Investment Banking

Boston, MA – G2 Capital Advisors (G2) proudly announces its recognition as Investment Banking Firm of the Year at the prestigious 18th Annual Turnaround Awards presented by The M&A Advisor. This award celebrates G2’s unwavering client commitment, optimized deal outcomes, and exceptional team—and reaffirms its position as a leader in the industry.

The Turnaround Awards honor the achievements and successes of the leading firms and professionals in the mergers and acquisitions, financing, restructuring, and turnaround communities. G2’s meaningful contributions to over 150 client engagements in 2023 have earned the firm this distinguished title, highlighting its collective expertise in navigating complex financial transactions and restructuring scenarios.

G2 President Matt Konkle expressed his appreciation, stating, “Winning the Investment Banking Firm of the Year Award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, who are each relentless in their pursuit of excellence in every aspect of our work.”

Ben Wright, Chief Operating Officer and Head of Restructuring at G2, emphasized the significance of this achievement, saying, “Being recognized as the Investment Banking Firm of the Year is a tremendous distinction. It reflects the energy and experience we bring to each client engagement—enabling innovative problem-solving with an approach rooted in a long-term perspective for maximizing value.

G2 extends its gratitude to The M&A Advisor for this recognition and looks forward to continuing its mission of providing unparalleled service and strategic guidance to clients and industry partners across its four core industries: Consumer & Retail, Industrials & Manufacturing, Technology & Business Services, and Transportation & Logistics.  

In mid-November each year, operators, investors, advisors, lenders, lawyers, and service providers meet in Las Vegas for the annual convergence of industry insight and expertise: the Restaurant Finance & Development Conference. G2’s Heidi Piché and Jenn Faulk attended and synthesized the key themes coming out of the three-day event. 

Everyone is approaching 2024 with caution. Brands wary of consumer cost-consciousness are breaking from existing strategies to test traffic-driving discounts and value offerings. Operators fatigued by ongoing challenges are looking for an exit—likely leading to a spate of seller activity.  Lenders are watching how consumers react to recent price increases, subsequent traffic declines, year-over-year profit margin trends, and the overall share-of-wallet relationship as they assess internal credit appetites. 

What does all this mean for restaurant operators looking for a life raft—namely, capital or a change-of-control transaction in 2024? We’ve broken down the four most important insights. 

Bigger is Better

Why scale matters more than ever. 

It is simply more expensive to do business today. The cost of inventory, labor, real estate, and capital improvements have all risen. What’s more, the borrowing index has surged by 200 bps compared to 2022, coupled with elevated risk premiums being charged by lenders. For many, the price to secure the capital is at a premium, but for those who can scale, mainly through acquisition, opportunities await, including:

  • Bolstered buying power and cost synergies on overhead 
  • Easier access to capital due to size and scale
  • Premium platform valuations gained through multiple arbitrage    

Hold, Please

When waiting to raise capital is wise. 

While gaining market mass is one winning strategy, holding tight is another. That’s because there are fewer active lenders today—most with more restrictive credit risk appetites and many prioritizing existing relationships. What’s more, many lenders are reducing leverage at underwriting and covenant setting by at least half a turn. The depth of the syndication market also poses challenges, requiring larger commitments from the top-tier banks. This exclusive credit club leaves a lot of restaurant operators out; therefore, if you have the runway, sit tight with your existing agreements.

If you are still considering borrowing, be aware that most banks require ancillary business, meaning business owners are tying up funds that in prior years could have been used for growth—and are increasingly coming forward with personal deposits to meet requirements. If you are exploring private credit to fill the gap left by the tighter senior credit market, be prepared to pay a premium on top of what senior lenders offer. 

Don’t Despair

Which deals are getting done. 

The dynamics may seem complex, but the reality is that strategic and private equity groups have capital to deploy and are still actively looking to acquire businesses. Another benefit: Given deal scarcity, strong assets still command competitive processes and high multiples. 

