Introducing Megan Ward to our Summer 2022 Semester Internship Program! Here at Calder Capital, we thrive on our culture of learning and curiosity, which is why our internship program is so important. In fact, many of our advisors came to us as undergraduate interns, green and eager to learn! Our internship program is not coffee runs and paper pushing. Our interns work hard behind the scenes at every stage of our M&A process. They keep our prospecting process moving, they have their hands in every financial analysis and valuation, and they collaborate to put together our Confidential Information Memorandum for each client that’s launched to market. Since they’re such an integral part of our team, we want to introduce who’s working behind the scenes for the summer of 2022. We’re Proud to Introduce Megan Ward! Megan is an incoming Junior at the University of Dayton where she is pursuing a Major in Finance and a Minor in Accounting. Megan is originally from Grand Rapids and plans on pursuing investment banking in Chicago upon graduating. When Megan isn’t working or studying for school she enjoys running, cooking, and spending time at Lake Michigan with friends. She is also an avid reader […]
Introducing Chase Peterson: Michigan Man
Introducing Chase Peterson to our Summer 2022 Semester Internship Program! Here at Calder Capital, we thrive on our culture of learning and curiosity, which is why our internship program is so important. In fact, many of our advisors came to us as undergraduate interns, green and eager to learn! Our internship program is not coffee runs and paper pushing. Our interns work hard behind the scenes at every stage of our M&A process. They keep our prospecting process moving, they have their hands in every financial analysis and valuation, and they collaborate to put together our Confidential Information Memorandum for each client that’s launched to market. Since they’re such an integral part of our team, we want to introduce who’s working behind the scenes for the summer of 2022. We’re Proud to Introduce Chase Peterson! Chase is an incoming Junior at the University of Michigan: Ross School of Business where he studies Finance and Accounting. He is originally from Montague, Michigan and will be spending the summer working here in Grand Rapids at Calder Capital. After graduation, Chase plans on working in investment banking in Chicago where he can continue to explore his interest in mergers and acquisitions. He is […]
Introducing Giorgio Hama: Avid Hot Cocoa Drinker
Introducing Giorgio Hama to our Summer 2022 Internship Program! Here at Calder Capital, we thrive on our culture of learning and curiosity, which is why our internship program is so important. In fact, many of our advisors came to us as undergraduate interns, green and eager to learn! Our internship program is not coffee runs and paper pushing. Our interns work hard behind the scenes at every stage of our M&A process. They keep our prospecting process moving, they have their hands in every financial analysis and valuation, and they collaborate to put together our Confidential Information Memorandum for each client that’s launched to market. Since they’re such an integral part of our team, we want to introduce who’s working behind the scenes for the summer of 2022. We’re Proud to Introduce Giorgio Hama! Giorgio is a Senior at Grand Valley State University studying Accounting and Finance. After graduation, Giorgio would like to work as a financial analyst for a Mergers & Acquisitions firm like Calder or in a department for a larger corporate company. Giorgio enjoys spending his free time hiking trails as he finds the experience to be very relaxing. He also likes going to the gym and […]
Introducing Drew Peluso: Sneaker Connoisseur
Introducing Drew Peluso to our Summer 2022 Semester Internship Program! Here at Calder Capital, we thrive on our culture of learning and curiosity, which is why our internship program is so important. In fact, many of our advisors came to us as undergraduate interns, green and eager to learn! Our internship program is not coffee runs and paper pushing. Our interns work hard behind the scenes at every stage of our M&A process. They keep our prospecting process moving, they have their hands in every financial analysis and valuation, and they collaborate to put together our Confidential Information Memorandum for each client that’s launched to market. Since they’re such an integral part of our team, we want to introduce who’s working behind the scenes for the summer of 2022. We’re Proud to Introduce Drew Peluso! Drew is a Senior at Michigan State University. He’s studying Finance, making him a natural fit here at Calder Capital. He is a Michigan native and grew up in Troy, Michigan. Drew has always been very entrepreneurial minded. In high school, he even started up a small business where he sourced shoes for customers and even some professional athletes. After college, he plans on working […]
Calder Capital Welcomes Jakob Simonds to the Central Services Team!
