CORPORATE INVESTMENT BANKING & CAPITAL MARKETS
(973) 543-6600
Apto Partners, LLC
[ap'to] adj. comes from the Latin 'aptus' meaning fit, qualified, responsive, or suitable.
Debt Capital Markets
Serving Corporate Issuers
The firm's Debt Capital Markets business focuses mostly on the underwriting of new issue investment grade corporate bonds. All bond issuance comes from our roster of corporate clients comprised of Fortune 500 companies. Most of the underwritings the company participates in are SEC registered public offerings, but the firm may also conduct business in private offerings such as 144A transactions. In addition to corporate bonds, the company from time to time may work with government-sponsored enterprise ("GSE") debt, US Government securities, asset-backed securities ("ABS") and preferreds.
All of the underwritings are firm commitment on the firm's proportionate share of the underwriting group. The firm works predominantly with global benchmark transactions that carry investment grade ratings. These are transactions that are considered highly visible, liquid and familiar to the institutional investor base universe that they are geared to. On rare occasions, the firm may participate as a selling group member on debt offerings where no underwriting liability is undertaken.
Equity Capital Markets
Facilitating Equity Offerings
The firm's Equity Capital Markets business focuses mainly on the underwriting of new issue equity shares. New issue equity underwritings include initial public offerings ("IPOs") and secondary or follow-on stock offerings. These underwritings come from our Fortune 500 issuer clients wishing to raise equity capital or new private companies looking to go public.
All of the underwritings are firm commitment on the firm's proportionate share of the underwriting group. Most of the underwritings are SEC registered public offerings, but the firm may also conduct business in private offerings such as 144A transactions. From time to time, the firm may participate as a selling group member in equity offerings where no underwriting liability is assumed. Our clients may also engage the firm on stock repurchase programs and transition management assignments. These transactions, highly customized to the clients' goals and objectives, are executed while maintaining a high degree of anonymity in the marketplace.
Sales & Trading
Serving Institutional Clients
The firm's Sales and Trading business is all institutional focused. Money managers, corporate and public pension funds, insurance companies, mutual fund companies, and bank portfolios of all sizes are the mainstay of our distribution function. Fixed income sales and trading of securities includes investment grade corporates, US Treasuries, GSE debt, and commercial paper. Sales and trading of equities includes NYSE/ NASDAQ listed domestic stocks and may be in the form of block or program trading. The firm's business model is client centric, as such, all trading is done on either a riskless principal or agency basis. The company does not hold proprietary positions or maintain inventory, though if warranted, it may invoke exceptions to service our clients.
All transactions, both fixed income and equity, are settled and cleared by Wedbush Securities on the basis of a fully disclosed introducing broker-dealer clearing agreement. Wedbush is a clearing leader with approximately 160 correspondent relationships and headquarters in Los Angeles, California.
Our Story & Vision
Apto Partners, LLC ("Apto") was formed as a single member limited liability company in the State of New Jersey in October of 2010. Apto is a boutique investment banking firm serving clients nationally with its main office located in Mendham, New Jersey. It is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation ("SIPC"). The company is entirely Hispanic-owned and has received the applicable Minority Business Enterprise ("MBE") certifications. Apto specializes in two broad areas of institutional business: capital markets underwriting and secondary sales and trading. At the core of our business is our commitment to serving our clients' needs with a focused and creative value-added approach while working to build long term relationships.
At a time when the Hispanic population in our country is nearly 60 million people or 18% of the American population, making it the largest ethnic or race minority, and Hispanics comprise 23% of children younger than 18, but only 7% of college students, Apto hopes to serve as inspiration and provide employment for what promises to be a burgeoning Hispanic presence in our nation. The data is according to the latest numbers from the US Census Bureau which estimates Hispanics to be almost a third of the overall population by the year 2060. Apto, by example, aspires to lead other members of the community to pursue education, business, or career opportunities.
Our Philosophy
We have positioned Apto Partners, LLC as a qualified and capable niche investment banking firm in today's business and political environment. We recognize the need to support and service our clients on a long term basis and Apto is dedicated to providing high quality, customized coverage while developing unique and efficient solutions in anticipation of our clients' demands. We strive to protect and maintain our positive reputation in the business, but more importantly, we want to earn your trust and respect by making a difference to our clients, colleagues, and the community at large.
Our Founder
Juan D. Espinosa is the founder of Apto Partners, LLC and has 28 years of capital markets experience. Prior to founding Apto, he was Head of Capital Markets and Syndicate at a Midwest based broker-dealer managing a group of geographically dispersed individuals. Mr. Espinosa joined the firm to establish and grow its capital markets and syndicate departments serving corporate clients. He worked closely with many of the firm's Fortune 500 clients in executing both debt and equity new issues. He also started and opened the firm's first New York City office which eventually grew to over a dozen people.
