions, each focusing on specific industry sectors.
Ironridge BioPharma specializes in equity investments in life sciences, including biotechnology, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, medical device and enabling technology companies. Our investments include exploration and development of oil and gas reserves, integrated power firms, cleantech and alternative
energy suppliers. Ironridge Media focuses on entertainment and media ventures, such as production and digital distribution, while Ironridge China invests in Chinese public companies.
Ironridge Products finances
business and consumer product development, transportation and commercialization, and Ironridge Technology invests in stocks related to researching, developing and creating technology, such as computer software and hardware, electronics, information technology systems and services.
Our broad industry experience and high-level expertise enables us to structure flexible financial solutions appropriate for each individual situation.
Q
Does Ironridge have any unique financing structures?
Ironridge Global’s Liability for Equity (LIFE) program allows small cap public companies to satisfy trade payables, debts and other liabilities in exchange for unregistered common stock. We are the industry leader in this innovative financing structure, which substantially reduces the transactional costs and time necessary to complete a financing. No registration statement is required, and there are no registration rights.
Issuers can use a LIFE exchange to clean up their balance sheet, by converting short and long-term debt to equity. This allows them to repurpose their resources away from paying existing obligations and toward funding future growth.
LIFE transactions are most typically used to pay off outstanding accounts payable owed to service