Here’s what we expect to see in terms of deal flow and close rates in 2024:

  • Conference participants expressed optimism about the prospects for increased M&A activity in 2024, particularly for well-capitalized, credit-worthy companies looking to scale, acquire alternate revenue channels, or underwrite cost synergies.
  • Despite a disconnect between buyers and sellers over the last two years, operating trends have stabilized, leading to a compression in the bid/ ask spread between buyer and seller.
  • Fatigue is expected to prompt more owners to ask, “Is now the right time to sell?” 
  • Due diligence will take center stage, resulting in more extensive analyses performed over a longer period and posing higher investment committee hurdles.

More deals and diligence mean a potentially lower close rate but an overall healthier M&A year, resulting in the survival of the fittest.

Get Prepared 

How to make a successful exit.

Given today’s market, you must prepare well ahead of an exit. Consider the past and present: Do you have a strong historical track record and the right team to support your business going forward? Are you confident that your operations are strong today and sustainable in the face of future market shifts? 

At G2, we are available as a proactive resource to help assess your financial and operational health as well as strategic alternatives. Our sector strength gives us a point of view on where the restaurant industry and lending community are headed—and how not to get left behind.  

To learn more about how our industry insight can support your business goals, contact our Consumer & Retail team. 

Heidi Piché
Managing Director, 
Consumer & Retail
[email protected]
617.823.9398
Jenn Faulk
Vice President, 
Consumer & Retail
[email protected]
508.654.2346
Matt Konkle
President
[email protected]
317.371.6608

G2 Capital Advisors (“G2”) is excited to welcome Reed Upson as Managing Director of Capital Markets. Located in Denver, Reed counts himself as part of the recent Rocky Mountain migration that has brought more lenders and sponsors to the region. Formerly the Head of Capital Markets at the San Francisco-based debt advisory firm Business Capital (BizCap), Reed has supported companies with capital raises, refinancings, and financial restructurings and has a depth of credit underwriting, transaction execution, and business development experience. To introduce Reed and get his take on current capital markets, we sat down with him to ask five fast questions:

  1. Welcome to G2! What drew you to our firm and convinced you to come aboard? 

    I first met Ben Wright, Chief Operating Officer at G2, about seven years ago in San Francisco—the G2 office was one floor above my office—and I got to know Ben pretty well. I was impressed by G2 early on: its focus on industries and integrated multi-product approach got my attention.

    Over the years, I’ve watched G2 service companies’ complete life cycle, supporting growth and navigating distress with bigger, more sophisticated, and increasingly complex deals. From my perspective, the G2 model is different from anything in the market today, and its growth has been both subtle and significant. I’d say the firm is a sleeping giant in the middle market, and I’m excited to grow professionally within its integrated platform. 

    But what really sold me was coming out and meeting everybody in Boston. The team maintains an all-in, entrepreneurial attitude. The people have a refreshing balance of empathy and intelligence, backed up by tremendously deep product and industry knowledge. It’s an impressive group of smart, low-ego people.

  2. What are you most looking forward to as Managing Director of Capital Markets? What industry and practice synergies are you excited to explore in this role? 

    While I have capital markets experience across G2’s industry sectors, my ability to now partner with our industry experts is a powerful differentiator. It lets me have nuanced conversations with bankers and lenders struggling with liquidity challenges and rising default rates. In addition, I’m able to pull in specialty groups like restructuring, to address clients’ complex situations. And, because our executive team is largely made up of former operators, G2 leadership brings an authentic appreciation to each engagement. Our team members have sat in our clients’ seats.

    I’m also excited to tackle larger, more institutional challenges through private equity partnerships, like raising equity to recapitalize—either a minority raise to help grow a business or a majority recap to return capital to limited partners (LPs). Or bringing other creative financing solutions to the table, such as mezzanine financing and preferred equity structures, which are helping increase portfolio companies’ cash flow by retiring higher amortizing debt structures. 

  3. The interest rate hikes that began in March 2022 have profoundly affected capital markets, inflating valuations and borrowing costs. How does the current environment create challenges and opportunities for our clients? How do you expect the market to change in 2024?

