Kepper Tupper and Company Information

Kepper, Tupper and Company is an investment banking firm serving the needs of the television broadcasting industry. We are committed to managing a limited number of transactions with the confidentiality and professionalism that derives from over forty-seven years of experience. Our firm's principals have extensive experience in the operation and ownership of television stations. We believe the financial service needs of the television industry are best served by professionals who understand their clients' concerns as a result of ownership and operational experience. Our firm was founded by William L. Kepper. Mr. Kepper had been active in the media industry since 1953. Following college and military service, he began a career in radio sales, eventually working for CBS in Chicago. Mr. Kepper began his investment banking career in 1968. Mr. Kepper was very active in radio station brokerage and was one of the first brokers to specialize in the brokerage of cable television systems. Mr. Kepper had served as an expert witness in state court and was a panelist for the first Kagan radio valuation seminar in 1975. Mr. Kepper passed away in January 2000. John B. Tupper became involved with the communications industry in 1974, during his tenure with Price Waterhouse & Co. (New York). Mr. Tupper is a non-practicing Certified Public Accountant. In 1977, Mr. Tupper opened Kepper, Tupper and Company's East Coast office. Mr. Tupper has personally handled the sale of over eighty cable television systems and dozens of television stations. He has arranged for the debt and equity placement for the acquisition of scores of cable television systems and broadcast properties. Mr. Tupper has prepared asset and stock appraisals that have been accepted by the Internal Revenue Service, Federal Court and State Courts. He has also served as an expert witness in both Federal and State Courts and as a panelist for Kagan Seminars, Inc. Mr. Tupper has owned interests in cable television systems since 1976 and purchased the first of the seven television stations he has owned and operated, in 1979. Mr. Tupper is a former Chairman of the Fox Board of Governors, the Steering Committee of the Fox Small Market Affiliates Council and a former member of the NAB Board of Directors. The President of our broadcast television division, James R. Kelly, has been in the media business since 1960. Mr. Kelly started his career with Leo Burnett and served as one of the top executives of Blair Television for twenty-nine years. Mr. Kelly has worked closely with dozens of the major broadcasters including ABC/Cap Cities, Disney, Gannett, Hearst, Lin, Media General, Post Newsweek, The Providence Journal, Pulitzer, Raycom, Sinclair, and The Tribune Company. Mr. Kelly has developed and maintained strong relationships throughout the television broadcast industry. Over the past forty-seven years the principals of Kepper, Tupper and Company have quietly been involved with the confidential sale or financing of over 270 media properties, located in 35 states. Please click the buttons located in the left margin for a description of services, a list of clients or to send us an e-mail.