Michael P. Hermsen, CFA
Managing Director, Head of Global Private Finance

Michael Hermsen is head of Babson Capital’s Global Private Finance Group (GPFG), which includes the firm’s Private Placement Team, MassMutual Asset Finance, the U.S. Middle Market Loan Team, the U.S. Mezzanine and Private Equity Group, the European Mezzanine and Private Equity Group, the Energy Finance Group, the Global Fund Investment Team and the Asia Pacific Leveraged Finance Group. Mike took on his current role in 2010. He has been with Babson Capital and MassMutual since 1990. Since that time, he helped oversee the development of the U.S. Mezzanine and Private Equity Group, which has produced top quartile performance in both mezzanine debt and private equity since its founding in 1992. Beginning in 2006, Mike also oversaw the development of the Asia Pacific strategy, which includes offices in Sydney and Hong Kong. This operation currently invests in leveraged loans, mezzanine debt and private equity in the Asia Pacific region. He began his career at TIAA-CREF in corporate fixed income. Mr. Hermsen is a member of Babson’s Investment Risk Committee and its Business and Operational Risk Committees as well as MassMutual’s Internal Approval Committee. He serves on the investment committees of each of the groups within GPFG and is Chairman of Babson Capital Australia. He is a member of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute. He holds a B.A. from Bowdoin College and an M.B.A. from Columbia University.

Richard Spencer, II, CFA
Managing Director

Rick Spencer is a co-head for the firm's Mezzanine & Private Equity Group. He is responsible for the management of a team of investment professionals originating, analyzing, structuring and documenting direct mezzanine and private equity investments and commitments to private equity funds. Rick has 24 years of industry experience. Rick joined MassMutual in 1989 after three years as a corporate loan analyst at a major New England bank. He is Vice President of MassMutual Corporate Investors and MassMutual Participation Investors and Manager of Mezzco LLC, Mezzco II and Mezzco III LLC, the respective General Partners of Tower Square Capital Partners, L.P., Tower Square Capital Partners II, L.P. and Tower square Capital Partners III, L.P., Babson Capita's three private mezzanine funds. Rick is also active as a voting member on the investment committee of five absolute return funds co-managed by Tennenbaum Capital Partners and Babson Capital. He holds a B.A. in Economics and History from Bucknell University, an M.B.A. from the State University of New York at Buffalo and is a member of the CFA Institute.

Michael L. Klofas, CFA
Managing Director

Michael L. Klofas is a Managing Director in the Corporate Securities Group of Babson Capital Management LLC. He has over 22 years of industry experience. He has been the co-head of the Mezzanine and Private Equity Group at Babson Capital since 1993. Previously, he was responsible for restructurings and reorganizations involving Babson Capital's portfolio companies. Mr. Klofas is also President of MassMutual Corporate Investors and MassMutual Participation Investors, closed end funds traded on the New York Stock Exchange, and Co-Manager of Mezzco LLC, Mezzco II LLC and Mezzco III LLC, the respective general partners of Tower Square Capital Partners, L.P., Tower Square Capital Partners II, L.P., and Tower Square Capital Partners III, L.P., Babson Capital's three private mezzanine funds. Prior to joining MassMutual’s Investment Management Division (now merged with Babson Capital) in 1988, Mr. Klofas was engaged in venture capital investing with North American Ventures, Inc. and in public accounting with Arthur Young and Company. Mr. Klofas holds both the Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Public Accountant designations, and received his B.A. in economics from Brandeis University and an M.B.A. from Babson College.

David Wilmot
Managing Director

David joined Babson Capital Europe in November 2000 from Société Générale ("SG") where he was Head of the UK Leveraged Finance team which he developed into a leading arranger of senior and mezzanine LBO debt in the UK market. David has extensive experience in European leveraged debt origination, execution and portfolio management. He is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and holds a BSc (Hons) in Banking and Finance from Loughborough University and an MBA from City University Business School. David is Joint Head of Mezzanine and Private Equity and a member of both the Babson Capital Europe and the Mezzanine Credit Committees.

Adam Eifion-Jones
Managing Director

Adam joined Babson Capital Europe in May 2005 from the Royal Bank of Scotland ("RBS") where he worked in the Leveraged Finance business since 1994. Adam played a key role in the successful growth and development of this business, leading teams in the structuring and arranging of senior and mezzanine debt in addition to credit and portfolio management responsibilities. Between 2002 and the beginning of 2005, Adam was Managing Director of the national mid-market Corporate and Structured Finance business within RBS, successfully developing and managing the mid-market book with responsibility for origination, execution and portfolio control. Adam holds a BSc (Hons) in Finance and Economics and joined Babson Capital Europe to assist with the launch and development of the mezzanine business across the UK and Continental Europe. He is Joint Head of Mezzanine and Private Equity and a member of the Mezzanine Credit Committee.

Shane Forster
Managing Director

Shane joined Babson Capital in 2009. Prior to joining the firm, he worked for a leading mezzanine provider in the Australian region, AMP Capital Investors, as the Head of the Asian Private Debt business. In that position he was based in Singapore and was responsible for managing a team that originated, arranged and invested in mezzanine and related private debt financings across developed countries throughout Asia. Previously, he held origination, underwriting and senior credit roles at BNP Paribas Investment Bank, AIB Capital Markets and Westpac Institutional Bank and has been based in both Europe and Australia. At Babson Capital, Shane is responsible for originating, analyzing and documenting mezzanine and private equity investments in the Asia Pacific region. Shane is a Portfolio Manager for the Fund and is a member of the Investment Committee. Mr. Forster holds a Bachelor of Business in Economics & Finance (Distinction) from RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia and has also undertaken the Investment Management Programme at the London Business School, completing Equity and Debt Portfolio management units.

Adam Wheeler
Managing Director

Adam joined Babson Capital in 2009. Prior to joining the firm, he worked for a leading mezzanine provider in the Region, AMP Capital Investors, as the Head of the Australian and New Zealand Private Debt business. In that position he was based in Sydney and was responsible for managing a team that originated, arranged and invested in mezzanine and related private debt financings. Previously, he held origination, underwriting and advisory roles at Rabobank Corporate Finance, N.M. Rothschild & Sons and PriceWaterhouse. At Babson Capital, Mr. Wheeler is responsible for originating, analyzing and documenting mezzanine and private equity fund investments in the Asia Pacific region. Mr. Wheeler holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New South Wales in Australia and also holds a Graduate Diploma in Management from the Australian Graduate School of Management. Mr Wheeler is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.