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Middle Market Topical Index
Nextek benefits from ‘alternative solutions’

November 23, 2009 -- Nextek, which is a manufacturing specialty company with about 125 employees, received the loan from Cole Taylor Bank through Focus, a national middle market investment banking firm. Focus initiated the transaction, acted as financial adviser and helped in the negotiations between Nextek and the bank. Read more...


Middle Market Investment Banking Firm FOCUS LLC Secures Financing for Nextek, Inc.

November 18, 2009 -- "The electronic manufacturing services industry was significantly impacted in the past year, but FOCUS helped us present our business and financial results to highlight our strong track record even in this difficult recessionary environment," said Jim Trummer, co-founder, president and CEO of Nextek. "In today's extremely difficult lending environment, FOCUS' assistance was critical in closing this loan." Read more...


Middle Market Investment Banking Firm FOCUS LLC Secures Financing for Nextek, Inc.

November 18, 2009 -- "This refinancing was a win-win for Nextek," said Manan K. Shah, partner and government, aerospace and defense team leader at FOCUS. "The banking services provided by Cole Taylor Bank will help Nextek to continue to grow, and will save a significant amount of operating expense by taking advantage of the favorable financing terms as compared with its prior financing arrangements." Read more...


Middle Market Investment Banking Firm FOCUS LLC Secures Financing for Nextek, Inc.

November 18, 2009 -- “In the current environment, many companies like Nextek are facing the need for financial alternatives, arising from tightened lending standards and reduced credit availability in the banking industry and from the ongoing needs of businesses to fund growth or business transitions such as family buyouts,” said John Slater, partner and financial alternatives team leader at FOCUS. Read more...


Three Rivers Venture Fair Attracts Folks from Near and Far

September 17, 2009 -- George Shea and Manan Shah of Focus Investment Banking were first-time attendees of the venture fair. Focus helped close two deals in the Pittsburgh region in 2009, including the sale of Allin to Dell and Pepperweed Advisors to Cognizant. Read more...


Boomers fueling spike in business sales activity

Jonathan Wilfong, Southeast regional managing partner for FOCUS LLC -- whose company helps structure exit strategies by business owners, but also is increasingly engaged by "retired" professionals to get them back up and running -- said many boomers find it difficult to stay retired. Read more...


‘Bucket’ savings accounts make it easier to diversify into other currencies and away from weak U.S. dollar

Fred Rock, a financial adviser with Focus LLC, Downtown, said he didn't believe that the average consumer was thinking about currency diversification because it is a more sophisticated investing strategy as opposed to more traditional assets such as mutual funds and individual stocks. Read more...


C.M. Paula adds nature-related items with acquisition

“Now in their 50s, and with the company poised to expand beyond its facility, they decide to sell,” said David Roberts, senior adviser at the San Francisco office of Focus LLC, which brokered the deal.
Read more...


Exit Strategies: A Tale of 3 Business Owners

“If you’re on the fence about when to exit your small- to medium-sized company — any business valued between $250,000 and $75 million — you might want to consider selling now,” says Marshall Graham, founder and chairman of FOCUS LLC.


Paging for Cash

Alpharetta-based software company Agentek, Inc. raised $8 million in working capital, according to an April 18 Securities and Exchange Commission filing…Local investment bank FOCUS LLC brokered the deal.


Jets Parts Company Buys U.K. Business

“The seller wanted to close quickly to avoid a 5% to 10% rise in capital gains tax,” said Manan Shah, who brokered the deal for Washington, D.C.-based investment bank Focus LLC. Read more...


Movers & Shakers: Gold and Nielsen
In Chicago, middle market investment bank Focus LLC hired W. Robert Gold and Walter Nielsen as managing directors.

FOCUS Hires Three Managing Directors

FOCUS LLC, a national middle market investment banking firm providing merger, acquisition, divestiture and corporate finance services, announced W. Robert Gold and Walter W. Nielsen have joined the firm's Chicago office as managing directors, and Robert A. Wagner has joined the Los Angeles office as a managing director. Read more...


FOCUS Bolsters Chicago Division
FOCUS LLC, a mid-market investment bank based in the nation’s capital, announced Wednesday that it has brought two additional directors into the fold for its Chicago office. W. Robert Gold and Walter Nielsen will join FOCUS’ Chicago branch. Read more...

