Kutler launches private investment firm

Jon Kutler, a longtime mergers and acquisition player, has left the company he founded to form a private investment firm.

Kutler started Quarter Investment Partners in 1992 as an M&A firm specializing in the defense and aerospace markets. In 2002 he sold the business to the investment bank Jefferies & Co. Inc., but remained on board as chairman and CEO of its M&A division, Jefferies Quarterdeck.

Kutler has now formed Admiralty Partners Inc., a private investment firm capitalized with $70 million from Kutler. The firm will invest in the defense and aerospace industries.

His now former firm has named Michael J. Richter and William F. Farmer as co-presidents of Jefferies Quarterdeck.

Farmer joined the firm in 2000 and has more than 20 years of experience in the government services industry. Richter joined in 2003 and has more than 18 years of investment banking experience with companies in defense electronics, homeland defense, and commercial aerospace.