    I don’t think there will be a massive shift in interest rates, especially over the next year. Could rates come down a little bit? Perhaps. But what’s more likely is that strategics and sponsors will adjust to this new normal Eventually, sponsors will have to start returning capital to LPs, and companies will have to transact—and there will be clear winners and losers. Companies with better leverage profiles and capitalization can take advantage of add-on acquisitions. Companies on the other side of that coin will face new challenges: “What do I do? Do I sell? Do I recapitalize? What are my options?” 

    G2 is uniquely positioned to address both sides of that equation, which is exciting.

    I imagine on the lender side, there will be a lot more distress with banks specifically—and some cracks on the private debt side, too. After the whirlwind of M&A activity in 2020 and 2021, many of these businesses now have increased debt, reduced valuations, and face a looming maturity wall in 2024 and 2025. While lenders had previously been happy to amend and extend, I think hard decisions are coming, and the market is going to start seeing more refinancing activity being forced on companies from lenders, especially banks.

    Capital markets advisors will have to get more creative with stretch pieces like preferred equity or mezzanine financing to fill the gaps. The positive backdrop to all of this is that despite the uncertainty in the market, there is still a lot of capital out there—and private credit fundraising is at an all-time high. It’s my job to figure out from where to source it and how we can structure it to best support our clients. 

  4. How have you generated new business and steered clients through challenging market cycles?

    My business has been built on relationships with trusted advisors—lenders, attorneys, and CPAs with clients facing default and needing capital to either exit or pivot. I’ve tended to work with the same clients over time and across multiple situations—whether they’ve hit a speed bump or they’re continuing to grow. Anchoring long-term relationships will be easier at G2 as our investment bankers are so plugged in and can stay on top of industry-specific needs. There’s a natural progression of working alongside our clients’ business evolution.

    As a capital markets advisor, that parallel momentum is essential. I’m in the market every day, talking with lenders and investors and figuring out what the capital markets are actually doing. At G2, the question goes beyond, “Can we raise this capital or not?” Our team can see the sector-specific implications and the restructuring opportunities. With G2, the greatest value I can pass on to our clients is to anticipate what’s next and act as a comprehensive resource through any market cycle. 

  5. When not sourcing debt and equity, how do you spend your time? 

    I have two young kids who keep my wife and me pretty busy. As a family, we lean into all of Colorado’s outdoor activities—hiking, skiing, and biking. I’ve had to dial back my golf game, but I’ve gotten back into tennis. 

Like the markets, Reed is in perpetual motion and will be a tremendously valuable addition to G2’s team. For more information on G2’s capital markets capability, visit us online or contact our team leaders.

Reed Upson
Managing Director, Capital Markets
[email protected]
415.755.8851
Ben Wright
Chief Operating Officer
[email protected]
619.972.3586

CLIENT

Momentum is a leading global managed service provider focused on connectivity, communication, and collaboration solutions for more than 5,000 customers across 60 countries.  Momentum offers a comprehensive platform including a voice enablement solution for Microsoft Teams, managed network including SD-WAN, global connectivity, contact center, and cloud voice. Momentum is based in Atlanta, GA and has more than 500 employees.

SITUATION

Momentum hired G2 as its exclusive financial advisor to help execute on its inorganic growth strategy, with the primary goals being to expand its managed cloud services and UC offering, broaden its international footprint, and deepen its market penetration in key verticals.

ENGAGEMENT

“G2 is thrilled to support the Momentum team in what has been an aggressive acquisition roadmap that has further entrenched the company as a clear global leader in a rapidly consolidating space.  Asset Black expands Momentum’s geographic reach, bolsters scale and adds specialized vertical depth in the financial technology sector,” said Jereme LeBlanc, G2 Managing Director in Technology & Business Services.  

OUTCOME

“We are delighted to announce the acquisition of Asset Black, representing another milestone in our growth strategy,” said Todd Zittrouer, CEO of Momentum. “The addition of the complementary Asset Black portfolio and team further solidifies our position as a leading provider of managed cloud and network services. This acquisition aligns with our mission to enable customers and partners to thrive through superior technology and premier customer service.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to combine forces with Momentum. With Momentum’s proven track record and commitment to excellence, we are confident that together we will deliver exceptional solutions to our customers and achieve remarkable success in the managed network space and beyond,” said Mark Weeks, CEO of Asset Black. 

