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Merit Investment Bank & Company, a leading Boutique Investment Bank focused on serving middle-market technology-forward companies, is excited to announce their success at the 20th annual M&A Advisor Awards. Winners were announced late last year at the Gala Ceremony live event in New York City. During this ceremony, Merit Investment Bank was presented with the following awards:
Boutique Investment Banking Firm of the Year
Information Technology Deal of the Year $100-$250M
Corporate Strategic Deal of the Year $50-$100M
M&A Advisor is the preeminent organization recognizing professional excellence in completing complex and industry significant Mergers and Acquisition. The M&A Advisor strives to honor the best deals and dealmakers while advancing thought leadership for how the best deals get done.
J. Craig Dickens, CEO of Merit Investment Bank, stated in reference to the Boutique Investment Firm of the Year award, “This prestigious honor is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the Merit Investment Bank team, as we found creative solutions to complete complex, value-creating transactions during challenging times. We are very proud that our creative professionals continue to execute award-winning deals and exemplify integrity, intelligence, insight, instinct, and intensity while serving our clients.”
Further, when awarded the Information Technology Deal of the Year, Todd Ostrander, Managing Director at Merit Investment Bank expressed, “Merit Investment Bank was excited to bring our tech industry knowledge to work alongside our partners at CDI Global with such an outstanding and well-managed seller in SmartProcure.” Ostrander acknowledged, “Challenges exist in every transaction but the professional approach the team took to work with us to maximize their outcome proved to Thompson Street that they were a team worth investing in for the long term.”
Joseph (JD) Durnford, Chairman of Merit Investment Bank, was a featured speaker during the event and shared his views on deal making best practices and current M&A trends. After receiving these prestigious awards, Mr. Durnford stated “that it is always humbling to see our firm recognized by our industry peers in the dealmaking community, but the credit really goes to the CEOs and entrepreneurs of the innovative companies we serve as they complete industry transformative transactions.”
About
Merit Investment Bank:
Merit Investment Bank is a leading Boutique Investment Bank focused on serving middle-market technology-forward companies. Merit Investment Bank executes sell-side M&A, buy-side M&A, and capital advisory services with specific emphasis on the technology, software, consumer, telecom/ wireless, and manufacturing / Industry 4.0 sectors. In addition, Merit Investment Bank offers other Investment banking services such as debt and equity capital raises, restructuring advisory services, business valuations, and project financing through its subsidiary, Merit Investment Bank Securities, member FINRA / SIPC, a full-service Broker-Dealerlicensed in 50 states
Date:
Analyst:
Client / Target:
Buyer / Acquirer:
1. Executive Summary
Provide a concise overview of the buyer, their relevance to the transaction, and the recommendation outcome.
- Buyer Type: [Strategic / Financial / Individual / Family Office / PE Group]
- Transaction Objective: [Acquisition / Merger / Investment / Minority Stake]
- Fit Summary: [Strong / Moderate / Weak]
- Recommendation: [Proceed / Further Review / Not Recommended]
2. Buyer Overview
Detail the buyer’s background, structure, and operational scope.
- Legal Name:
- Headquarters Location:
- Founded:
- Ownership Structure: [Public / Private / Subsidiary / Fund-backed]
- Key Executives: [List Names and Titles]
- Business Description:
- Core business model and markets served
- Recent performance highlights
- Strategic direction and acquisition history
3. Financial Profile
Provide financial strength and acquisition capacity.
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FY2023 |
FY2022 |
FY2021 |
Notes |
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| EBITDA |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
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| Liquidity (Cash & Equivalents) |
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Observations:
- Assess financial stability, leverage, and acquisition funding capacity.
- Note any recent financing rounds or divestitures that may impact transaction readiness.
4. Strategic Fit Analysis
Evaluate how the buyer aligns with the target’s sector, operations, and value proposition.
| Factor |
Evaluation |
Comments |
| Market / Sector Alignment |
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| Product / Service Synergies |
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| Geographic Overlap |
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| Cultural / Leadership Compatibility |
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Summary:
- Highlight integration opportunities and strategic rationale.
- Discuss any potential conflicts (e.g., overlapping clients or competitive products).
5. Transaction Readiness
Assess buyer’s ability and intent to complete a transaction.
| Criteria |
Rating |
Notes |
| Deal Experience |
High / Medium / Low |
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| Management Commitment |
High / Medium / Low |
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| Financing Certainty |
High / Medium / Low |
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| Speed to Close |
High / Medium / Low |
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| Due Diligence Responsiveness |
High / Medium / Low |
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6. Risk Assessment
Identify potential issues that could affect deal success.
- Operational Risks: [Integration complexity, cultural mismatch, regulatory exposure]
- Financial Risks: [Over-leverage, uncertain funding, market volatility]
- Reputation Risks: [Litigation, ethics concerns, public perception]
- Execution Risks: [Deal fatigue, management bandwidth, approval bottlenecks]
7. Conclusion and Recommendation
Summarize the findings and proposed course of action.
- Overall Buyer Rating: [A / B / C / D]
- Transaction Feasibility: [Strong / Moderate / Low]
- Recommended Next Step:
- Proceed to next phase of discussions
- Request additional diligence materials
- Discontinue engagement
8. Appendices
- Financial statements (summary extracts)
- News articles and acquisition announcements
- Management bios
- Comparable transactions
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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