| Press Release Back Idaho Women Executives Launch The C&H GROUP Business intermediary and strategic consulting firm created to serve the merger, acquisition and divestiture needs of middle market companies Boise, Idaho – The C&H Group, a Boise-based business intermediary firm, announced today that it is launching its merger, acquisition and divestiture services in the Intermountain West (including Idaho, Utah, eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, and Montana). The C&H Group is targeting established companies in the middle market, primarily those with revenues of $10 million to $200 million. The company’s mission is to Build Business Value for clients by focusing exclusively on providing merger, acquisition and strategic advisory services to business owners. C&H services include consulting to help improve business operating results and better position a company for sale, and facilitating merger, acquisition or divestiture transactions that maximize value to the client. The C&H Group has already provided valuation and fairness opinions to several area clients interested in buying or selling a prospective company. “While our primary market is mid sized companies, our emphasis is on working with outstanding people who are committed to growing their businesses, “ said Meg Carlson, a co-founder of The C&H Group and former senior executive with Ore-Ida Foods, Inc. “These owners may have smaller, emerging businesses with strong growth potential.” Carlson gained extensive corporate development experience in negotiating and executing acquisitions and divestitures during her long tenure with the H. J. Heinz Company subsidiary. Carlson’s co-founder in The C&H Group, Korri Hall, built a 30-year career in Idaho as a successful CPA, and was most recently managing partner of Hall Hooper and Company, a CPA firm specializing in small to mid-sized companies with a broad practice that included a great deal of consulting. “We prefer to develop long-term relationships with clients rather than serve primarily as a transaction-oriented listing service,” said Hall. “This approach enables us to consult on building business value in the short term, perhaps using acquisition as a growth strategy, and the sale of their business in the long term.” Following considerable market research, Carlson and Hall concluded that the current market environment was ideal for the launch of The C&H Group. “An estimated 40% of mid-sized companies will experience a leadership change in the next five years,” said Carlson. “With the economic recovery gaining traction, we are beginning to see an increase in acquisitions as company valuations improve.” Even more encouraging for business owners, according to Hall, is accelerating interest by strategic investors and private equity firms in middle market companies in the region. “Many prospective investors have broadened their investment criteria in the past six months as they search for established companies with positive cash flow but untapped growth potential.” Phil Reed, a partner with Boise-based Highway12 Ventures and longtime entrepreneur who recruited both Carlson and Hall several years ago to join him in a technology startup, emphasized that it is unusual for a new firm to be launched in Boise with the seasoned leadership and breadth of business experience of C&H’s founders. “This is an incredibly impressive team with financial and strategic operating experience in manufacturing, distribution, retail, health care, technology and professional services.” Reed said. “With The C&H Group’s advisory services, business owners will gain invaluable expertise.” About The C&H Group The C&H Group is a Boise, Idaho-based business intermediary and strategic consulting firm serving middle market companies, with revenues ranging from $10 million to $200 million, in the Intermountain West. The company specializes in merger, acquisition and divestiture transactions for companies in manufacturing, distribution, technology, health care and professional services. It was founded in 2002 by Meg Carlson, former vice president and general manager of a $240 million business unit with Ore-Ida Foods, Inc. (H. J. Heinz Company), and Korri Hall, CPA and former managing partner with Hall Hooper and Company (now Hooper Cornell), a CPA firm. Both founders have extensive experience in negotiating and executing mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures from both the corporate development and privately-held family business owner perspectives. For more information: mail to: info@thechgroup.biz, 208-853-0991. Back |