Cynthia Romano, CTP

Cynthia Romano is an expert specializing in transformations, turnarounds and transactions that enhance liquidity, profitability and enterprise value. For more than 25 years, Ms. Romano has successfully guided companies from where they are to where they want to be, whether they simply require a tune-up or are in significant distress. Her industry experience spans healthcare, manufacturing, technology, energy and oil and gas, distribution, restaurants, professional services and not-for-profit engagements.

Partnering with chief executive officer level management, Cynthia helps companies transform their bottom line to maximize value for owners, investors and other stakeholders. Her expertise includes liquidity management, profit improvement through operational restructuring, organizational and process redesign, capital sourcing and business and creditor workout and management. Historically, her work has created a ten-times return on investment for her clients of within 24 months.

Cynthia has been recognized with multiple prestigious industry awards including 2021 Turnaround of the Year (Global M&A Network), 2020 Turnaround and Transaction of the Year (Turnaround Management Association) and 2020 Out-of-Court Restructuring of the Year (Global M&A Network). In 2021, she was named one of the top women in asset-based lending by ABF Journal. She is a frequent speaker for various industry associations on a wide range of topics and is regularly quoted in major news and business outlets including Bloomberg, Debtwire, CFO.com, Accounting Today and Modern Healthcare.

Relevant Experience:

• Chief restructuring officer (“CRO”) for a health network: improved EBITDA by $19 million, stretched cash over 8 months, achieved ‘stay’ out of court and orchestrated strategic sale for 1,300 jobs saved
• CRO for a biotech company: reserved severe liquidity issues through operational restructuring for $10 million in EBITDA improvements identified and implemented
• Federal Receiver (“DE”) for an Asian wholesaler and grocery chain: traced missing cash, prepped claims, testified, orchestrated sale of equity and refinanced debt for lender recovery approximately 30% higher than target
• Financial Advisor to debtors (Southern District of New York), multifamily: oversaw substantial mediation between impaired international secured parties required to sell for $506 million, the largest U.S. single-asset multifamily sale in three years
• Out of court workout for a 34 facility multi-state skilled nursing facility portfolio: managed full payment of approximately $100 million in senior debt and consensual discount of mezzanine debt (60%) and trade debt (about 70%)
• CFO for an oil distributor: returned a family business to profitability after three loss years, recapitalized then sold the company for 50% higher than initial valuation
• COO of paper manufacturer: after 14 loss months, achieved profitability in four months
• CRO of construction engineering firm: returned company to profitability and refinanced
• Liquidating agent for a Chapter Seven Trustee (retailer): achieved gross recovery nine times higher than appraiser valuation