TESTIMONIALS

Like any other entrepreneur, I had no idea a whole universe of M&A professionals regularly traded small businesses such as mine.  I was also struggling with most of my personal wealth residing within my business.

Steven uncovered the key value drivers within my business and walked me through why both financial and strategic buyers would find Tri-Star an attractive buy.  Having recently reached new financial highs in the business, we felt it was the right time to go to market.  As Steven stated in our final meeting, “you never know what you’re worth until you ask the marketplace.”

Turns out Steven was right – we received serious interest from about fifteen companies.  We spent the time to get to know each of the parties, and eventually selected a financial partner who clearly understood our business and supported our growth strategy. 

With our new partner, the business’ earnings tripled within a year and a half, and my company sold for a second time.  My proverbial “second bite of the apple” was almost as big as the first bite.

I thought I was done, but Tri-Star sold for a third time…it was quite a ride!

Starting in the Fall of 2013, Steven and Yasmine guided my partners and I through the complex task of taking our oil field personnel company to market.  They assisted us in compiling our financial, contract and personnel data, in drafting “The Book”, in researching global markets for businesses in our industry  space and in communicating with prospective buyers.  They assisted us in evaluating the multiple offers that came in and they guided us through the pre-closing blur of activity which culminated in the sale of the company to Norwegian buyers in June 2014.

Marketing a small to mid-size business to international buyers is a labor intensive, complicated,  emotionally challenging and, at times, exhausting journey for the owners.   Steven and Yasmine provided us with the professional investment banking services and advice we needed to get the job done.

After trying unsuccessfully to engage in discussions surrounding the purchase of a shipyard in Orange, TX, for over a year and a half, we were introduced to Steven and Yasmine through a mutual friend.

The shipyard, though shuttered, was an embarrassing failure of a larger corporate entity.  They had entertained previous offers on the facility, but after multiple false starts, the corporate parent was convinced there was no suitable buyer for the shipyard.

Steven quickly figured out the key decision makers within the ownership group, and focused his efforts on the operational team, who were feeling the most pain from the shuttered facility.  After spending several months clearing the credibility hurdles, Steven got us a meeting at their offices in Alabama. From that initial meeting, in which the seller’s happily offered to finance the transaction, to signing our Asset Purchase Agreement while continuing to negotiate to closing, Steven’s guidance was invaluable.

My partner, Bill, and I had been talking about when to sell our engineering business we started together.  We both were considering retirement, but were not sure as to where to start exploring the sale of the business.  We were introduced to Steven and Yasmine through our long-time attorney, who thought they might be able to help us figure out the next steps. 

With our company being somewhat small, we did not think there would be much of a market for our business.  Plus, with Bill and me still being somewhat key to the ongoing management of the business, we were concerned the buyer would not be comfortable allowing either one of us to ever step away from the business and retire.

Even with our concerns, Steven and Yasmine helped us tap into the network of strategic buyers, and they effectively created a bidding contests between multiple buyers.  The winning bidder happened to have a management team in place and a sales office in development in Houston, who could effectively take over the business.  The buyer, based in Denmark, turned out to be the perfect buyer for our firm.

Thanks to Steven and Yasmine for a job well done!

At the time my partner and I met Steven and Yasmine we had owned our business for 20 years. We were ready for a change, but knew nothing about selling a business.  In fact, we assumed that because no one had walked in our office and offered to buy the business our only option was to liquidate.  During our first meeting with Steven he introduced us to the M&A world, and for the first time we learned that we had many options. 

Within a year of our first meeting, Steven and Yasmine brought our company to market, found a buyer, negotiated a deal, and closed the sale. In addition to the many years of professional experience they bring to the table, Steven and Yasmine both have a comfortable style and personal approach that make them a pleasure to work with. If you are considering expanding your business through capital or an acquisition, or looking to sell your business, Steven and Yasmine have the unique combination of skills, knowledge, and personalities to help you reach your goal, all while making the experience as painless and stress free as possible.