Lagasse Joins BTS Team of Advisors

Mark Lagasse is the newest member of the Business Transition Strategies team of advisors working with the owners of private companies in New England, according to John Howe, director.

Mark brings 30 years of accounting and operational management experience, including 25 years of pre- and post -acquisition planning, financial and operational due diligence, and post -closing integration. He has been involved in over 100 transactions. He will be working in all areas of the firm’s practice which include lower mid-market transactions; transition advisory projects; and a new service, buyer search initiatives.

“One key way small companies can grow and expand is to do so through an acquisition,” said Howe. “Mark will bring his experience of doing this for corporate clients to private companies in the lower mid-market.”

Expansion through acquisition can help a company grow market share, expand territory, develop new lines of business, among other things. This method is often employed by private equity funds which acquire a platform and then add in several smaller entities to create a bigger company.

“It is critical in this economy that businesses look to grow to be competitive,” Mark said. “We can meet with an owner and management team to focus in on specific targets that would be nice additions to an existing business.”

Through advisory projects, BTS advisors help owners and management teams achieve strategic and operational goals, which also help position a business for sale now or in the future.

With offices in Pembroke, N.H. and Andover, Mass., Business Transition Strategies in the past year handled transactions in these sectors: manufacturing, machining, coatings, plastics, distribution and assisted living. Several new companies will be coming to market during the first quarter of 2017. Those interested in getting teasers about new opportunities, please sign up here.

What our clients are saying...

“New Image Coatings, owners of Seal-Once, retained Business Transition Strategies in April of 2015 to locate a strategic buyer for the company. This was successfully completed during April of 2016 when we were acquired by UC Coatings of Buffalo, New York. Working at our side throughout this process were John Howe director, and Ken Schaefer, deputy director, of Business Transition Strategies. From the start of the project, where the information memorandum was developed, to helping us create the management presentation to acquirers, through negotiating the letter of intent and then the definitive agreement, they were there with me and our professional team every step of the way. It took nearly one year to the day to complete the project, but they never lost focus on my best interests and helped me keep my eye on business. This sale was very complex. It included transfer of trade secrets from the product developer, …as well as the transfer of a manufacturing and licensing agreement we had with the core compound producer… John and Ken marketed the company to a range of strategic acquirers, including a number of private equity groups and their platform companies, which ultimately resulted in an agreement with United Coatings… BTS’s level of expertise in the process and close attention to detail enabled us to successfully navigate the deal. I would recommend John Howe and Ken Schaefer to any company owner considering selling.”

- Hank Croteau

New Image Coatings