We Do Not Show Tombstones. We Tell Stories.
Every deal is confidential. Every outcome is real. These anonymized stories show how extreme preparation, aggressive buyer outreach, and relentless advocacy translate into record setting results for our clients.
[Industry]
[Headline that focuses on the outcome or the challenge overcome]
The Company: [2 to 3 sentences describing the business without naming it. Industry, size, tenure, team, geography.]
The Challenge: [2 to 3 sentences on what made this deal difficult or what the owner was facing. Direct buyer approach, complex financials, industry niche, etc.]
Our Approach: [3 to 4 sentences on what Harborstone did. Materials, outreach, coaching, negotiation. Be specific about the process without revealing client details.]
The Result: [2 to 3 sentences on the outcome. Valuation achieved, competitive offers generated, deal structure, owner’s ongoing role. Keep anonymized but make the result feel real and impressive.]
Industry Title *Ex/ Construction & Building*
Record Valuation in Traffic Control
The Company: A well established commercial traffic control company serving public and private infrastructure projects across a multi state footprint. The owner had built the business over two decades with a strong team, long term contracts, and a reputation for safety and reliability.
The Challenge: Traffic control is a niche specialty that most M&A advisors do not understand. Buyer pools are smaller, revenue is project based, and valuation comps are limited. The owner had been approached directly by a private equity firm offering what seemed like a fair price, but had no way to know if the offer reflected the company’s true value.
Our Approach: We built a comprehensive 40+ page presentation that positioned the company’s geographic reach, safety record, contract pipeline, and workforce as strategic assets. We launched a structured auction process targeting both strategic acquirers and PE firms looking for platform investments in infrastructure services. We coached the owner through every management presentation and negotiated aggressively on deal terms.
The Result: The highest valuation ever recorded in the traffic control industry. A double digit EBITDA multiple that exceeded the owner’s expectations and the initial unsolicited offer by a significant margin. The owner retained a minority stake and stayed on to continue growing the business with a well capitalized partner.
Industry Title *Ex/ Professional Services*
Record Multiple with Zero Recurring Revenue
The Company: A mid market professional services firm with deep expertise in its vertical, a loyal client base, and strong margins. The company had grown steadily for over a decade but lacked the “recurring revenue” label that private equity typically gravitates toward.
The Challenge: Without subscription or contract based revenue, most M&A advisors would position this firm at a lower multiple. Buyers would focus on client concentration and the risk of revenue loss after a transition. The owner needed a team that could reframe these concerns into strengths.
Our Approach: We built a detailed narrative around client relationship depth, average tenure, repeat engagement rates, and the firm’s documented processes that made the business transferable beyond the owner. We positioned the company for both strategic acquirers who wanted the vertical expertise and PE platforms looking for add on acquisitions. We generated 70+ competitive offers through our structured auction process.
The Result: A record valuation in the professional services space. Double digit EBITDA multiple with no recurring revenue on the books. The competitive process created enough buyer demand that the final offer far exceeded initial expectations. The owner executed a partial sale and stayed on to continue building with a financial partner.
Industry Title *Ex/ CNiche Manufacturing*
From Unsolicited Offer to Record Setting Outcome
The Company: A niche manufacturing company producing specialty components for multiple industries. Strong margins, a skilled workforce, and facilities with room for expansion. The owner had been running the business for over 25 years and was considering his options.
The Challenge: A private equity firm approached the owner directly with an unsolicited offer at approximately 5x EBITDA. The offer seemed reasonable on the surface, but the owner had no representation, no competitive process, and no way to know if the terms were fair. The deal structure included provisions that would have significantly reduced the actual payout at closing.
Our Approach: We started with a full valuation and built comprehensive materials that highlighted the company’s proprietary processes, customer diversification strategy, equipment value, and growth runway. We launched an aggressive outreach campaign to our network of 4,000+ buyers, generating competition from strategic acquirers, PE platforms, and family offices. We coached the owner through management presentations and negotiated every term of the final agreement.
The Result: A record setting multiple in the EBITDA range that more than doubled the original unsolicited offer. The deal structure was clean, transparent, and fully understood by the owner before signing. The owner retained equity, stayed on to grow the business, and is positioned for a second exit at an even higher value.
Ready to do this the right way?
A conversation costs nothing. Let us show you what is possible.