What We Do

We offer a comprehensive range of Merchant Banking services to select firms and we begin every engagement by:

Understanding the unique value proposition and core competencies

Clarifying financial performance and identifying the source of value

Creating an assessment of market value (valuation)

Assessing market success and opportunities

Because we operate as a Holding Company, often owning firms ourselves, we have a unique perspective on how to help management teams optimize operations, capital structures and exit values.  We add value … definitely think a little differently from the average PE firm.

Our mission is to help our clients and member firms achieve outer market results by optimizing value creation

Who We Are

Rogers Kirven

Primarily known as a bottom-line business developer and strategist, Rogers has 25 years in negotiating, structuring and effectuating business growth. Rogers and his teams have sponsored over 50+ private equity investments in the past 25 years. These transactions have included acquisitions, growth capital investments, start ups, turnarounds and exits. They have included public offerings, sales and management buy-outs. Rogers has been responsible for review, valuation, and financial structure for acquisition and divestiture of companies in both the US and Europe and successfully completed over $4B in transactions. Rogers holds a B.A. from Clemson University and is a Graduate of the Executive Program for Smaller Companies – Stanford University.

Anthony (Tony) Ruben

Tony has significant financial, operational and international experience, including serving as President, CFO and COO of dynamic public, private and PE owned companies, as the MD of a management consulting firm (growth & turnarounds) and as an investment banker. Tony completed over 50 transactions (over $2 billion), including raising capital, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and IPO’s. Tony materially improves profitability and cash flow, enhances operational performance, redefines/refocuses organizational strategy, restructures balance sheets and workforces, raises capital, provides strategic insight and leadership, develops and implements metrics and communicates effectively. A graduate of the University of Illinois (BS- Accounting) and the University of Michigan (MBA- Finance and Corporate Strategy), Tony holds CPA and CGMA designations, has served as Treasurer/Board member for several non-profits, is a past Small Business Advisory Council volunteer of the year, Florida.

What We Believe

We are passionate about creating value in the lower-middle market. We believe every business is special, has an optimal potential value and that a once-in-a-lifetime entrepreneur Exit should be planned and executed with the thoughtfulness required to extract maximum returns. As we have sold many of our own companies, we know what it takes to get a premium transaction value… And we go for it by creating an auction environment and selecting the buyer the can pay and will close.