Approach
Insight Advisory Partners works with food and beverage companies seeking to raise between $5 and $150 million of capital for growth, acquisitions and other value-enhancing initiatives. We raise funding from a wide variety of sources and will occasionally co-invest as well. Given our exclusive focus on the food industry, we strive to be more than a checkbook or generic intermediary. We aim to be a true value-added resource in the planning and execution of capital markets transactions, whether we’re representing corporate buyers or sellers, capital sources or issuers, lenders or borrowers.
Part of the reason we can be such a partner is our exclusive focus on food and beverages. The language of the food industry is our language. We are industry insiders who understand the subtle nuances necessary to be successful in this highly competitive marketplace. Our professionals combine creativity, imagination and deep industry expertise to assist in identifying and achieving each client’s strategic objectives. We are not transaction driven; we prefer to invest in relationships that allow us to take a long term perspective and engage with owners and management throughout a company’s life cycle.
In addition to offering unbiased, independent advisory services, we will also selectively invest capital, both for our own account and in conjunction with individuals and groups associated with our firm, into client companies whose growth characteristics and strategic objectives are consistent with our investment parameters. We believe that acting as a principal alongside our clients can enhance credibility, align interests and encourage cooperation while serving as a catalyst for future capital markets transactions that ultimately produce significant value for owners, managers and other stakeholders.
Clients
Our merchant banking focus is on companies across the entire food industry value chain, including manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, retailers and food service operators.
- Food and beverage companies broadly, but especially those with any of the following characteristics:
- Potential for high-growth
- Niche products; both branded and private label
- Family-owned or closely-held
- Companies in transition, needing re-positioning and/or financial restructuring
- Producers seeking to expand distribution across channels
- Restaurant companies
- Private equity firms with food company investments
- Creditors of companies in the food industry
- Foreign food firms seeking U.S. market entry
Services
Merchant banking services that we offer include:
Merger and Acquisition Advisory
Our merger and acquisition advisory services integrate an in-depth understanding of our client’s needs and a detailed analysis of target markets, whether representing buyer or seller.
- Buy-side advisory
- Sell-side advisory
- Due diligence
- Joint ventures
- Licensing and franchising relationships
- Cross-border transactions
Capital Formation
We nurture and maintain relationships with diverse sources of capital including banks, insurance and finance companies, private equity and venture capital firms, hedge funds, alternative asset managers, family offices and high net worth individuals. We provide creatively-structured financings in support of growth plans, ownership transitions and recapitalizations.
- Senior Debt
- Asset-based
- Cash-flow
- Mezzanine (With or without equity participation)
- Sub-debt
- Preferred Stock (Straight coupon, convertible, warrants)
- Equity
- Leases and Sale/Leasebacks
Retained Searches
Our firm conducts retained searches on behalf of private equity sponsors, management groups and strategic buyers, both domestic and cross-border. We work collaboratively with our clients to develop and refine strategic acquisition criteria so that all efforts are highly focused and seamlessly coordinated.
Valuations
Valuation analyses are an integral aspect of our merchant banking practice and is the cornerstone for each of our banking disciplines. We also offer independent valuation services in connection with tax, equity-based compensation and tangible asset analyses.
Turnarounds and Capital Restructurings
We have extensive experience working with companies in transition or those requiring financial restructuring/turnaround services, including bankruptcies/receiverships. Our work includes representation of both debtors and creditors and is focused on achieving a satisfactory resolution for all parties to a transaction.