Prior to that role, Mr. Espinosa was responsible for all corporate primary fixed income business at a New York City based investment bank as Head of Fixed Income Syndicate. He bookran over 10 MBE-managed corporate debt new issues and priced in excess of $3bn in reverse inquiries. He started his career at JP Morgan Securities in the fixed income department on various desks including swaps, options, credit derivatives and structured securitizations. Mr. Espinosa has extensive knowledge managing, pricing and distributing debt and equity capital markets transactions having worked on more than 1,500 new issues in his career. Over the years, he has also developed strong relationships with the major syndicate desks on the Street. Mr. Espinosa is a graduate of Villanova University, School of Business where he earned a B.S. in Business Administration, Major in Finance.
He holds FINRA Series 7, 79, 99, 63, 24 and 28 licenses.
MBE Certification
Economic Impact
The National Minority Supplier Development Council ("NMSDC") prepared a study in 2014 that illustrated the economic impact of certified MBEs. The study found that MBEs in the United States generate more than $1 billion in economic output every day. That equates to nearly $401 billion annually, in direct, indirect, and induced output effect.
Get in Touch
Dear Visitor,
Thank you for taking the time to browse our website and become more familiar with Apto Partners, LLC. The establishment of the firm is the culmination of years of effort and industry experience all coming together to form a nimble and focused partner for your capital markets needs.
Born and raised in Medellín, Colombia, our founder never would have guessed that the promises of a foreign land would have included the opportunity to start a company in the United States. It certainly was not something he deliberately set out to do. But after spending a number of years in the markets and feeling that his capabilities were being inhibited, he decided pursue the American Dream of becoming a small business owner.
Serving our clients is our obsession. We have made an unwavering physical, financial and mental commitment to achieving that goal. We invite you to read more about our Vision and Philosophy contained herein. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve you and for being a part of your day.
Sincerely,
Apto Partners
BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLAN - SUMMARY DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
Apto Partners, LLC (APTO) (hereafter referred to as the Firm), pursuant to Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) rules, has created a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) to address and guide our response to and recovery from Significant Business Disruptions (SBDs). Copies of this Summary Disclosure Statement shall be given to all clients at the time they open their accounts with APTO. This Business Continuity Plan is subject to modification and an updated Summary Disclosure Statement will be promptly sent our clients after we receive a written request by mail or fax.
Since the timing and impact of disasters and disruptions is unpredictable, we will have to be flexible in responding to actual events as they occur. With that in mind, we are providing you with this information about contingency planning in the event of a SBD.
Contacting Us- In the event the Firm is unreachable due to a SBD, our clients may obtain information about and limited access to their funds and securities by contacting our clearing firm, Wedbush.
Our Business Continuity Plan- In all of the following scenarios, APTO plans to recover, continue business operations and respond by safeguarding our employees and property, making a financial and operational assessment, protecting the firms books and records, and allowing our customers to transact business. In short, our Business Continuity Plan is designed to permit the firm to resume operations as quickly as possible, given the scope and severity of the significant business disruption.
Our BCP addresses: data backup and recovery; all mission critical systems; financial and operational assessments; alternative communications with customers, employees, and regulators; alternate physical location of employees; critical supplier, contractor, bank and counter-party impact; regulatory reporting; and assuring our customers prompt access to their funds and securities if we are unable to continue our business. APTO has also contracted with various entities to insure that sensitive information is made redundant at back-up facilities. However, due to the nature of such information we do not disclose the specific location of any back-up facilities, any proprietary information contained in our Business Continuity Plan or the parties with whom we have back-up arrangements.
Our clearing firm, Wedbush, backs up our important records in a geographically separate area. While every emergency situation poses unique problems based on external factors, such as time of day and the severity of the disruption, we have been advised by our clearing firm that its objective is to restore its own operations and be able to complete existing transactions and accept new transactions and payments within 24 hours. Your orders and requests for funds and securities could be delayed during this period.
Our planned recovery time, depending upon the time, scope and severity of occurrence, should not exceed 24 hours from the time of the declaration of the SBD. Employees will telecommunicate until an alternative location has been secured. Staff, telephone calls, and e-mails will return to their original location upon full restoration of service.
Disruption to a single building or our Firm's main office
If a disruption occurs at our main office located at 5 Cold Hill Road South, Suite 11, Mendham, NJ 07945, employees will telecommunicate until we can move our staff to the closest unaffected office location available.
Disruption to a business district
If a disruption occurs in our business district affecting our main office located at 5 Cold Hill Road South, Suite 11, Mendham, NJ 07945, employees will telecommunicate until we can move our staff to the closest unaffected office location available. This location shall be outside the business district.
City-wide business disruption
If a disruption occurs in our city-wide area that affects our main office located at 5 Cold Hill Road South, Suite 11, Mendham, NJ 07945, employees will telecommunicate until we can move our staff to the closest unaffected office location available. This location shall be outside the city-wide area.