About G2 Capital Advisors

G2 Capital Advisors provides M&A, capital markets and restructuring advisory services to the middle market. We offer integrated, multi-product and sector-focused services by pairing highly experienced C-level executives with specialist investment bankers. We aspire to be the trusted advisor to our clients including individuals, corporations,  and institutional investors.

G2 Capital Advisors, a leading full-service investment bank and restructuring advisory firm, announced the continued expansion of its investment banking team today with the addition of Heidi Piché, a managing director in the firm’s consumer and retail group. As Managing Director, Heidi will spearhead the firm’s efforts in the Consumer & Retail industry, leveraging her extensive expertise and industry knowledge to deliver exceptional advisory services to G2 clients within the Consumer & Retail vertical, specifically the restaurant and franchised business sectors. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Heidi as a senior member of G2’s consumer and retail team,” said President of G2, Matt Konkle. “Her deep experience and relationships across the consumer and retail space both complement our existing capabilities and reinforce our ability to deliver best-in-class client outcomes.”

Piché brings over 20 years of banking experience, primarily in helping middle-market restaurant companies raise capital for growth and/or M&A activity. Prior to joining G2, Heidi spent 15+ years at Wells Fargo, most recently as a Segment Leader within the Restaurant Finance Group. During her tenure, she was pivotal in establishing Wells Fargo as an industry leader in Restaurant Finance, executing high-profile transactions, fostering valuable client relationships, and developing innovative financial strategies. 

Before leading a division of the Restaurant Finance Group, Piché was an officer in the Credit Resolution Group, providing risk management and industry expertise to clients most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. She began her tenure at Wells Fargo as a Business Development Officer, managing and developing client relationships, working closely with both founder-owned businesses and private equity sponsors active in the C&R industry. Before joining Wells Fargo, she worked at Bank of America in the Corporate Banking Restaurant Group.

“Heidi’s appointment represents a significant milestone for our firm as we continue to strengthen our position in the consumer and retail sectors,” said Jeffrey Unger, Chairman & CEO of G2 Capital Advisors. “Her expertise and dedication to delivering exceptional client service align perfectly with our mission of providing best-in-class investment banking services. We are delighted to welcome Heidi to our team and look forward to the success she will have on the G2 platform.”

G2 Capital Advisors offers M&A advisory services, including sell-side and buy-side advisory capital markets, operational and financial restructuring, and related strategic advisory services to complement a client’s growth plan. With a distinguished track record of advising on nearly $4 billion in closed M&A transactions, providing integrated investment banking services for high-growth companies in the Consumer & Retail, Industrials & Manufacturing, Technology & Business Services, and Transportation & Logistics industries.

CLIENT

ITOCHU International Inc. is the North American flagship company of the Japan-based trading company, ITOCHU Corporation. Industrious Group Inc. (formerly Enprortech Corp.), wholly owned subsidiary by ITOCHU International Inc., is a leader in maintenance, repairing, and overhauling services (“MRO”) for heavy industrial machinery and equipment throughout North America.   

SITUATION

ITOCHU International Inc. and Industrious Group are working to become the leading North American solutions provider for heavy industrial machinery and equipment, bringing together innovative technologies and best-in-class engineering to deliver single-source solutions for the modernization, maintenance, and repair of industrial equipment, facilities, and complex manufacturing systems, through a targeted M&A effort. . 

ENGAGEMENT

G2 Capital Advisors, LLC (“G2”) served as the exclusive buy-side advisor to Industrious Group & ITOCHU International Inc., leading a strategic M&A effort focused on identifying and engaging with potential acquisition candidates in the renewable MRO services sector. Industrious Group and ITOCHU International Inc. partnered with G2 to leverage the firms’ deep-rooted expertise across the Industrials and Manufacturing practice area, particularly within the Industrial Equipment MRO segment.

OUTCOME

In May 2023, Industrious Group, having been rebranded from Enprotech Corp., successfully executed the transaction  through the acquisition of American Hydro, a leading provider of hydropower turbine services to customers throughout North America. 

