Chesapeake Corporate Advisors (CCA) continues to expand its reach and scope, adding Business Services to its areas of industry focus for investment banking and corporate advisory services. The Business Services team is led by Managing Director Stuart Knott, who brings 25+ years’ experience advising owners in this sector and helping them achieve optimal deal outcomes.
The formalization of a Business Services team was a natural next step for CCA, which has closed 60+ transactions in this sector since its inception. The most recent include the sale of Freestate Electric, LLC to Sojitz Energy Services LLC, and the sale of Fireline Corporation to Encore Fire Protection.
“Our team understands the challenges facing Business Services organizations and the unique drivers of value in this sector, making us well-equipped to help owners achieve the best outcomes,” said Knott. With experience as both an investment banker and private equity investor—and a focus on this sector throughout his career—Knott offers first-hand knowledge of what PE groups look for in these target companies and strong relationships with buyers.
CCA recognizes that middle-market Business Services companies face formidable growth obstacles, including difficulty attracting top talent and keeping up with the technology and other resources required to remain competitive and grow market share. We also understand that many Business Services company owners see the potential to overcome these challenges, build greater value, and drive organic growth by partnering with a larger organization through an acquisition or majority recapitalization.
At the same time, we know that private equity (PE) groups are highly active buyers of companies providing a wide range of Business Services —particularly those that generate recurring revenue, require low capital expenditures, achieve high margins, provide mission-critical services, and can leverage technology to improve efficiency, reduce costs, or achieve a competitive advantage. PE groups are also drawn to Business Services companies which operate in fragmented markets that can benefit from consolidation.
CCA is ideally suited to help owners of leading Business Services companies capitalize on this positive M&A environment and achieve their goals by preparing the organization for a sale or other liquidity event and facilitating a successful outcome.
“I could not be more grateful to the CCA team for their assistance in this process. From the very beginning, their guidance and advice were instrumental in making this deal happen. We had an incredible response from the market and results that far exceeded my goals. I simply could not have gotten there without the support of CCA.” Anna Gavin, Fireline Corporation.
CCA will leverage its sector-specific experience to advise business owners and companies across the Business Services landscape, including, facilities services, transportation and logistics, tech-enabled services, and value-added distribution. The Investment Banking team will continue helping owners of Business Services organizations evaluate shareholder alternatives, sell or recapitalize their company; while the Corporate Advisory team will continue to provide strategic and execution guidance for business owners seeking to increase shareholder value in preparation for an eventual sale.
About Chesapeake Corporate Advisors
Chesapeake Corporate Advisors is a boutique investment banking and corporate advisory firm providing strategic advisory services (value creation) and investment banking services (value realization) to companies in the lower middle market. For more information, visit www.ccabalt.com or call 410.537.5988.
