Transactions

A third-generation, family-owned precision components manufacturer serving the aerospace, defense, and automotive industries. The business had built 40 years of proprietary manufacturing know-how, long-term OEM customer relationships, and an exceptional safety and quality record. Crassus managed a full sell-side process — from CIM preparation through final closing — achieving a significant premium to the owner's initial valuation expectations. The seller retained a meaningful equity stake and remained as Chairman.

A founder-owned engineering and environmental consulting firm with 28 years of operating history, serving municipal, industrial, and commercial clients across the Southeast. The founder's primary objective was to reward his loyal employee base while achieving full liquidity and avoiding a sale to a financial buyer. Crassus structured a 100% ESOP transaction, arranged $32M in ESOP financing, and negotiated with the independent trustee on the founder's behalf — closing in under 90 days. The transaction qualified for IRC Section 1042 tax deferral, saving the seller approximately $6M in federal tax liability.

A premium specialty food manufacturer with a nationally distributed brand, proprietary formulations, and a loyal customer base across natural and organic retail channels. Revenue had grown at a 22% CAGR over 5 years, and margins were expanding on the back of operational improvements Crassus had helped implement in the 18 months prior to the transaction. The CIM process generated significant strategic buyer interest, and the final purchase price reflected both the brand's current earnings power and its runway for continued growth under a larger platform. Founders exited fully at closing.

Crassus was retained by a private equity-backed home health services platform pursuing a regional consolidation strategy in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. We identified a high-quality, independently owned home health and hospice provider operating in markets adjacent to the platform's existing footprint — and approached the owner prior to any formal process. Crassus managed the full buy-side transaction from introductory meeting through LOI, diligence, and closing. The acquisition was completed off-market at a price that reflected fair value for the seller and compelling economics for the buyer.

A technology-enabled business process outsourcing company serving mid-size financial services clients. The founder, approaching his mid-60s, had identified his COO and CFO as the ideal successors but had no clear path to transition ownership. Crassus advised the management team — not the founder — structuring a management buyout in partnership with a growth equity firm that valued the business at $38M. Management contributed $1.2M personally in exchange for 35% equity ownership, with the remaining 65% held by the PE partner. The founder achieved a full liquidity event and remained as a non-executive advisor for 24 months post-close.

A regional third-party logistics company with owned warehousing infrastructure, a fleet of 180 vehicles, and long-term contracts with Fortune 500 consumer products companies. The business had been on the market with a prior banker for 14 months without a close. Crassus was brought in to reposition the process — we re-ran a comprehensive CIM, rebuilt the financial model to better capture the true earnings power of the business, and re-approached the market with a targeted outreach to 22 strategic and financial buyers. The transaction closed within 7 months at a price 18% above the prior banker's highest offer.

A multi-location residential services business — HVAC, plumbing, and electrical — that had grown rapidly through acquisitions but had not successfully integrated its operations. Margins had compressed significantly, customer satisfaction was declining, and the owner was considering a distressed sale. Crassus was engaged first as an advisory client — we redesigned the operational structure, implemented shared services across locations, renegotiated vendor contracts, and rebuilt the financial reporting infrastructure. Over 18 months, EBITDA improved from $2.1M to $7.7M. We then ran a sell-side process that closed at a premium valuation reflecting the newly demonstrated earnings power of the business.

A multi-state behavioral health services company operating outpatient mental health, substance use disorder, and crisis stabilization programs across 22 locations. The founders had built the business over 16 years with a clear clinical mission and a strong management team in place. Crassus ran a targeted sell-side process focused exclusively on healthcare PE buyers with operational experience in behavioral health — ensuring that the mission and culture of the organization would be preserved under new ownership. The final partner was selected not just on price, but on alignment with the founders' vision for how the platform should grow. Founders received full liquidity and departed the business within 18 months post-close.

Retained by a leading industrial services private equity platform to lead proprietary sourcing for its buy-and-build acquisition program. Crassus developed a systematic outreach program targeting independently owned industrial services businesses in adjacent markets — conducting owner outreach, managing relationship development, and advancing 6 targets to active diligence simultaneously. Two transactions have been signed and closed within the pipeline, with four additional targets under active negotiation. The platform has grown from a single founding acquisition to a multi-regional business on track to reach $50M+ EBITDA by year-end 2025.