American Hydro was previously owned by Wärtsilä, a global leader in technology and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets.  American Hydro is a supplier of hydro upgrades, specializing in the design, engineering, manufacture, installation and servicing of high-performance hydro-turbines and pumps. The business has a full-service modernization offering and capabilities for hydropower plants across North America. 

Chris Pascarella, CEO of Industrious Group Corporation commented “The Industrious Group is thrilled to join forces with American Hydro and leverage each other’s expertise to build out a more diverse business unit within the renewables and heavy industrials service market. With the support of our partners, ITOCHU, we have been examining the Hydro landscape and are optimistic in our ability to penetrate this market with Industrious Group’s existing infrastructure, American Hydro’s specialization, and ITOCHU’s global position. We thank the G2 team for running an efficient and collaborative mandate in helping our team partner with the highly reputable American Hydro business.”

Victoria Arrigoni, Managing Director of Industrials and Manufacturing at G2 Capital Advisors commented “It has been an honor to be a part of expanding ITOCHU’s footprint in the hydropower and renewables market. The opportunity for ITOCHU to expand to the hydropower space is a pivotal moment for their machinery division’s go-to-market strategy and positions the group well for further expansion into the renewable energy and other industrial end markets.”

About Industrious Group

Industrious Group is a global provider of high-value-added services, products, systems, and solutions for customers in steel, automotive, beverage, and other heavy industries. The business supports, maintains, repairs, and rebuilds heavy production equipment and controls. They also supply spare parts and sub-assemblies. Industrious Group is a subsidiary of ITOCHU International’s Machinery Division. 

About American Hydro, Inc.

American Hydro is a leading hydropower turbine provider in North America. The business is a supplier of hydro upgrades, specializing in the design, manufacture, installation and servicing of high-performance hydro-turbines and pumps. This business is headquartered in York, PA and was previously owned by  Wärtsilä. For more information, visit www.ahydro.com.

About ITOCHU International

ITOCHU International Inc. is the North American flagship company of the Japan-based trading company, ITOCHU Corporation. ITOCHU International provides trading services for a portfolio of over twenty subsidiaries and affiliates within their 7 divisions: Textile, General Products & Realty, Energy & Chemicals, Food, Machinery, Metals & Minerals, ICT & Financial Business. For more information, visit www.itochu.com.

About Wärtsilä

Wärtsilä Corporation is a publicly traded Finnish company which manufactures and services power sources and other equipment in the marine and energy markets. The business is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland. For more information, visit www.wartsila.com.

About G2 Capital Advisors

G2 Capital Advisors provides M&A, capital markets and restructuring advisory services to the middle market. We offer integrated, multi-product and sector-focused services by pairing highly experienced C-level executives with specialist investment bankers. We aspire to be the trusted advisor of choice to our clients including corporations and institutional investors. For more information, visit www.g2capitaladvisors.com.

CLIENT

CongruityHR (“Congruity” or the “Company”) is a leading outsourced human resources (HR) solutions provider offering HR, compliance, payroll, tax administration, employee benefits, and workers’ compensation and safety services to small and medium-sized businesses predominantly in the southeastern U.S. via a professional employer organization (PEO) and administrative services organization (ASO) model. Congruity has been a portfolio company of RFE Investment Partners (“RFE”) since 2021.

SITUATION

Congruity and RFE seek to bring the Company’s services to other small and medium-sized businesses across the United States while maintaining local relationships and brand value. To build on its organic growth momentum, Congruity identified a targeted acquisitions strategy to identify companies that can benefit from a partnership with a national, funded platform while maintaining a sense of autonomy in their market.

ENGAGEMENT

RFE and Congruity engaged G2 Capital Advisors, LLC (“G2”) as the exclusive buy-side advisor to identify acquisition targets that share Congruity’s approach to the industry. G2 built a holistic view of the PEO landscape and conducted market outreach to grow Congruity’s brand awareness and find like-minded PEOs that support a national reach through deep, local relationships.  

