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Merit Harbor Group, LLC and JD Ford & Company Announce Strategic Business Combination

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Companies will now operate as Merit Investment Bank & Co.

Seattle, WA / Denver, CO March 4, 2019—

Merit Harbor Group, LLC and JD Ford & Company have announced a strategic business combination, transitioning their companies and staff to form Merit Investment Bank & Co, effective February 25, 2019. The two companies operating as Merit Investment Bank deliver over 23 years of investment banking experience specializing in Mergers & Acquisitions and capital sourcing in multiple industries including technology, consumer products & retail, manufacturing, industrials, food & agriculture, and healthcare.

Established in 1996, JD Ford has consistently delivered market leading and precedent-setting outcomes for clients in the form of Mid-Market mergers & acquisitions and valuations. JD Ford assists entrepreneurs and family business owners with their exit strategy, selling their business or managing the complex process of M&A and business valuation. 

Merit Harbor brings their scalable platform as a broad auction Mergers & Acquisitions and capital raise-focused investment bank. Together the two companies will bring mutual expertise to clients, offering big bank tools and capabilities with a team of experienced professional investment bankers.

“We’re thrilled to be joining forces with Merit Harbor to provide more capabilities and broader market access for clients,” Says JD Ford & Company CEO, Joseph M. Durnford, “this combination expands our platform to deliver exceptional outcomes for clients. With global reach, enhanced research, innovative deal tools, and experienced dealmakers to collaborate with, I’m confident Merit Investment Bank will be the go-to boutique investment bank for CEOs seeking to buy, sell, merge, recapitalize or finance their middle market enterprise.”

Craig Dickens of Merit Harbor adds, “we can more effectively serve our clients both domestically and internationally as well as provide deeper resources to our seasoned and highly skilled investment bankers or other bankers seeking a larger, more robust platform. Merit Investment Bank will maintain a culture of boutique service to our clients as well as continue to be a great place to get deals done, in a collaborative and entrepreneurial environment for investment bankers.”  

Merit Investment Bank & Co. will specialize in middle-market, entrepreneurial-owned businesses seeking expert M&A, divestiture and buy-side execution. Securities will be offered under the companies FINRA Registered broker dealer Merit Investment Bank Securities, LLC. The combination between the two companies was finalized on February 25, 2019. Merit Investment Bank & Co. is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, and maintains offices in Denver, Dallas, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Scottsdale. The companies’ respective websites will be relocating to https://meritinvestmentbank.com 

About Merit Harbor Group, LLC
Merit Harbor Group is a leading Boutique Investment Bank focused on serving middle market companies. They are a client-focused team of experienced entrepreneurs and operating executives and investment bankers with expertise in a broad range of industries.  Merit Harbor Capital, (a subsidiary of Merit Harbor Group, LLC) member FINRA / SIPC, is a full-service Broker Dealer licensed in 50 states executing sell-side and buy-side M&A transactions, debt and equity capital raises, corporate finance, real estate development and project finance. Their partnership with CDI Global expands their reach to offices in 25 countries around the world, providing advisory services for International Conglomerates seeking to acquire businesses across the United States.

About JD Ford & Company
JD Ford & Company is a specialized Investment Bank that helps business owners increase business value, obtain growth capital, gain personal liquidity, and create lasting family legacy. JD Ford focuses on a variety of industries including consumer products, specialty retail, information technology, building products, and specialized services. JD Ford & Company leverages its vast network of connections and unique insight to guide business owners through a variety of transitional events. 

1. Immediate Post-Closing Actions

  • Confirm Closing Deliverables: Verify wire transfers, escrow deposits, and payoff letters. Ensure all signed documents are stored and circulated appropriately.
  • Communications: Issue press releases and internal announcements. Host internal debriefs to clarify deal implications and next steps. Share FAQs to address employee and client concerns.

2. Financial & Tax Considerations

  • Tax Planning: Review capital gains implications and possible elections (e.g., 338(h)(10)). Optimize allocation of proceeds among trusts, estates, and investment vehicles.
  • Wealth Management: Establish an investment strategy for sale proceeds, factoring in liquidity, diversification, and risk tolerance. Revisit estate and philanthropic plans.

3. Operational Transition

  • Integration Roadmap: Define Day 1, Day 30, and Day 100 milestones. Align IT systems, compliance, and reporting frameworks.
  • Governance & Management: Clarify new reporting lines, identify key management for retention, and set up transition service agreements where necessary.

4. Employee Retention & Culture Integration

  • Retention Programs: Offer stay bonuses or performance incentives to key employees.
  • Culture Alignment: Host integration workshops to harmonize values and workflows between merging organizations. Use pulse surveys to monitor morale and engagement.

5. Customer & Partner Management

  • Customer Retention: Conduct proactive outreach to major clients to reassure them about service continuity. Offer transition incentives if needed.
  • Supplier & Partner Relations: Reaffirm contracts, introduce new leadership, and mitigate potential disruptions in the supply chain.

6. Legal & Compliance

  • Ongoing Obligations: Track escrow releases, earnouts, and indemnification timelines. Update registrations, licenses, and insurance policies.
  • Dispute Preparedness: Maintain a documentation log and standardized process for handling any post-closing disputes.

7. Long-Term Strategic Planning

  • For Sellers: Outline reinvestment strategies—whether in new ventures, passive investments, or philanthropic initiatives.
  • For Buyers: Execute synergy realization plans and monitor KPIs to measure integration success. Refine strategy as market conditions evolve.

8. Key Deliverables for Merit Investment Bank

  1. Post-Sale Communication Playbook – For employees, customers, and press.
  2. Tax & Wealth Planning Roadmap – Personalized for sellers.
  3. Integration Milestones Tracker – With Day 1/30/100 progress indicators.
  4. Retention & Culture Alignment Plan – Ensuring people continuity.
  5. Escrow & Earnout Monitoring Checklist – For legal and financial oversight.

Merit Investment Bank as a leading boutique investment bank is focused on entrepreneurial middle-market companies. Merit Investment Bank Executes sell-side M&A, buy-side M&A, and capital advisory services, debt and equity capital raises, corporate finance, and valuation services.

Securities offered through Finalis Securities LLC Member FINRA/SIPC. Merit Investment Bank and Finalis Securities LLC are separate, unaffiliated entities.

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