Calder Capital is pleased to welcome Jakob Simonds as Lead Analyst of our Central Services team. Jakob joined our team for the Winter/Spring 2021 Internship program. He’ll be staying on as financial analyst and lead of new client onboarding. While you may remember him as our Guacamole Hater, there is far more to share about Jakob than his aversion to avocados. A recent graduate of Grand Valley State University, Jakob is a Grand Rapids native, a University of Michigan sports enthusiast, and a lover of the outdoors. He takes his coffee black, and yet on par with his willingness to try new things, he’s looking forward to further espresso bar training from Calder’s in-house baristas. While Jakob’s day-to-day responsibilities have remained relatively unchanged from his time in the internship program, Jakob has assumed a leadership role. “I spend time overseeing the work of the other analysts and interns, and onboarding new clients,” he says. “I’m still doing a lot of the same daily tasks (creating financial models, valuations, and comprehensive marketing materials) but I would say that overall I’m working on a lot more of the big-picture initiatives.” Jakob is excited to continue growing along with Calder. “I would also […]
Market Remarks Q3 2021: Max Friar Interviews Transaction Attorney Andrew Longcore
In lieu of our usual collaborative Q3 report, our Managing Partner Max Friar sat down with colleague and longtime friend Andrew Longcore for a Q&A on what he’s been seeing in the Q3 business market. Andrew has unique experience as both a transaction attorney and M&A advisor facilitating deals. Max: How are owners/sellers feeling right now? What are the reasons behind these feelings? Andrew: The M&A market is extremely active right now. There seems to be an increase in burnout or looking for a change in life. The pandemic has caused a lot of uncertainty and caused others to reevaluate their priorities. I do anticipate a tipping point coming. I do not know when but with the number of business owners that are experiencing burnout, that are nearing (or are past) retirement age, and the number of distressed businesses surviving on government subsidies, I expect to see the number of businesses available to be bought on the rise. Max: Are there any themes driving buyer interest/activity? For example, low interest rates, SBA incentives? Andrew: Each buyer is unique but for individual buyers, I believe there is a growing desire to take control of their professional life and not rely on […]
Calder Capital Buy-Side Client Update: September 2021
The leaves are beginning to change and the air is feeling crisp. At Calder, we are stocking the fridge with hard apple cider and as much pumpkin spice coffee as possible. Our Buy-Side team is hard at work fulfilling our current buy-side clients’ mandates. September set a new record for lead generation! How do we do this? It’s 90% elbow grease combined with 10% data science. We combine a personal touch, marketing automation, and data analytics to hone best practices with the tedious work that no one wants to do – lots of research, cold calls, and email outreach. Select Seller Leads Developed in September: Establishing Credibility as a Buyer Owners frequently receive inquiries from potential buyers that lead nowhere. In fact, 9 out of 10 buyers that investigate a business acquisition will never even close a deal! While this is a reality, over time potential sellers grow weary and skeptical of inquiries and become concerned about devoting time to buyer introductions as they fear it will just be a waste of time. This makes it even harder for a serious buyer to engage an owner about selling. How do you establish the credibility needed to […]
Max Friar of Calder Capital, LLC Honored as Bronze Stevie® Award Winner in 2021 American Business Awards®
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 29, 2021 – Max Friar, Founder and Managing Partner of Calder Capital, LLC was named the winner of a Bronze Stevie® Award in the Entrepreneur of the Year – Financial Services category in The 19th Annual American Business Awards® today. The American Business Awards are the USA’s premier business awards program. Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word meaning “crowned,” the awards will be virtually presented to winners during a live event on Wednesday, June 30. “Friar exhibits great skills of leadership and entrepreneurship. Calder has had yearly substantial growth and it looks like he knows how to move fast and make changes.” -Judges “I’m honored to receive this recognition alongside so many impressive and hardworking honorees,” remarked Friar, regarding the award. “I am so proud of our team, each of whom buckled down in 2020 and refused to let the pandemic stop our growth and progress. Thank you also to the American Business Awards’ judges who gave their time to analyze so many entries. This has truly been an honor.” According to judges, “In a time where many small business owners are struggling to keep their doors open and fighting the urge to simply close […]
Calder Capital/SBDA Quarterly Market Pulse
Hear from our advisors what the Q1 2021 M&A market looked like from a boots-on-the-ground perspective. Trending: #bloodsweatandtears #sellonahighnote #beaggressive #PPP As we’re headed into the second quarter of our second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, let’s reflect back on some of the patterns of Q1 in the Mergers and Acquisitions market. Overall, 2021 looks strong going forward. Transactions for our first quarter have declined a bit from Q1 of 2020, which was immediately pre-pandemic, however, the aggregate value of our 2021 transactions were significantly larger causing us to have a record Q1 in terms of sales. As far as we can see, the slight decline is not due to buyer demand or available capital, which is at a record high–but rather, supply has slowed a bit as sellers wait out the market while they try to rebuild valuation. Not surprisingly, at Calder we’ve noticed that buy-side M&A has especially taken off vs this time last year. “The economy and environment is becoming energized at the thought of an end to COVID with the vaccines coming out,” raves Garrett Monroe, Mergers & Acquisitions Advisors (MAA) at Calder Capital. The general consensus is that the market is “frothy,” and flush […]
Featured: Ian Watts
M&A Advisor at Calder Capital Graduate of Northwood University Small Business Junkie Motto: Do it afraid! Favorite Activity: Listening to and watching Mindset (psychology and neuroscience), Business and Leadership Audiobooks and Podcasts. And on the weekends, watching action, suspense and movie dramas. Karaoke Night Song: (He hasn’t found it yet, but here’s hoping he will hanging out with the team at Calder.) What motivated you to become an M&A advisor? I’m a small business junkie who loves to help others fulfill their small business goals and dreams. And Calder is an amazing company to be a part of to do just that. Calder has a stellar team, track record of success and great unique selling proposition that adds massive value to our clients. How did you come to work at Calder Capital? I reached out to Max [Managing Partner at Calder Capital] via the website to inquire if there was an opportunity for me to add value to the team. And after connecting with Max, I let him know that he wouldn’t be able to get rid of me! What kinds of businesses do you like to work with? I love service-based businesses. In particular, I have a special […]