The process spurred the successful acquisition of Tampa, FL-based PEO JanusHR (“Janus”), a comprehensive, personalized HR services provider based in Tampa, FL. Janus brings PEO expertise and strong regional relationships to bolster Congruity’s growing presence in Florida and Southeast U.S. JanusHR was founded and led by Daneen Gurney, who previously had a 20+ year career with Oasis Outsourcing, where she started as one of the first sales representatives and quickly rose to District Manager, Regional Vice President, and then VP of Strategic Partnerships. Gurney managed eight (8) markets, opened over ten (10) offices, and helped manage several acquisitions for Oasis. Under Gurney’s leadership, JanusHR achieved significant market share in the Tampa Bay region.

“We are excited to welcome Daneen and the Janus team to the Congruity family. They bring a high level of industry expertise to our organization,” said Darrin Hunter, Congruity CEO. “The addition of JanusHR brings great value to Congruity’s portfolio and expands on our commitment to legacy brands, relationships, and people.” 

“Daneen and Janus stood out in our market conversations as an excellent fit with the Congruity strategy. Sharing the Congruity narrative with her and cultivating a relationship over time to ready her for a partnership revealed an exciting strategic fit and business opportunity. This is a great credential for the Congruity model and enhances our continued work in the market. We are glad to support Janus’ partnership with Congruity and are energized to realize more successes together in 2023,” shared Kerri Ford, Managing Director at G2 Capital Advisors.

About CongruityHR

CongruityHR is a Human Resource outsourcing company providing HR, compliance, payroll, tax administration, employee benefits, and workers’ compensation and safety services to small and medium-sized businesses predominantly in the southeastern U.S. via a professional employer organization (PEO) and administrative services organization (ASO) model. 

About JanusHR

A Tampa-based PEO, JanusHR provides comprehensive, personalized HR services for small to medium-sized businesses across Florida.

About RFE Investment Partners 

RFE Investment Partners is a private equity firm focused on making control investments in established small market companies in the United States. RFE is a long-standing firm founded in 1980 with over 40 years of experience investing in the lower middle market. RFE’s investment strategy is to transform its portfolio companies from the lower end of the market to fully professionalized and market-leading middle-market companies. RFE is currently investing out of Fund IX.

CONTACTS ON THIS DEAL:

Kerri Ford, Managing Director, Head of Technology & Business Services
T: 917.515.7585 E: [email protected]

Jereme LeBlanc, Managing Director, Buy-Side
T: 917.541.5164 E: [email protected]

Zachary Kalman, Associate
T: 413.351.1491 E: [email protected]

Jeremy Caulkins, Associate
T: 585.645.4472 E: [email protected]

THE 2023 BANKING FAILURES

Two weeks ago, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) became known as the second-largest commercial bank failure in the history of the United States. In the days that followed the collapse, global financial markets witnessed intense turbulence, with several additional dislocations in the bank and credit markets and mounting distress across institutions that had been struggling against the backdrop of a sharp rise in interest rates this past year. With rapidly evolving, dynamic capital markets combined with the media frenzy surrounding the global economy, many fear what could come next. Investors and business owners should focus on safeguarding their businesses for the future. 

The G2 team supports its clients and industry partners regardless of circumstances. We guide companies through moments of complexity or rapid change through our deep operational experience and dedicated financial advisory expertise. Over the last 12 years, we have helped over 400 clients navigate complex situations across up and downtrend market cycles.  

If you are seeking guidance or looking to better understand potential business implications of the present state of the economy, G2 is here to help. Our restructuring & insolvency, capital markets, investment banking, and interim management teams are ready to extend support through these uncertain times. 

You are not alone. Here are some of the ways we can help:

  • Our restructuring and insolvency advisors can help triage portfolio exposure and evaluate risk for borrowers/portfolio companies.  
  • Our capital markets team can secure additional financing to ensure your companies have sufficient liquidity.
  • Our team of over 50 professionals is ready to support complex operational needs in helping your company proactively adapt to the changing environment, reduce costs, develop forecasts, and manage liquidity.  
  • We have a deep bench of interim management executives and subject matter experts to deploy as CEOs, CROs, or CFOs for short or long-term assignments to help your companies navigate the current environment.

Reach out to learn more about how we can support you today.