Structuring Family-Owned Business Transactions
CameronBlue has significant transaction and investment experience working through complex issues with owner-managers. Owner-managers desire outside capital for a variety of current business and financial needs. Each transition of family-controlled business to independently managed enterprise brings a unique set of opportunities and challenges.
Our experience gives CameronBlue the flexibility to structure and implement a partnership arrangement to best support business transformation, and our collaborative approach allows us to work with shareholders to solve challenges. CameronBlue can reach consensus with owner-managers to determine the future direction of the organization, design an appropriate transition of management leadership, and build a transaction structure that provides appropriate financial balance and reward.
CameronBlue has experienced many unusual circumstances in family-controlled situations and can provide solutions for a wide variety of financial, management transition, and ownership dynamics that could include the following:
- Capital for business expansion or acquisitions
An owner sometimes recognizes a financial “bridge too far” while seeing a need or opportunity to improve the company’s competitive position via a strategic acquisition or significant business expansion. These owners may desire a partner to share financial risk and provide additional expertise and resources. CameronBlue welcomes the opportunity to provide value-added resources to a team looking to expand capacity or make a strategic acquisition to get their company to the next level.
- Capital for liquidity and wealth diversification for shareholders
Many family-controlled companies have multiple shareholders with different management roles and responsibilities and differing needs for liquidity and diversification. CameronBlue is comfortable providing inactive or retiring shareholders with full liquidity while providing a combination of liquidity and ongoing ownership and financial incentives for owner-managers wishing to continue an active role with the business.
- Asset diversification
Some owner-managers remain passionate about the business and believe strongly in its future. However, they may require some liquidity to diversity net worth, provide financial recognition for key and long-term employees, and satisfy a desire to support charitable endeavors. If the time and ownership commitment remains, CameronBlue can assist these owner-managers.
- Owner-manager transitions
Some business owners have reached a stage in their lives where they are ready to retire or play a less active role in their company’s day-to-day operations. CameronBlue is flexible with the transition time and planning to produce the desired role and ownership interest in the Company.
- Generational transition
Senior family members may seek to transition leadership to next generation and provide them with a meaningful economic opportunity. At the same time, the senior family member is seeking significant personal liquidity to diversify and facilitate estate planning. CameronBlue will work hard to support and provide the greatest opportunity for success in this generational transfer.
- Next level business development
Many business owners reach a stage where they realize the need for outside guidance and insight is as critical as the capital provided. These owners want an experienced partner who has demonstrated the capability to take management teams and businesses to the next level of operating performance – CameronBlue has been there and done that.
The Founder has been directly involved in the purchase and sale of many owner-managed and family-controlled businesses, and he served as an investor and Chairman of the Board of 5 family-controlled businesses: Associated Asphalt, Cosmotronic Corporation, Dawes Transportation, Pacific Circuits, and Power Circuits (subsequently combined with Pacific and renamed TTM Technologies).
