Overview

Duke Ernst Equity Partners (DEEP) is an LLC firm focused on providing strategic relationships to facilitate M&A, equity funding and business development arrangements in India and the Pacific Rim.  DEEP emphasizes certain market sectors that include:

  • Natural Resources
  • Coal companies, coal mines and coal contracts
  • Oil
  • Clean Energy
  • Health Care
  • Auto Technology
  • Education

DEEP is very committed to maintaining all business relationships as strictly confidential.

Management Team


Lawrence Duke – CEO

LAWRENCE (Larry) DUKE is CEO and Partner of DEEP, specializing in International Marketing, Finance, and Education. Larry has 25 years of experience in these areas, including positions as VP and Head of Global Financial Strategy at Citibank Japan and Taiwan, a Financial Economist and Pension Committee Member at International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington D.C., a Director and a Senior Portfolio Manager at State Street Global Advisors (UK),  Deputy General Manager in Treasury at Nomura Bank, plc in London, U.K., and as a Eurodollar portfolio manager at Citibank Dubai, UAE. In addition to managing multi-billion dollar portfolios, he worked with a number of energy and biotech companies and private equity firms while he was working in Japan and Taiwan.

Larry served as a Naval Nuclear Power School-qualified Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) officer from 1978 to 1982. While a company commander in the US Navy Seabees with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Four, he supervised 140 Seabees in the construction of $16 million in new facilities on Guam, Spain, and Diego Garcia. As  Facilities Planning and Programming Officer at Marine Corp Base Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan, he was responsible for managing a $100 million construction program for the largest US Marine Corp base in the world. He left the Navy with the rank of lieutenant.

Larry is a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), majoring in mechanical engineering, with minors in economics and political science, and also holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Larry is currently a Clinical Associate Professor at Drexel University LeBow College of Business, teaching Marketing, Economics, and International Business. He is also a member of the Charter Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute, Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP), and serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of “the Journal of Investing.”


David Ernst – President

David Ernst is President of PAB Ventures, an M&A and strategic analysis consulting firm.  David has 25 years of experience in financial analysis and business development. His experience as an automotive technology consultant includes advising on M&A, growth planning and capital funding strategies.  In an earlier role as Vice-President of Business Development for ProQuest Business Solutions (formerly Bell & Howell), Ernst oversaw numerous acquisitions that generated a total of $60 million per year in additional revenue. In addition, he helped establish successful business partnerships with the top North American automotive manufacturers, including GM, Ford and Chrysler.  Dave also spent time at Marriott Corporation in an M&A function.

David served as a Nuclear Submarine Officer on the USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN-635) from 1979-1983.  The Sam Rayburn was a ballistic missile submarine.  He served as the Communications Officer and the Main Propulsion Officer and made seven patrols while onboard the Sam Rayburn.  He left the Navy with the rank of Lieutenant

Dave is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, majoring in mathematics.  He also holds an MBA degree from The Wharton School.

Arvind P. Mathur – Advisor

Arvind P. Mathur, CFA, FRM, has held a variety of positions, including Head, Capital Markets at the Asian Development Bank and Senior Adviser, Citi. Arvind is Chairman, Private Equity Pro Partners a new venture that he has recently begun.  Recently, Arvind played a role in the creation, structuring and placement of a nearly $ 1 billion India Infrastructure Fund. In addition Arvind was instrumental in the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Fund ($780 million), the Asian Infrastructure Mezzanine Capital Fund ($265 million), the Asian Equity Infrastructure Fund ($400 million), Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC), and the AIG Sectoral Equity Fund ($110 million).

He has helped structure, and invested in, over 30 private equity funds, including 5 infrastructure funds and a number of General Partnerships. While at ADB, Citi and Standard Chartered Bank, Arvind gained exposure to equity investments and lending.   Arvind’s experience encompasses both fund and direct investing in the emerging markets of Asia.   He has been a member of Investment Committees and fund boards. The funds have targeted investments in India & China besides several other emerging markets of Asia.   He has worked on funds with Limited Partners such as the Asian Development Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), CalPERS, La Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec, the Prudential Insurance Corporation of America and some of the leading institutional investors in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and India.

Arvind has promoted the theme of corporate governance in many of these funds, particularly those involving CalPERS. He has authored a number of articles on corporate governance.   In his 33 year experience, Arvind has undergone a variety of training including investment banking at Goldman Sachs & Citi in New York and in capital market regulation at the US Securities & Exchange Commission.  Arvind has business relationships in some of the major business houses and multinationals located in India having worked in the major Indian cities of Delhi and Mumbai. These relationships span sectors such as electric power, consumer industries, financial services, private equity and real estate.   In addition, Arvind has worked in other Asian markets such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Mainland China and Indonesia during his nearly two decade career at the Asian Development Bank.

Contact

DEEP has offices in Philadelphia, PA and Cleveland, OH.  DEEP can be reached at dernst@de-equitypartners.com.