JOFF

Failed

JOFF Fintech Acquisition Corp.

Underwriter: RBC Capital Markets
Raised
$300M
CIK
1824149
SPAC Ticker
JOFFU
Focus
Financial Services, Technology, FinTech, Gaming, Sports, Unicorns
External link: SEC Filings

SPAC Team

Leadership

Our management team is led by Joel Leonoff , Hillel Frankel and Peter J.S. Smith . Mr. Leonoff, Mr. Frankel and Mr. Smith have extensive experience successfully founding, identifying, acquiring, financing, operating and monetizing companies and creating value for their shareholders. We will seek to capitalize on the significant technology and financial technology, banking, and public and private equity experience and contacts of our Chief Executive Officer, Joel Leonoff. Mr. Leonoff has over 30 years of experience as a founder, strategist, senior executive, acquirer and driving force in building multi-billion dollar companies in technology, financial services and financial technology. In addition to Mr. Leonoff, our President, Mr. Hillel Frankel, and our Chief Financial Officer, Peter Smith, collectively have over 50 years of experience in mergers and acquisitions and financial transactions. We will also have the benefit of the participation of our independent directors, Michelle Ann Gitlitz , Billy Goldstein , Jay Itzkowitz , Alok Sama and Paul Wharshavsky , each of whom has significant experience with technology and financial services companies. During their careers they have worked with both private and public companies and developed broad and loyal networks of professionals ranging from private equity, growth equity, venture capital, board members, investment banking, family offices and institutional investment firms. In addition, given their deep expertise operating companies they have also developed deep relationships with many active business operators and proven entrepreneurs.

Heading this group of entrepreneurial executives is Mr. Joel Leonoff, our Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Leonoff has over 30 years of experience as a founder, strategist, senior executive, acquirer and driving force in building multi-billion-dollar companies in technology, financial services and financial technology and was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 40 under 40. Most recently, Mr. Leonoff has served as Chief Executive Officer and is currently the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Paysafe Group Limited (“Paysafe”), a UK based global payments company. Paysafe was formed through a series of mergers and acquisitions which began with purchase in 2008 of a small Credit Card Not Present division of Optimal Payments Inc. (Nasdaq: OPMR) in which Mr. Leonoff assumed the leadership role of President and Chief Executive Officer. In 2011, he concluded the sale of the business to Neovia Inc (LSE: NEO) in the online payment space and assumed the role of President and Chief Executive Officer of the combined business. As Chief Executive Officer of the merged Optimal Payments, he led the strategy and execution of their business plan which included multiple business acquisitions including the purchase of Skrill Inc. in 2015. The merged entity, continuing under the name Paysafe Holdings (LON: PAYS), was admitted to the FTSE 250 listing in London. Paysafe was sold in a privatization transaction, in late 2017, to Blackstone and CVC Private Equity for approximately US$4 billion.

On December 7, 2020, Foley Trasimene Acquisition Corp II (NYSE: BFT), a special purpose acquisition corporation, announced it had entered into a definitive agreement to consummate a business combination transaction with Paysafe for approximately US $9 billion, a valuation representing more than double the initial equity investment made by Blackstone Group Inc. (NYSE: BX) and CVC Capital Partners in 2017.

Prior successes of Mr. Leonoff include the founding of TotalNet, a leading independent service provider in Canada, which was later sold to Mpact Immedia (TSX:IFM) with Mr. Leonoff assuming the role of Executive Vice President. Mpact Immedia was itself later merged with the electronic business solutions unit of Bell Canada with Mr. Leonoff assuming the role of Senior Vice President, Sport and Entertainment Division, the company’s fastest growing division. This unit of Bell Canada later became known as BCE Emergis (TSX:IFM). Mr. Leonoff also founded Surefire Commerce (TSX: FIR), later renamed Terra Payments (TSX: TPI) where he served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer; served as Group Operations Director / Chief Operating Officer of Partygaming PLC (LSE: PRTY)(2006-07). Mr. Leonoff also founded Bizware Computer Systems Ltd, a vertical market software company which he sold in 1994 and assisted new ownership in the successful completion of its IPO on Nasdaq.

Working closely with Mr. Leonoff is our President, Hillel Frankel, who also has over 30 years experience in international mergers and acquisitions both as a professional and as an owner/operator. His initial experience as a public accountant and then as an attorney specializing in international mergers and acquisitions and taxation for an international Canadian law firm has provided the foundation for diverse business activities. During the past 25 years, he has also been a legal, financial and investment advisor to two high net worth families and been involved in numerous private and public investments, most recently focusing on the negotiation, analysis and management of private and public investments. During 2013 and 2014, he served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Spector & Co, a North American distributor of promotional products. From 2003 to 2012, Mr. Frankel was President and Director of Madacy Entertainment and its subsidiary/successor entities, Sonoma Entertainment and Countdown Media. In particular, in 2003, he directed all aspects of the leveraged management buy-out of Madacy Entertainment Group from Handleman Company (NYSE: HDL) and assumed the role of President. In 2005, he led and managed the initial public offering and financing of the Madacy Entertainment Income Fund (“Madacy”)(TSX: MEG-UN), continued as its President and took on its investor relations responsibilities. In 2009, together with an institutional investor, he spearheaded the going private transaction of Madacy. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Frankel designed and implemented the leveraged spin-out and financing of Madacy’s fast-growing international music licensing business into a new entity, Countdown Media. In 2011, as Chief Executive Officer of Hamburg, Germany-based Countdown Media, he led an M&A process which culminated in the sale of the licensing business to Bug Music prior to the latter’s sale of its combined business to BMG Rights Management.

Our senior team is rounded out with Peter J.S. Smith, our Chief Financial Officer. From September 2018 to September 2020, Mr. Smith was Chief Financial Officer of Paysafe Group. From September 2015 to September 2018, Mr. Smith was Chief Financial Officer of Evertec Inc, (NYSE: EVTC), a US public company delivering payments and financial technology solutions to Puerto Rico and Latin America. From May 2013 to May 2015, Mr. Smith was Chief Accounting Officer and Corporate Senior Vice President of Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE: FIS) and from October 2009 to May 2013, he served as Senior Vice President and Segment Controller Payments. From 2008 to 2009, Mr. Smith served as Segment Chief Financial Officer of the Payments Solutions Group of Metavante Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: MV) and from 2005 to 2008, he held finance roles of increasing responsibility at Metavante Corporation. Prior to joining Metavante, Mr. Smith spent seven years in Silicon Valley and served as the worldwide sales controller of Openwave Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: OPWV), commencing in June 2002. Before this role, he worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in its San Jose, CA office.