Founded in 2002, our roots date back to the early 1990’s. CKS is experienced in all aspects of mergers and acquisitions, representing and advising both sellers and buyers in a highly confidential manner. We provide our Clients keen market insight and well-crafted transaction processes.

Selling a privately held business is a highly individualized process – no two businesses are the same – the goals and objectives of each transaction vary, as do the challenges. We provide our Clients senior level attention and serve as the “quarterback” for the entire process, managing all parties and aspects involved to achieve a successful outcome.

We understand what buyers – both strategic and financial – are seeking. Our proven ability to analyze and assess the buyer market in order to find the right buyers has been invaluable to our Clients achieving their goals and objectives. For example, when required, we have provided our Clients access to C-level executives at the largest companies in their industry, as well as attracted buyers from all corners of the country and globally.

Our approach is to find the “market” for our Client’s business by employing our systematic process to reach qualified buyers in order to engage them in a competitive sales process.

Typical Client Profile

• Founder or family owned businesses
• Owners seeking a transition or succession, liquidity event, growth capital, or advisory services
• Revenue: $10 to $100 Million
• EBITDA: $2 – $15 Million

Typical Client Industries

• Manufacturing
• Business / Consumer Services
• Wholesale / Distribution
• Transportation / Logistics
• Construction
• Food Service

CKS helps identify potential target companies that meet our Client’s criteria. We have worked with both strategic and financial buyers to identify potential acquisition targets across multiple industries. Deal sizes typically range from $10 Million to $100 Million.

Our process of identifying and courting potential candidates includes:

• Understanding our Client’s needs and what they seek in an acquisition target
• Performing the necessary due diligence on proposed targets
• Creating a valuation for the transaction, based on market data and knowledge
• Helping negotiate the terms of the transaction
• Assisting with the close

The Right Capital

As experienced investment bankers, we help navigate the capital markets so that our Clients obtain the right capital, at a competitive price, and with the appropriate partner.

CKS works with our Clients to develop an understanding of their goals and objectives of a capital raise. We help them analyze their financial situation to determine the optimum type and amount of capital, either debt or equity, and the best timing to obtain that capital.

The Right Source

We maintain active relationships with regional and money-center commercial banks, as well as leading asset-based lenders and mezzanine funds nationally, to help our Clients gain funding for:

• Growth
• Working capital
• Capital expenditures
• Acquisitions
• Recapitalizations
• Shareholder liquidity
• Partner/family member buyouts