Merkel & Associates - Accomplishments

Among recent investment banking engagements, Nick Merkel closed a number of notable transactions under Merkel & Associates, Inc. or in concert with his former partner under Falls River Group, LLC. The following are representative samples of those transactions:

Sale of a leading high-tech ceramics company to a synergistic NYSE aerospace components manufacturer, achieving the economic benefit of a heated bidding contest with one of the buyer’s closest competitors. Selling price was approximately twice fair market value as measured by commonly used valuation methods.
Sale of a $60 Million equipment distributor to a national consolidator at a 60 percent premium over fair market value as determined by the multiples of cash flow paid by three of the other leading consolidators within the industry.
Sale of an internationally recognized consulting firm serving Fortune 500 clients to a rapidly growing, now publicly traded, information technology firm at a substantial premium over anticipated proceeds. The premium was largely achieved by capitalizing upon anticipated new business for both companies through market synergy.
Sale of a stagnant nationally recognized lawn and garden equipment manufacturer to a creative private investor group whose principals had a strong track record in the marketing of outdoor power equipment.
Acquisition of the principal competitor of a privately owned company providing logistical support to workers engaged in special projects in remote locations throughout North America. As a result, the buyer became the leading U.S. supplier of on-site support services to their principal market.
Sale of North America’s largest manufacturer of horticultural containers to a strategic buyer while capturing the full economic benefit of exceptional operating and market synergy.
Provided the private equity group in the financing of an MBO of a large specialty instrument manufacturer with operations in the U.S. and Belgium. The parent was a U.S. based Fortune 500 company.
Sale of the nation’s largest consumer bulletin board manufacturer to a synergistic publicly traded company. This became a high priority acquisition for the buyer because of anticipated cost savings in production through the economies of scale and access to new customers in highly complimentary markets.
Sale of one of the nation’s largest heavy equipment rigging and erecting contractors to a strategic investment group intending to use the acquisition as a platform company for an industry consolidation.
Sale of a mothballed high capacity glass fabrication plant to a synergistic foreign buyer at three times liquidation value.