Team
Bilgola Capital is led by its founder, George Ferris.
While Bilgola Capital is prepared to commit significant equity capital in a transaction, additional capital is available from respected debt and equity partners with whom we have made many successful investments in the past.
The team is supplemented by respected entrepreneurs and executives who serve as advisors and directors to the firm’s investments.
George Ferris – Founder, Managing Member
George’s management, entrepreneurial, and finance experiences combine to provide valuable insights and expertise to the management teams of our portfolio companies. His background includes the financial and general management of a large global energy company and two decades in finance, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic corporate initiatives.
Management Experience
Prior to founding Bilgola Capital, George served as Chief Financial Officer and member of the Board of Directors of Louis Dreyfus Highbridge Energy (“LDHE”) in Stamford, CT. At LDHE, George managed all financial activities and human resources of a global company with over 500 employees. In that role, he led the firm’s accounting, treasury, credit, insurance, tax, and human resources functions.
He led the execution of several highly successful multi-billion dollar financing transactions and strategic M&A transactions. He was also responsible for significant improvements in the back office functions that resulted in significant cost savings and efficiencies.
The company was renamed Castleton Commodities after George left LDHE.
Finance Experience
Prior to LDHE, George served as a Managing Director at Allied Capital in Washington, DC, where he was responsible for originating, executing, and managing a portfolio of investments in the business services, healthcare services, and consumer products sectors. At Allied Capital, he led approximately $650 million of investments in subordinated debt and equity securities and served on the boards of six portfolio companies.
George was also an investment banker with Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs in New York and with Macquarie Bank in Australia, where he managed transactions for companies in a variety of industries including marketing services, advertising, information services, metals and mining. During his investment banking career, he advised clients on approximately $13 billion of M&A transactions and led the execution of over $7 billion of debt and equity financing transactions.
Other Qualifications
George is currently an Adjunct Professor of Finance at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University.
George’s academic background includes an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from the University of New South Wales (Australia).
George worked in public accounting with Coopers & Lybrand in Sydney, Australia.