Services
Crassus provides reporting and analytic assessments to identify strengths and weaknesses in our client’s existing operations.
We examine key performance indicators, identify inefficiencies, and develop bespoke action plans to streamline operations while improving overall business performance, adding to the bottom line, and providing resources to spur growth.
All the while, Crassus’ team provides ongoing support from inception throughout implementation ensuring our clients moves with deliberate purpose towards its goals
Mergers & Acquisitions
Crassus provides M&A services for both buyers and sellers. Our extensive network of Private Equity Firms, Strategic Buyers, Lenders, and Accredited Investors allows us to build a customized strategy for any M&A initiative.
Sell-Side Representation
Our long-standing relationships with top-tier private equity firms and strategic buyers throughout the United States enable us to connect our clients with qualified partners committed to growing platforms and maximizing value over the long term.
Crassus also provides white glove brokerage services to facilitate the relationship and maximize our clients’ valuation; at each step of the way, Crassus’s team manages the transaction to ensure a timely closing with minimal disruption. From exit preparation through closing, our expertise and industry experience allow us to navigate the most complex transactions ensuring a smooth and successful outcome for our clients.
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The Confidential Information Memorandum, or Confidential Offering Memorandum, is a thoroughly researched comprehensive document prepared in anticipation of any M&A Transaction. The CIM provides detailed information about the company, and it includes its business model, financial performance, market positioning, growth prospects, operational details, and a summary of the market segment and relevant trends. It is shared with interested parties under strict confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements and allows prospective partners to evaluate the company and consider the acquisition.
While each CIM is a completely custom document, the process has been refined over time and ensures each client is presented in the best possible light. During the preparation of a client’s CIM, our team interviews company leaders and conducts an exhaustive examination of the company before crafting a narrative showing the evolution of the company, its business, and client base. We examine financial statements and prepare a financial lookback and accompanying profit and loss statements. We prepare a growth prospectus and financial projections to show the company's financial performance and future potential. Finally, the presentation is reviewed and re-reviewed by experts and as well as client leadership and shareholders to ensure it captures the company’s ethos.
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A Letter of Intent is the preliminary agreement which governs the diligence process and outlines the key terms and conditions of the proposed deal. While not guaranteed like a Purchase Agreement, an LOI serves as a roadmap for negotiations and signifies a significant commitment to proceed with the acquisition.
When evaluating a Letter of Intent, Crassus thoroughly reviews the proposed terms and conditions, including financial terms, due diligence provisions, and exclusivity periods. We identify key objectives and priorities for the transaction and prepare counterproposals based on our preliminary diligence and analysis, engage in ongoing constructive dialogue with the potential partner(s), and seek mutually beneficial solutions while consulting industry experts and considering other potential partners. Crassus also conducts a thorough review of the potential partner to ensure that there is both cultural alignment and a high likelihood of closing the transaction at the outlined terms.
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Quality of Earnings refers to the process of confirming the reliability and sustainability of a company’s reported earnings, ensuring the transparency and accuracy of its financial performance over time. Undertaken by analysts, auditors, and CPAs, the process examines the target company’s financials to ascertain where a business’s earnings come from and whether they can be maintained in the future. Quality of Earnings is the opening salvo of any M&A Transaction and Crassus maintains relationships with recognized and trusted firms to ensure a smooth validation process.
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Data Room Management is the organization, control, and supervision of access to the company’s repository of corporate information and is essential to the diligence process. Security measures such as encryption and access controls are implemented to protect confidentiality, while access is carefully managed for authorized users. The data room serves as a centralized communication hub, and Crassus’s longstanding relationship with best-in-class vendors guarantees it is operated securely.
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Due Diligence is the acquiring entities process of conducting a thorough and systematic investigation into the company to ensure its financial, operational, legal, and regulatory health. It aims to verify the accuracy and completeness of the information exchanged during negotiations, identify potential risks and liabilities, evaluate the company’s strengths and weaknesses, and assess the company’s overall suitability.
Ranging from 60 to 120 days, diligence can be a daunting and is an exhausting process without the right team in place. Crassus has developed a proven playbook to manage the financial, legal, operational, organizational, and cultural aspects of due diligence. Having seasoned professionals at the controls will ensure that the diligence process moves at the pace agreed to in the LOI and that the transaction pushes through any unforeseen challenges without derailing the company’s core business.
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After the conclusion of due diligence Crassus will negotiate with the buyer and finalize the terms of the transaction with minimal divergence from the terms agreed to in the LOI.
