Considering the sale or succession of your business in the next 3 to 5 years?
We’ll provide the expertise and insights you need to move forward with confidence.
SEE HOW
Business Succession Services & Process
We’ll partner with you to maximize your success and minimize your stress through every phase of the transition. Whether you’re selling to internal successors, a financial buyer, or an industry partner, we provide strategic insights and execution support tailored to your goals.
Value Capture & Business Optimization
Before succession planning begins, we identify opportunities to enhance your business’s value by:
- Evaluating financial performance and enact plans to drive revenue and grow EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization)
- Identifying inefficiencies and streamlining operations
- Enhancing market position and competitive advantages
- Strengthening financial reporting for a higher valuation multiple
Succession Planning & Valuation
A successful transition starts with a clear plan. We help you:
- Assess business value through financial analysis & market comparables
- Explore potential buyers (key employees, ESOPs, private equity, strategic buyers)
- Structure the sale to maximize financial & tax benefits
- Prepare financial statements & quality of earnings reports to support valuation
Deal Execution & Transaction Management
When it’s time to sell, we provide hands-on support through the entire transaction:
- Identifying & connecting with the right buyers
- Structuring the deal for optimal financial outcomes
- Negotiating terms & securing a Letter of Intent (LOI)
- Managing due diligence & contract execution
- Closing the sale with minimal disruption to business operations
About Rocklobs
Rocklobs Advisory was founded by Kevin T. Lewis, a former Management Consulting Partner at PwC. Kevin’s extensive background in business strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and financial consulting makes him a trusted advisor for business owners looking to maximize their company’s value and execute a seamless transition.
While at PwC, Kevin led Medical Device and MedTech consulting with a focus on CDMO operations. In that role, he supported PwC MedTech clients and deals, and served as the Northeast Lead for Semiconductor Operations.
As a specialist in Medical Device Manufacturing and Carveouts, Kevin brings over 40 years of broad industry and consulting experience across multiple sectors, including:
- Aerospace
- Engineering
- High Tech
- Industrial
- Manufacturing
- Medical
- Semiconductor
- Service
Prior to PwC, Kevin held key leadership roles at PRTM Management Consultants, InfoLibria, and Raytheon—developing expertise in semiconductor product development, product strategy, marketing, and manufacturing engineering.
Case Studies
Field Services Company | Acquisition and Strategic Growth
Challenge:
The company, a high-tech company specializing in cryo product services with $1M in annual revenue and a 5% EBITDA margin, attempted to sell to its employees to facilitate the 68-year-old owner’s retirement. The effort failed due to insufficient employee financing, limited revenue, and low profitability, which deterred buyer interest. Rocklobs Advisory’s initial assessment identified opportunities to grow the business through new cryo product lines, expansion into medical and industrial markets, and enhanced customer acquisition. However, the owner was unwilling to wait for succession planning and growth to take root, seeking an immediate exit with minimal ongoing involvement.
Solution:
Rocklobs Advisory acquired the company and implemented a growth strategy, leveraging its three-phase process:
- Value Capture & Business Optimization: Conducted a comprehensive review, identifying opportunities to develop new cryo products (e.g., advanced cooling systems for medical diagnostics) and enter high-growth markets like industrial automation. Launched a targeted customer acquisition strategy, including digital marketing and strategic partnerships with medical and industrial firms, boosting leads by 35% within 12 months. Optimized operations by streamlining supply chain processes, reducing costs by 15% and improving EBITDA to 10% within 18 months, setting the stage for significant growth.
- Succession Planning & Valuation: Valued the business at $1.1M–$1.4M based on market comparables and projected growth potential. To address the owner’s urgency, Rocklobs proposed acquiring the business directly for $1.2M, enabling an immediate exit while committing to grow revenue to $5M and EBITDA to 20% for a future sale. Structured a tax-efficient acquisition deal and prepared quality of earnings reports to ensure transparency and support the valuation.
- Deal Execution & Transaction Management: Negotiated the acquisition, securing a deal that included a 6-month advisory role for the owner to ensure a smooth transition while minimizing their involvement. Managed due diligence, addressing profitability concerns and emphasizing growth opportunities in new markets.
Results:
Post-acquisition, Rocklobs executed the growth plan, expanding product lines and market presence to position the company for a future strategic sale.
Engineering Services Company | Choosing Growth Over an Undervalued Acquisition Offer
Challenge:
The company, a civil engineering and water treatment operations company with $2.5M in annual revenue and a 20% EBITDA margin ($500K EBITDA), was approached by a larger civil engineering firm interested in acquiring its specialized water treatment expertise and stable client base. Despite solid revenue streams and substantial cash reserves, the company had not invested these reserves for growth, limiting its scalability and perceived value. The larger firm’s initial offer undervalued the business, falling short of returns equivalent to external investment opportunities (e.g., 8–10% annual market returns). The owner, committed to staying with the business for 10 years, sought to evaluate the offer and maximize value, preferring a standalone growth plan if the offer did not meet expectations.
Solution:
Rocklobs Advisory applied its three-phase process to assess the offer, enhance the company’s value, and develop a robust growth plan as the primary strategy:
- Value Capture & Business Optimization: Conducted a comprehensive review of financials and operations, identifying opportunities to deploy cash reserves into growth initiatives, such as expanding water treatment services into municipal and industrial sectors. Implemented a strategic marketing plan and partnerships with regional utilities, securing 25% more project contracts within 12 months. Optimized project delivery processes, reducing costs by 12% and increasing EBITDA to 23%, positioning the business for significant scalability.
- Succession Planning & Valuation: Performed a detailed valuation, estimating a fair sale price of $5M–$6M based on industry multiples (10–12x EBITDA for engineering firms) and growth potential from new contracts. Benchmarked the larger firm’s offer against external investment returns (8–10% annually), confirming a valuation gap. Developed a standalone growth plan targeting $5M in revenue and a 25% EBITDA margin within 3 years, leveraging cash reserves to fund expansion while aligning with the owner’s 10-year commitment. Prepared quality of earnings reports to support negotiations and future growth.
- Deal Execution & Transaction Management: Engaged with the acquiring firm to negotiate a revised offer, presenting enhanced financials and growth projections to justify a $5M–$6M valuation. When the revised offer remained below expectations, Rocklobs advised against the sale, prioritizing the standalone growth plan. Secured $1.5M in new municipal and industrial contracts to drive revenue growth, establishing a 10-year roadmap for the owner to lead expansion while maintaining control. Structured a contingency plan for future sale discussions if market conditions improved.
Results:
Rocklobs Advisory empowered the company to reject the undervalued acquisition offer, opting instead for a standalone growth plan that achieved 20% revenue growth to $3M and a 3% EBITDA margin increase to 23% within 18 months. The growth plan, funded by cash reserves, positioned the business to reach $5M in revenue and a 25% EBITDA margin ($1.25M EBITDA) within 3 years, projecting a potential $12.5M–$15M valuation (10–12x EBITDA) for a future sale, surpassing external investment returns (8–10% annually). The owner’s 10-year commitment was supported by a clear roadmap, ensuring long-term leadership and value creation while preserving the company’s legacy in water treatment services.