Regional disruption
If a regional disruption occurs that affects our main office located at 5 Cold Hill Road South, Suite 11, Mendham, NJ 07945, employees will telecommunicate until we can move our staff to the closest unaffected office location available. This location shall be outside the regional area.
Please call us at 973-543-6600 should you have any questions about our business continuity planning.
Apto Partners, LLC
5 Cold Hill Road South, Suite 11, Mendham, NJ 07945
CUSTOMER IDENTIFICATION - PROGRAM NOTICE
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires Apto Partners, LLC (APTO) (hereafter referred to as the Firm) to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.
This Notice answers some questions about APTO's Customer Identification Program.
What types of information will you need to provide?
For an individual, when you open an account, APTO is required to collect information such as the following from you: Your name, Date of birth, Address, Identification number: U.S. Citizen: taxpayer identification number (social security number or employer identification number) or Non-U.S. Citizen: taxpayer identification number, passport number, and country of issuance, alien identification card number, or government-issued identification showing nationality, residence, and a photograph of you. You may also need to show your driver's license or other identifying documents.
For an entity, when an account is opened, APTO is required to collect information such as the following: employer identification number, documents showing the existence of the entity, such as certified articles of incorporation, a government-issued business license, a partnership agreement, or a trust instrument.
APTO may, under the following circumstances, rely on the performance by another financial institution (e.g., the Firm's clearing firm) of some or all of the elements of the Customer Identification Program with respect to any customer that is opening an account or has established an account or similar business relationship with the other financial institution to provide or engage in services, dealings, or other financial transactions:
Such reliance is reasonable under the circumstances, when the other financial institution is subject to a rule implementing the anti-money laundering compliance program requirements and is regulated by a federal functional regulator and when the other financial institution has entered into a contract with us requiring it to certify annually to us that it has implemented its anti-money laundering program, and that it will perform (or its agent will perform) specified requirements of the Customer Identification Program.
What happens if you don't provide the information requested or your identity cannot be verified?
APTO may not be able to open an account or carry out transactions for you or your firm. If an account has already been opened, it may have to be closed.
CUSTOMER INFORMATION PROTECTION - PRIVACY STATEMENT
Apto Partners, LLC (APTO) (hereafter referred to as the Firm) considers the protection of sensitive information to be a sound business practice and a foundation of customer trust.
We protect personal information that we collect from and about customers by maintaining physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Firm does not share non-public customer information about current or former customers, as defined by SEC Regulation S-P, with any third party other than service providers. Non-public customer information is only shared with service providers pursuant to an agreement approved by the Firm. Information about current or former customers is shared only with service providers in connection with servicing or processing a financial product or service requested or authorized by the customer. We may also share customer information as required or permitted by law in connection with a subpoena, or similar legal process, fraud prevention, regulatory request, or security investigation.
Access to customer accounts and customer information is restricted to registered representatives who need to know that information in order to provide products or services to that customer. Our policies and procedures require the training of the Firm's personnel and entail the highest degree of confidentiality in the handling and use of customer information.
MBE CERTIFICATION - ECONOMIC IMPACT
The National Minority Supplier Development Council ("NMSDC") prepared a study in 2014 that illustrated the economic impact of certified MBEs. The study found that MBEs in the United States generate more than $1 billion in economic output every day. That equates to nearly $401 billion annually, in direct, indirect, and induced output effect.
Taking a closer look, NMSDC-certified MBEs were directly responsible for:
Revenue Generated:
• $139 billion in sales of products and services offered to customers
Spending Power:
• Increased purchases rom their suppliers produced indirect output of $116 billion
• Employees and families of certified MBEs contributed significant induced output by purchasing $145 billion of goods and services from other merchants within the United States
Jobs Created:
• Responsible for the maintenance or creation of more than 2.2 million jobs in 2014
Tax Revenue:
• Generated more than $48 billion in tax revenue to local, state, and federal governments
Full details of the study can be found by clicking on the link below.
TUITION ASSISTANCE FUND
In Honor of Fr. Jorge A. Hincapié, C.M.F., a Claretian missionary working with the poor in South America.
The Father Jorge Tuition Assistance Fund was established by the firm to help minority children enrolled in grades Kindergarten through 8th and attending Roman Catholic schools in the United States. Catholic schools make up the largest non-governmental school system in the world. They encourage children to develop as individuals and to fulfill not only their intellectual capabilities, but also their spiritual potential. Strong moral and academic foundations enhance our society's well-being and are essential to sustained economic and social progress.
Most would agree that Catholic schools have done an admirable job of educating poor and minority children. In the U.S., the Hispanic population comprises a majority of Catholics. It is, therefore, this demographic that we aim to help with our Tuition Assistance Fund. If you feel that your family, but most importantly, your children would benefit from tuition assistance, please feel free to download and submit the application by clicking on the book image above or contact us to request an application.