For an entrepreneur who has devoted his or her life to building a business, the idea of selling it – whether this year or in a decade – brings up sensitive questions about identity, family, timing, and value. Not to mention, managing the day-to-day details of selling a business can quickly become all-consuming to a business owner whose hands are already more than full. Enter Protegrity Advisors. A mergers and acquisitions advisory firm based in Ronkonkoma, Protegrity serves companies and family-owned businesses with revenue from $5 million to $100 million across a range of industries, managing the entire M&A process for a typically underserved sector of the market. Protegrity’s goal: help Long Island business owners navigate what is likely the most complex and emotionally fraught transaction of their lives – and obtain maximum value.
CEO Gregg Schor has lived and breathed M&A for more than two decades, managing the process for organizations of all sizes and industries as both an outside advisor and in-house executive. “The turning point for me came several years ago when I learned about business owners who sold their company at an undervalued purchase price to the first potential buyer that came along,” Schor recently explained to Joe Campolo, who also serves as chairman of Protegrity’s advisory board. “Companies in this revenue range are the lifeblood of Long Island, but they’re typically below the threshold of traditional investment banks and above the sophistication of business brokers.” Seeing a significant gap in the market, Schor decided to leverage his 20-plus years of experience to establish Protegrity Advisors.
The firm works to prepare clients for a potential sale ahead of time, before they’re under the microscope of potential buyers. If there’s no potential buyer in place, they research, identify, qualify, and confidentially contact prospective buyers and develop marketing materials, tapping into their network of private equity firms, public and private companies, family offices, search funds, and other types of buyers. Protegrity also prepares and presents financial statements in a manner consistent with buyer expectations and which credibly maximizes adjusted earnings, negotiates the purchase price and related terms, supervises the exchange of information and the due diligence process, quarterbacks the client’s legal, accounting, wealth management, and other service providers, and provides additional assistance as needed to complete the transaction. (Protegrity also offers valuation services, works with clients seeking to buy businesses or divest business units, and has developed expertise in the automotive dealership sector as well.)
The Protegrity team and advisory board are comprised of serial entrepreneurs, business owners, and former private and public company C-Suite executives who have started and sold companies, giving them critical insight into the M&A process from a client’s perspective. “It’s a tremendous responsibility to be trusted with selling a company that may have been started by a prior generation and whose proceeds are meant to take care of future generations,” Schor said. “We take on that responsibility with the commensurate level of dedication and respect.”
Long Island is home to a substantial number of successful companies in a wide range of sectors, and the region’s demographics and population, location in the New York metropolitan area, and proximity to world-class universities and international airports make Long Island an ideal platform for future growth. “I believe these factors position many Long Island business owners for successful exits, and at the same time, make it attractive for buyers to remain, hire, and invest in Long Island post-transaction and for the long-term,” Schor explained. Protegrity’s focus on growing Long Island business recently earned the company a Business Achievement Award from HIA-LI, which recognizes companies making an extraordinary impact on the Long Island economy.
There’s a wealth of opportunity on Long Island for businesses to flourish. Whether you want to grow or make a successful exit, Protegrity can help expand your possibilities. Learn more at https://protegrityadvisors.com/.
You can also view clips from Joe Campolo’s recent CMM Live interview with Gregg Schor here.
Protegrity CEO Gregg Schor recently discussed the M&A climate on Long Island with CMM Managing Partner and Protegrity Advisory Board Chairman Joe Campolo. Next photo: In 2017, Protegrity Advisors was the winner of a prestigious HIA-LI Business Achievement Award, which honors Long Island businesses that demonstrate growth, leadership, and commitment to the region. Gregg Schor also received a SmartCEO Future 50 Award, which recognizes business leaders that embody the entrepreneurial spirit critical for success.
Just hanging around the office: Protegrity Advisory Board Chairman Joe Campolo, Director of M&A Bruce Newman, CEO Gregg Schor, and Research Analyst Robert Hitzig pose for the camera. Next photo: Gregg is all smiles as he gets ready for CMM Live to start.
Showtime! On CMM Live, Gregg and Joe discussed how to prepare your business for an eventual sale at maximum value, even if selling isn’t in your immediate plans. Next photo: Research Analyst Bobby Hitzig identifies and qualifies potential buyers from Protegrity’s databases and network of U.S. and international relationships.
Director of M&A Bruce Newman and CEO Gregg Schor show off their HIA-LI Business Achievement Award in 2017. Next photo: Friends, family, and colleagues attended the HIA-LI Business Achievement Awards Luncheon to support Protegrity’s success.
Bruce Newman and Gregg Schor walk the red carpet to receive their HIA-LI Business Achievement Award. Next photo: Protegrity recently welcomed Robert Pospischil to the team. The former President and CEO of Bissett Nursery and Bissett Equipment Corporation, Bob brings over 30 years of experience to the M&A industry.