Touchstone Advisors Announces Merger with Business Transition Strategies (BTS)

January 2024

Hartford, CT.—Touchstone Advisors, a mergers and acquisition (M&A) advisory firm providing M&A and other transaction services to the lower middle market, is pleased to announce the merger with Business Transition Strategies (BTS). BTS, a regional M&A firm with offices in Concord, NH and Andover, MA provides advisory services to lower-middle market companies in all major sectors. Services include sell-side M&A, business valuations, business consulting and exit planning.

“We are thrilled to bring BTS into the Touchstone Advisors family,” said Steven Pappas, Partner of Touchstone Advisors. “Over the past 14 years, John Howe has built a dynamic organization whose greatest asset is the dedicated and talented people who helped to make it a success.”

Deborah Agrafojo, Partner of Touchstone Advisors comments “We look forward to leveraging the best of both organizations which will create opportunities for our customers, employees and enhance our future growth and success.”

John Howe, President of Business Transition Strategies commented, “BTS has always been about great people and great clients and joining the Touchstone Advisors Team will enhance our offerings to customers, broaden opportunities for our associates and be a strong catalyst for growth into the future. Finally, I wish to thank our valued team members – especially Ken Schaefer – for their skill, dedication and hard work.”

“By adding BTS’s stellar M&A team to augment the team already here at Touchstone, we are able to expand our M&A services to clients across a broader range of sectors and sizes.” said Jeffrey Rich, CFA and Partner at Touchstone Advisors.

About Touchstone Advisors

Founded by Michael Camerota, Touchstone Advisors seeks to provide outstanding M&A services to privately held lower-middle market businesses throughout the United States. Sectors served include manufacturing, distribution, technology, healthcare, and B2B services companies. The Company delivers this by investing in next-generation technology, building and supporting an exceptional team of people and never placing limits on quality delivered and success obtained. We partner with Four Point Capital Partners on all security related transactions. For more information, visit https://touchstoneadvisors.com/

About Business Transition Strategies

Business Transition Strategies (BTS) is committed to quality and customer excellence and has many years of experience in the lower-middle markets. BTS has become the go to partner for M&A advisory, business valuation, consulting and exit planning. It also offers traditional business brokerage services through NH Business Sales. For more information, visit www.businesstransitionstrategies.com

Contacts

Lee-Ann Valotto

Touchstone Advisors

lvalotto@touchstoneadvisors.com

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