4 Minutes with…Scott Chabina, Director – Marathon Capital, LLC

Tell us about your company and it’s role in the Advanced Bioeconomy.

Marathon Capital is the leading financial advisor to the bioeconomy (ethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel, 2G, etc), having advised clients across the capital structure on complex M&A, capital raising and restructuring assignments. Marathon’s engagements in ethanol alone represent in excess of 4.0 billion gallons of aggregate production capacity.

Tell us about your role and what you are focused on in the next 12 months.

Lead the biofuel practice at Marathon Capital.

Advise on mergers & acquisitions, debt and equity capital raises, as well as financial restructuring assignments (including sales and internal reorganizations) for companies, investors, developers, secured lenders, bondholders and unsecured creditors across the capital structure.

Previous experience advising clients across 30+ industries under a wide variety of complex circumstances. Established renewable energy vertical at prior employer / investment bank.

In the next 12 months, I am focused on M&A / continued strategic consolidation in the ethanol industry, as well as capital raising for various projects in the advanced bioeconomy (advanced biofuels, waste-to-energy, biochemicals, lignocellulosic biorefineries, etc.)

What do you feel are the most important milestones the industry must achieve in the next 5 years?   

1) Clarity on RFS post 2022

2) BTC clarity and long-term establishment (or not)

3) RIN clarity surrounding potential program modifications

If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about the Advanced Bioeconomy, what would you change? 

Overly lofty press releases and gross mismanagement of expectations by producers leads to missed milestones and poor reaction from capital providers

Of all the reasons that influenced you to join the Advanced Bioeconomy industry, what single reason stands out for you as still being compelling and important to you?   

Energy independence – from both an economic and security perspective

Where are you from?

Long Island, New York

What was your subject focus (e.g. major) in university (undergraduate and/or graduate, and where did you attend? Why did you choose that school and that pathway?

BA in Economics from Colgate University

Who do you consider your mentors – could be personal, business, or just people you have read about and admire. What have you learned from them?  

What’s the biggest lesson you ever learned during a period of adversity?   

What hobbies do you pursue, away from your work in the industry?   

What books or articles (excluding The Digest) are on your reading list right now, or you just completed and really enjoyed?   

The Geopolitics of Natural Gas

What’s your favorite city or place to visit, for a holiday?  

Vail, CO