FOCUS Represents UK Based Avialec International’s Sale to California’s KAPCO/VALTEC
FOCUS, a national middle market investment banking firm providing merger, acquisition, divestiture and corporate finance services, announced today that Avialec International has been acquired by KAPCO|VALTEC, an aerospace supply chain management company, based in Brea, Calif. Read more...

Avialec International Acquired by Kapco-Valtec

FFocus LLC, investment banking service provider, has announced the acquisition of U.K. based Avialec by Kapco-Valtec, in a move aimed in part at expanding Kapco-Vatec’s marketing base. Read more...


Avialec International Acquired by Kapco-Valtec

FFocus LLC, investment banking service provider, has announced the acquisition of U.K. based Avialec by Kapco-Valtec, in a move aimed in part at expanding Kapco-Vatec’s marketing base. Read more...


Avialec International Acquired by Kapco-Valtec

FFocus LLC, investment banking service provider, has announced the acquisition of U.K. based Avialec by Kapco-Valtec, in a move aimed in part at expanding Kapco-Vatec’s marketing base. Read more...


People on the Move

Focus LLC in D.C. named Frank Slacik chief financial officer.
Read more...


People: Jim Millar and Jim Pursiano

Focus LLC of Washington has hired Jim Millar, 45, and Jim Pursiano, 47. Read more...


FOCUS LLC Sponsors M&A Advisory Podcast Series

Today, FOCUS LLC, a national investment banking firm providing merger, acquisition and corporate finance services to middle market companies, announces its title sponsorship of DealCast, a M&A advisory podcast series. Read more...


FOCUS LLC Secures Financing for Alpharetta-Based AGENTEK, Inc.

FOCUS LLC, a national middle market investment banking firm providing merger, acquisition, divestiture and corporate finance services, announces Agentek, Inc. has been recapitalized with $8 million in a Series A Participating Preferred Stock investment round.
Read more...


CFOs on the Move: Week Ending April 11

Middle-market investment firm Focus LLC has named Frank Slacik as its new chief financial officer. Read more...


FOCUS Bank Gets JMP’s CFO

FOCUS LLC, a Washington, D.C., mid-market investment bank, named Frank Slacik as its new chief financial officer.
The bank also announced the appointment of Jim Pursiano to a managing director slot in its San Francisco office. Read more...


Global Growth

"Increasingly, there is more and more international work," said George M. Shea, Southeast regional manager of Focus Bank, a 25-year-old investment bank based in Washington, D.C. Shea says nine of the11 deals the Atlanta branch handled in the past year involved international buyers. Read more...


A 2008 Buyout Primer

M&A Chicago asked Fred Floberg, a regional managing director at middle-market investment banking firm FOCUS for his thoughts. “I think you’re going to continue to see flats or declining levels. The middle market doesn’t have the volatility of the larger markets. We have lower highs and higher lows. Remember, we’re working from very high levels,” Floberg said. Read more...


Pradot Technologies acquires GroupOne Healthsource

FOCUS LLC, a national middle market investment banking firm providing merger, acquisition, divestiture and corporate finance services, said that India-based Pradot Technologies has acquired GroupOne Healthsource, a full-service healthcare billing, technology and consulting company based in St. Louis, MO. Read more...


Pradot Technologies announces acquisition of U.S.-based Groupone Healthsource

Credit Squeeze Hits Companies Hard

"That may revitalize the economy – a win-win, ‘dual-shore’ strategy,” said Doug Rodgers, CEO of the investment bank Focus. "Marginal deals won’t get done. Deals that make sense will still get done. This is especially so for smaller deals, in the sub-$300 million area.”
Read more...


Clean Technology Acquisitions to Increase in 2008

Today, FOCUS, LLC, a national investment banking firm providing merger, acquisition and corporate finance services to middle market companies, released its predictions for the 2008 middle market merger and acquisition (M&A) industry. Read more...


Commentary: Has the strike changed your viewing habits?

“We’re watching more public broadcasting and, of course, election news.” - Paul Richey, Southwest Region Managing Director, FOCUS Investment Bankers


Feature Newsmaker: Banking & Finance

Focus LLC, a national middle-market investment banking firm, has named Paul Rich southwest regional managing director at its Los Angeles office.