KEY SERVICES
Buy-Side Representation
Crassus provides tailored buy-side representation aimed at facilitating strategic acquisitions and maximizing value immediately upon closing. Our clients include Private Equity Funds, Strategic Buyers, and individual companies looking to stimulate growth through an acquisition strategy.
Our thoughtful and intentional process starts by recognizing emerging market segments within our client’s parameters, identifying lower to middle market platforms with a proven track record of success, identifying platform-growth opportunities and accretive bolt-on acquisitions, and approaching the potential acquisition with a proposal that is beneficial to both the founder’s and the business’s bottom line.
KEY SERVICES
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Our Team starts by considering the parameters of the acquisition and examining market trends within the target sectors. Crassus then conducts market research to identify sub-sectors and industries that are exhibiting either high demand, high fragmentation, or rapid innovation. From there we identify companies that present the greatest opportunities for synergies with our client and conduct a pre-diligence investigation before presenting the same to the potential partner.
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While less onerous than Due Diligence, a through pre-diligence review of the acquisition target will give investors the confidence to proceed with the transaction or signal any impending red flags, saving the time and expense of engaging financial analysts, attorneys, and the opportunity cost of an acquisition not taken.
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Diligence can be a resource intensive process for a buyer but, with Crassus’s proven playbook to manage the financial, legal, operational, organizational, and cultural aspects of due diligence our clients’ principals can focus on vetting the business and positioning its complementary platforms to take full advantage of its newest resource. Moreover, our team can manage founders and ensure that the diligence process moves at a constant pace without constant handholding.
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Crassus has an extensive network of both institutional and private credit lenders servicing a broad range of transactions from main street refinancing to upper middle market acquisitions. We can evaluate lenders and assemble a capital stack, saving our clients the time and resources of navigating varying risk tolerances, industry preferences, and underwriting standards.
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Once an acquisition is closed the hard work of integrating a new platform or bolt-on begins. Independent companies have established ways of doing business and bringing them into the fold presents unique challenges. We have a broad understanding of how small companies operate and we work with our clients to craft a bespoke strategy to quickly integrate and on board a recent acquisition. We manage each aspect of the integration including financial, operational, and managerial.
Advisory & Value Creation
Crassus provides reporting and analytical assessments to identify strengths and weaknesses in our clients’ existing operations.
We examine key performance indicators, identify inefficiencies, and develop bespoke action plans to streamline operations while improving overall business performance, adding to the bottom line and providing resources to spur growth.
Crassus’ team provides ongoing support from inception throughout implementation, ensuring our clients move with deliberate purpose towards their goals.
KEY SERVICES
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Exit preparedness and succession planning are essential for small businesses to ensure a smooth transition of leadership. By anticipating and strategizing for the future, businesses can ensure a smooth handover of operations, mitigate risks, preserve value, and ensure the continuation of their core mission.
Succession planning goes beyond replacing a business's executives; it requires developing a pipeline of talent that shares the founder’s values and vision for their company. Crassus’s founders have a history of helping clients identify and develop partnerships which will ensure their business continues to grow and pay dividends long after they step back from day-to-day operations.
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The easiest way for businesses to grow, both at the bottom-line and in earnest, is to minimize operational constraints and inefficiencies. By identifying operational bottlenecks businesses can address inefficiencies and effectively allocate resources to maximize workflow, improve productivity, and reduce lead time, all of which will enhance customer satisfaction and grow their bottom-line.
Crassus understands that improperly integrated tools can become a resource drain instead of an accretive addition. It is easy to invest in tools but never see the optimal return on those investments but, by independently evaluating our client’s tools and processes Crassus can ensure maximum return. We examine workflow analytics, key performance indicators, and capacity constraints to understand the true cost of doing business. From there, our team will develop a tactical plan to limit resource drains and make actionable recommendations for streamlining operations leading to time and cost savings.
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Technology is the underpinning of how many organizations serve their clients and with a greater number of organizations considering the “as a service” model, the process for deciding which technologies are necessary is complex.
Crassus provides comprehensive program and project management services, emphasizing active communication, problem prediction, and success measurement against defined goals. Combined with objective product selection and expertise across technology areas, our team will seamlessly integrate systems with our client teams.
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The back-office operations of planning, organizing, and controlling a company’s processes and resources are often second fiddle to the client facing aspects of a business but are fundamental to ensuring organizational efficiency and support for front-office operations. While they may not be directly visible to customers, operations management plays a critical role in the overall success and sustainability of the business and effective management is essential for enhancing competitiveness, improving profitability, and achieving a company's long-term goals.
