Mergers & Acquisitions names 2021 Top 25 Most Influential Women in Mid-Market M&A, including Varagon Capital Partners’ Afsar Farman-Farmaian.
Describe a recent accomplishment.
I successfully led to closing a four-party, multi-billion-dollar transaction that was in equal parts a joint venture, an M&A transaction and a sizable investor fundraising accomplishment. Specifically, Varagon formed a strategic partnership with Aflac, which purchased a minority non-controlling interest in the firm. In tandem, Varagon, Aflac and AIG, the firm’s existing strategic anchor investor and a client, negotiated the terms of our tripartite partnership going forward. Concurrently, Aflac made an up-to-$3 billion multi-year investment commitment to Varagon to invest in middle-market loans as Varagon’s client. In addition to considerable coordination efforts among Varagon, Aflac and AIG, I spearheaded the synchronization of efforts among two investment banks and five law firms throughout the deal process.
How are you a champion for inclusion and equality?
I advocated for and—with the full support of the firm’s executive management team—spearheaded the creation of an employee led 13-person Diversity & Inclusion Council at Varagon, which I initially chaired and am a member of. The D&I Council’s activities include training, employee development, speaker series, community outreach and awareness events, among other important, growing initiatives.
I serve on the leadership committee of the non-profit organization Women on Boards, the leading education and advocacy campaign accelerating the global movement toward gender balance on corporate boards of directors. I have also advised Varagon’s clients with respect to the recruiting and retention of women in financial services, by introducing them to groups, such as Girls Who Invest.