No need for U.S. to fear the foreign investor

Despite recession rumors, we predict the U.S. middle market will continue to thrive, thanks to private equity firms offsetting the subprime credit meltdown, changing demographics and increasing foreign investments. Read more...


Global investors breathe life into economy

Some Americans express concern that foreign acquisitions could threaten national security. However, middle-market companies should embrace, not fear, international investors in 2008. Read more...


Embrace, don’t fear international investors

In my own firm, eight out of our last 11 transactions in 2007 involved Western European buyers and one involved an Indian company. Some Americans express concern that foreign acquisitions could threaten national security. However, middle-market companies should embrace, not fear, international investors in 2008. Read more...



Study: Rosy outlook for midmarket deals in 2008

What's driving middle market growth? Foreign deals, according to a 2008 forecast from middle market investment bank Focus LLC.
Read more...


Fear not the foreign investor
In my own firm, eight out of our last 11 transactions in 2007 involved Western European buyers and one involved an Indian company. Some Americans express concern that foreign acquisitions could threaten national security. However, middle-market companies should embrace, not fear, international investors in 2008. Read more...

Auction block movers & shakers

FOCUS LLC promoted Paul Richey to southwest regional managing director, based in Los Angeles.


Believe the Hype: Investors See Green in Clean Tech

“Renewable suggests we use something with an infinite supply for energy – wind, solar, waves, etc. – whereas green could even involve the use of petroleum,” says Rodgers, CEO of FOCUS LLC, a private equity investment firm based in Washington, D.C.


Focused Sale

Atlanta-based Advanced Control System Inc.’s sale to Portugal’s largest energy company was brokered by FOCUS, LLC’s local office.


Business strategy essential in determining value

"Ultimately, the market will decide what a client is worth," says George Shea, regional managing partner of Focus LLC, a national investment banking firm. Read more...


Banking & Finance

Napa investment banker John Simpson has been tapped by the Washington, D.C.-based firm Focus LLC to be a managing director. Mr. Simpson said he will work initially out of an office in San Francisco, but the company will likely open an office in Napa.


Energy giant moving HQ from Miami to Atlanta

The transaction was handled by law firm King and Spalding LLP and FOCUS Investment Banking Inc. Read more...


EFACEC acquires ACS; expands focus on North American electric utility marketplace

ACS was advised in the transaction by FOCUS Investment Banking and Thompson Hine LLP. EFACEC was advised by King & Spalding LLP. Read more...


Coming into Focus

"L.A. is just a wonderful area for manufacturing, distribution and business services," Richey said. "In this market, the subprime crunch has not affected our activity too much."


Movers and Shakers

Investment bank Focus LLC opened a Los Angeles office and added managing director Paul Richey to it, concentrating on manufacturing, distribution and business services.


Middle-market bankers launch Western expansion

Focus LLC, a middle market investment bank, is expanding its West Coast operations with the opening of a Los Angeles office and the hiring of two managing directors in California. Read more...


Focus Buys Another 2 Companies

Investment bank Focus LLC has acquired merger and acquisition advisory services firms in Illinois and North Carolina to go along with its purchase last month of a Northern Virginia company. Read more...


DC’s Focus LLC buys two firms

George Shea, Focus' Southeast managing director, said the move is important for Focus to move into "the financial hub of the Southeast." Read more...


Focused move

George Shea, Focus' Southeast managing director, said the move is important for Focus to move into "the financial hub of the Southeast." Read more...


FOCUS joins with Education Capital
The combination allows Education Capital of Alexandria, Va. And FOCUS, a Washington-based company that handles investment banking for middle-market companies, to combine their forces to help growing educational companies with business and transaction strategies.
Read more...

FOCUS Combines with Education Capital, LLC

Bringing these two businesses together is in line with FOCUS’ strategy of structural growth designed to ensure we are meeting the needs of mid-market companies,” said Doug Rodgers, CEO of FOCUS.
Read more...


Investment bank bolsters education biz with deal
Investment bank Focus LLC has bought an Alexandria company and plans to announce three more acquisitions in the coming weeks.
Read more...


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