Crassus has the experience to effectively oversee the diverse aspects of an organization's operations, including production, quality control, supply chain management, inventory management, and facility maintenance. We can develop processes and install managers responsible for optimizing processes, maximizing productivity, minimizing costs, and meeting customer demands while maintaining quality standards. Through efficient resource allocation, strategic decision making, and continuous improvement efforts we can drive sustainable growth.
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The importance of business development and its necessity to the success of any business is axiomatic. Ongoing business development is necessary to drive organizational growth, profitability, and sustainability. A business that is not consistently identifying and capitalizing on opportunities for expansion will be condemned to stagnation.
Crassus utilizes a cross network approach to business development. We are consistently identifying and engaging with business leaders though online tools and at industry events. We are focused on establishing relationships across industries and vertically within the organizational chart. We then utilize those relationships to introduce our clients to potential partners from diverse industries creating cross-organization synergy; constantly looking for new ways to create value withing out client's organizations.
Private Credit & Recapitalization
Crassus works to develop a financing strategy that contributes to long-term value creation with minimal risk to your business and chosen financial partner
Crassus works with our client’s internal financial officers to conduct a thorough assessment of their company’s financial situation, growth prospects, and capital needs. We examine their existing debt obligations, cash flow, and profitability to develop a tailored financing strategy to meet their operational needs, growth strategy, and cultural requirements.
Crassus then combs through its diverse network of both institutional and private credit lenders to find thoughtful financing partners to provide the capital necessary to fund our client’s business. Once we have identified potential partners, we help our clients evaluate, negotiate, and structure the terms of financing, ensuring that whichever lender they choose provides the best possible solution.
We also actively manage the diligence and underwriting process allowing our clients to streamline the process and efficiently navigate each stage of the transaction. Our white glove service ensures the process is fast and effective; that potential risks are identified early, and appropriate mitigation strategies are put into place; and that the ultimate credit agreement provides the best possible terms given market dynamics and industry trends.
KEY SERVICES
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Crassus works with our client’s internal financial officers to conduct a thorough assessment of their company’s capital structure, financing sources, and the terms of the existing debt stack including interest rates, repayment schedules, and risk. We examine existing financial obligations, cash flow, and profitability to develop a tailored strategy to meet our client’s operational needs considering restricting requirements and growth prospects.
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The Confidential Information Memorandum, or Confidential Offering Memorandum, is a thoroughly researched and comprehensive memorandum distributed to lenders and financial institutions during the solicitation process. The CIM provides detailed information about the company, it includes its business model, financial performance, market positioning, growth prospects, and operational details. It is shared with interested parties following the execution of strict confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements and allows prospective partners to evaluate the company and consider the transaction.
The Confidential Information Memorandum, or Confidential Offering Memorandum, is a thoroughly researched and comprehensive memorandum distributed to lenders and financial institutions during the solicitation process. The CIM provides detailed information about the company, it includes its business model, financial performance, market positioning, growth prospects, and operational details. It is shared with interested parties following the execution of strict confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements and allows prospective partners to evaluate the company and consider the transaction.
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Once Crassus has concluded its Operational Analysis and prepared its Offering Memorandum and attendant analytical documents, each of our partners reviews and considers their network of both institutional and private lenders to find financing partners to provide the requisite funding. Once we have identified potential partners, we present the opportunity to their various credit departments and advocate for our clients in front of business and underwriting teams.
From there, Crassus thoroughly evaluates all proposed Term Sheets and considers financial terms, due underwriting provisions, and restrictive covenants. We identify key terms and objectives for the funding and prepare counterproposals based on our preliminary diligence and analysis; engage in ongoing constructive dialogue with the potential partner(s) and seek mutually beneficial terms while considering other potential partners. Crassus also conducts a thorough review of the potential partner to ensure that there is both cultural alignment and a high likelihood of closing the transaction at the outlined terms.
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The Diligence and Underwriting process for multimillion-dollar refinancing can be an exhausting process for an institution unprepared for the challenges. The thorough and systematic investigation into the company can last from between 30 to 90 days and probe well beyond the company’s financial stability and extend into operations, legal, and management of the company. It aims to verify the accuracy and completeness of the information exchanged during the negotiation of the Term Sheet and identify potential risks and liabilities, evaluate the company’s strengths and weaknesses, and assess its overall suitability.
Crassus has developed a proven playbook to manage all aspects of the underwriting analysis. Having seasoned professionals at the controls can ensure that the process moves at pace, pushing through any unforeseen challenges without derailing the company’s core business or destabilizing ongoing operations.
