Home > Why GFO > Meet Our CFOs > Neil Abitabilo

Neil Abitabilo

nabitabilo@gfocfo.com

Phone Number: 866-220-4092 x102

Location: East Windsor, New Jersey

Years of Experience: 35

Biography: Prior to joining GFO, Neil was the Chief Financial Officer for Atlantic Express Transportation Group, Inc., the fourth largest school bus transportation conglomerate in the United States ($400 million in revenue). He was involved in the Atlantic Express's exit from bankruptcy in 2006 through a refinancing with a public bond offering ($115 million), which necessitated SEC registration filings and SEC reporting. He finished the implementation of both a new management information system and formulated new restructure, cost containment, and Management incentive plans to secure improvements in cash flow and profitability.

In 1994 Neil was named the Chief Operating and Financial Officer and a Shareholder and Board Director for HPG International, Inc., a polymer manufacturing entity with $100 million in annual revenue. He was instrumental in closing negotiations for the acquisition transaction and all of the financial and administrative activities associated with the start up. Neil was the lead dealmaker and negotiator for acquisitions in excess of $25 million and divestitures totaling $50 million, and for various bank financings, long-term supply agreements, and union contracts. Neil later assumed the additional tasks of submitting and negotiating the Plan of Reorganization. HPG successfully exited Chapter 11 during 2003.

From 1990 to 1994, he was the General Manager and Chief Financial Officer for Rheometrics, Inc., a publicly traded, international material testing instrumentation custom manufacturer, selling to customers requiring rheological evaluation of their materials. The company was technically insolvent when Neil was hired by the Board to orchestrate an operational and financial turnaround; part of his assignment was to develop an exit strategy to protect the majority and minority shareholders' value. In a series of planned transactions, he selected a Venture Capital firm (from several possible partners) and sold sixty percent of the business through equity and convertible debentures.

Before joining Rheometrics, Neil served as the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer for the largest US subsidiary of ASEA Brown Boveri (ABB). Neil was charged with decentralizing the Financial and Administrative function for the business. Neil was responsible for the marketing activity to all US governmental agencies (as the senior American on staff) and served as General Manager for the company's hydroelectric business ($30 million in sales). He created a financial and administrative organization from scratch, which included the functions of Human Resources and Information Technology.

The earliest part of his career was spent with Pantasote, Inc., a plastics manufacturing (PVC sheet and compounded materials), public company with total US sales in excess of $200 million annually. From 1982 to 1985 he was the Group Divisional Controller and Support Services Manager for the company's three largest divisions.

Education

Neil graduated from Seton Hall University with an MBA in Finance, following receipt of a BS degree in Accounting from Fordham University.

Areas of Expertise: Transportation, Manufacturing, SEC Registration/Filings, Mergers/Acquisitions

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