Strategic Advisory Services
M&A Sell-Side Advisory Services
Exclusive Sale Transactions - In these cases, we represent a "seller" on an exclusive basis and manage the entire process of selling a company or one of its business units. This is a comprehensive, turnkey process and we assist our clients by:
- Determining the expected valuation range for the business
- Performing due diligence
- Preparing a memorandum describing the business
- Identifying and prioritizing potential buyers
- Developing and implementing the appropriate marketing strategy
- Evaluating offers
- Helping negotiate the transaction
- Providing a fairness opinion, if appropriate
Other Sale Transactions - In these cases, we typically represent a company (i) which has received an unsolicited merger proposal and needs help to fend off or negotiate with the suitor, which may involve locating an alternative bidder, or (ii) which has had discussions or even negotiations with a friendly third-party and needs technical support, negotiating assistance or a fairness opinion. Depending on the circumstances, we assist our clients by:
- Developing and executing a response strategy
- Performing due diligence
- Identifying alternative purchasers, if necessary
- Helping negotiate the transaction
- Providing a fairness opinion, if necessary
M&A Buy-Side Advisory Services
In these cases, we represent the purchaser of a business. The purchaser may be an individual, a company or a private equity group. This typically involves transactions (i) where we initiate the transaction by bringing the potential acquisition idea to the client or (ii) where the client has already identified or even initiated discussions with the acquisition target. Depending on the circumstances, we assist our clients by:
- Valuing a target business
- Analyzing the financial impact of the acquisition
- Developing the purchase proposal and negotiating strategy
- Negotiating the terms of the purchase
- Arranging financing as required
- Performing due diligence
Capital Raising Strategies
Private Equity Services
We assist promising growth companies in accessing the dynamic private capital markets. Our Principals have raised over $500 million of private equity capital.
Private equity is an important strategic interest of our firm. In raising private equity capital for our clients, we act as agent, raising the capital from individual and/or institutional investors. The types of private equity transactions we look for include venture capital for emerging growth companies, growth capital for more established companies, and leveraged acquisitions and recapitalizations for growth-oriented companies with strong cash flows.
We are very selective regarding the private equity clients we elect to represent and sponsor. The market requires that a company represent a significant growth opportunity combined with a highly qualified management team. We typically work with more established companies, but we are willing to get involved with companies at an earlier stage of development which have exceptional growth potential.
In private equity transactions, we provide value to our clients by having relationships with many venture capital and equity buyout groups throughout the country whom we seek as lead investors. Our private equity fund, Rock Creek Capital Partners, LLC, is well positioned to participate as a co-investor in selected transactions. We stay closely involved with the companies we sponsor to help them achieve their goals.
In arranging a private equity transaction, we assist our clients by:
- Determining the amount and type of capital to be raised
- Establishing an initial valuation range
- Establishing proposed terms of the financing
- Preparing the offering memorandum
- Utilizing our extensive network to contact private capital sources
- Negotiating final terms of the financing
Strategic Financial Advisory Services
Valuation Analyses & Fairness Opinions
We provide financial advisory services to top management, directors, and business owners. These services typically address critical strategic issues impacting shareholder value such as:
- Determining optimal capital structure and financing needs
- Evaluating financial alternatives (IPO, recapitalization, sale, etc.)
- Ascertaining liquidity options available to shareholders
- Assessing merger, acquisition, and divestiture strategies
We also provide valuation services and fairness opinions for a broad range of business, estate and transaction requirements.