Our firm is in a unique position to bridge the best of two worlds. You benefit from the professional expertise of a national investment bank; and the senior attention and entrepreneurial creativity of a smaller firm.

Our intent is not to be everything to everybody. Instead, we measure our success on the depth of our client relationships. The greater the depth, the more quickly and creatively we can respond to a client’s needs. Furthermore, each relationship is founded on integrity, objectivity, confidentiality and world-class professional service. We are discriminating in our engagements, but aggressive in achieving the financial and strategic objectives of those for whom we work.

The types of transactions we execute are as varied as the industries of our clients. However, much of our focus is on representing companies for sale, structuring business acquisitions, and arranging financing. In all of our interactions we maintain a consistently open and flexible approach to building long-term business relationships.

Many companies are looking for opportunities. Few are truly prepared to capitalize on them. With our full range of Merger and Acquisition (M&A) advisory services, you gain the advantage of timely expertise.

The professionals at Lurie Besikof Lapidus Private Investment Banking are skilled in negotiations, financial analysis, valuation, SEC, tax, and accounting issues. We work with clients on a highly personalized basis. We seek to obtain the most advantageous terms available in the marketplace, while maintaining high professional standards. Throughout a transaction, we honor strict confidentiality. Our professionals are sensitive to the time pressure associated with M&A transactions, yet understand and appreciate the importance of maintaining quality and integrity throughout the process.

Our M&A services include advising:

• Shareholders that desire to sell all, or part, of their company
• Companies that want to divest a division, product line, or subsidiary
• Management groups seeking to complete a management buyout
• Companies and financial investment groups that wish to grow through acquisitions
• Companies that want to implement an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

Our wide-ranging experience translates into considerable expertise in structuring and negotiating M&A transactions. We know what and how to evaluate. For example, issues such as earnouts, contingent purchase payments, escrows, retained equity, non-competition agreements, seller representations, warranties and indemnification, and tax aspects are often significant elements of value and risk in an M&A transaction.

Services Representing the Seller

A significant focus of Lurie Besikof Lapidus Private Investment Banking is representing companies for sale. Our involvement begins in the early stages of strategic planning and ends with the closing of a transaction. When planning the sale of a company, we discuss the client’s goals and assist in establishing financial and non-financial objectives. Every transaction is different because of the unique emotional and financial issues faced by the business owner. However, one thing remains the same. We are always cognizant of these issues and the importance of the transaction.

Although there are many critical aspects to the sale process, we consider the written memorandum describing the sale candidate a critical factor in the marketing process. It can have substantial, repeat impact value upon the reader. We know that performing a thorough analysis and preparing a carefully designed presentation at the outset is vital to attaining a premium price. Another advantage that we bring to the sale process is the ability to identify a broad range of qualified, prospective strategic and financial buyers. We access proprietary computer databases containing information regarding the acquisition interests of domestic and foreign buyers and acquisition financing sources.

Services offered in support of the seller of a business include creative assistance in:

• Strategic planning to maximize shareholder value
• Business valuation analysis
• Preparing confidential selling memorandum
• Identifying and contacting qualified buyers
• Financial and tax structuring of the transaction
• Negotiating, structuring, and closing the transaction
• Post-transaction financial, tax, and estate planning
• Services Representing the Buyer

Strategic business acquisitions are integral to a company’s growth strategy. They expand lines of business; create access to new markets; or accelerate the research and development process. A leveraged or management buyout transaction may be an attractive alternative for companies with consistent earnings performance and quality management, but neither may fit into the owner’s or parent’s long-term strategic plan. With the guidance of Lurie Besikof Lapidus Private Investment Banking, our clients are better equipped to successfully pursue the most strategic acquisition.

Our professionals work closely with established companies, financial investment groups, and management in all aspects of an acquisition including:

• Acquisition strategy and criteria
• Global search for acquisition candidates
• Business valuation analysis
• Arranging and evaluating financing alternatives
• Due diligence and contract review
• Negotiating, structuring, and closing the transaction with the seller and financing sources
• Post-transaction integration

Lurie Besikof Lapidus Private Investment Banking helps companies access financing from a wide array of investors. We have developed confidential relationships with funding sources nationwide. Typically the financing alternatives include senior secured financing or asset based loans, mezzanine/subordinated debt, private equity financing, and real estate financing for the following types of situations:

• Acquisitions
• Corporate growth and general working capital
• Refinancing or consolidating debt
• Management or leveraged buyouts
• Recapitalizations

When engaged as an advisor for a financing, we will work with you to:

• Review strategic goals, financial goals, and capital needs
• Conduct due diligence and develop comprehensive offering memorandum
• Identify and contact financing sources
• Evaluate financing proposals
• Negotiate final terms and covenants and promptly close the financing
• Financial & strategic advisory services

Leaders of successful businesses understand that to excel in a rapidly changing marketplace, they must continually refresh their strategic plan. To do that, management requires creative and objective advice. Whether the company is large or small, public or private, healthy or struggling, we can help develop and adjust a comprehensive strategic plan supported by specific business plans. In addition, we partner with our clients to understand the resulting financial implications.

Our professionals work closely with clients to identify ways to measure and enhance shareholder value. They also analyze strategic and financial alternatives, conceptualize and analyze capital structures, and advise on the creation of an ownership succession plan.

We offer a broad range of financial and strategy advisory services including:

• Strategic planning
• Business plan development
• Preparing a business for sale
• Profitability analysis
• Industry analysis
• Cash flow management
• Financial projections and budgets
• Discounted cash flow analysis
• Capital budgeting
• Business valuations
• Operational reviews
• Capital structure analysis
• Review of strategic alternatives
• Joint ventures and strategic alliances

Click here to view our recent M&A transactions.

Contact us at LBLCO for more information.