John Minella

Prior to joining Ankura, John was the valuations modeling leader at a global aviation financial services company where he oversaw valuations modeling and reporting for a $30 billion lease and loan portfolio of 1,500 fixed-wing aircraft and engines on lease to over 200 customers in 75 countries. John was also the valuations leader at a leading energy financing firm working on reserve-based equity and debt valuations in upstream oil and gas, as well as project financing valuations in thermal and renewable power. As an advisor and in his corporate career, John has valued more than $20 billion in energy-related assets, businesses, and transactions.

He began his career working in the investment management industry where he led various data and analytics projects for retirement plan sponsors, endowments, and pension funds.

A selection of John’s professional experience includes:

• Designed, built, and implemented an industry-leading aircraft valuations process and modeling program.
• Instituted risk-adjusted pricing and loan models for portfolio monitoring, aircraft purchases, asset-based lending, and valuations for structured equity products (i.e., SPV financing).
• Delivered improvements in forecasting aircraft cash-flows and values on an asset-level basis that provided a robust, consistent framework to support business decision making, including mature asset sale versus lease, new lease placements, passenger versus cargo conversion, and new product development, all with the goal of maximizing cashflows and value.
• Developed valuations platform for $20 billion in project finance equity and debt for renewable and thermal power portfolio, midstream and upstream investments.
• Evaluated and modeled over 50 energy equity and debt transactions totaling $5 billion in investment opportunities—underwrote and closed $500 million. Supported full underwriting process: asset valuation, deal analysis/review, structuring, proposal and credit request preparation, loan document negotiations, and deal hand-off.
• Supported portfolio team covering over 25 oil and gas reserve-based equity accounts; executed over $250 million in asset sales. Ran evaluation process for undeveloped reserve acquisitions and drilling opportunities by estimating payout economics. Oversaw hedge modeling, negotiation, implementation, and reporting. Successfully structured hedge contracts for over $1 billion in upstream partnerships.
• Developed credit and loss models for evaluating default probabilities and expected losses used for evaluating over 200 companies on a quarterly basis. Models used for portfolio monitoring, CECL implementation, capital planning, and valuations.
• Drove optimal outcomes for risk monitoring and maximizing investment returns by preparing valuations back-testing process, evaluating lease rates, designing lease rental forecasting models, overseeing maintenance events and costs, and developing various stochastic modeling methodologies.
• Established valuation controls framework and processes and delivered fair market valuation modeling expertise to business by working in close collaboration with accounting, finance, executive management, and internal and external auditors.
• Supported management through quarterly financial reporting by running SOX compliant valuations for GAAP and IFRS. Ran on-going reporting for Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review (CCAR) with Federal Reserve Examiners.