Westlake Securities Announces Partnership with Focus Strategies
July 5, 2005Westlake Securities is pleased to announce the formation of a strategic partnership with Austin-based Focus Strategies. This partnership will enable the professionals at Focus to work with Westlake Securities in a placement agent capacity in corporate finance transactions involving a private placement of equity. This partnership will enable Focus to offer a broader range of services to its middle-market client base.
"We are very excited about this new partnership. Focus Strategies has done an excellent job providing financial advisory services to private companies in Texas. I have known Gary Valdez for 10 years and his core values and professionalism are similar to ours. I believe that our ability to cross refer clients and assist on joint projects together will be enhanced by this partnership," stated Mike McAllister, CEO and Managing Director of Westlake Securities.
Gary Valdez, President of Focus Strategies, said "With this strategic relationship, Focus Strategies is adding our third line of business, investment banking, to its existing advisory services and private equity investing. This will give a full range of services as a Merchant Bank."
Focus Strategies normally works with middle market companies with revenues in excess of $5 million. Typically, they are brought on board in an advisory capacity when a company desires to undergo some business change -- such as making an acquisition, divesting assets, opening new branches, growing into new markets, recapitalizing the balance sheet, or selling the business. Focus Strategies concentrates on traditional services, distribution, financial services, manufacturing, and technology sectors.
Focus helps the client develop a strategy for the change and then assists in organizing a plan of action. The plan entails industry research, comparables analysis, shareholder and management team assessment, sources and uses of funds, financial projections including balance sheet and cash flow statement proformas, measurement of investment returns, and sensitivity analysis.
If the plan involves a potential merger or acquisition, Focus Strategies can assist with sell side or buy side representation. If outside capital is required, Focus Strategies can facilitate the transaction. Focus has relationships with many strategic buyers and financial investors and can help bring subordinated debt or equity capital to the table. Focus Strategies prefers to syndicate transactions with another private equity or mezzanine debt institutional investor. More information about Focus Strategies may be found at www.focus-strategies.com or the contact information below.
Based in Austin, Texas, Westlake Securities provides equity and debt capital raising services for private and small cap public companies, with a focus on emerging growth companies in the technology, communications, healthcare/life sciences, services, manufacturing, transportation and retail sectors. Westlake also offers buy-side and sell-side merger and acquisition advisory services for companies and control investors seeking to execute mergers and acquisitions. Its focus is primarily on transaction values between $10 million and $100 million. Westlake is a member of NASD and of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation. More information about Westlake Securities may be found at www.westlakesecurities.com or the contact information below.
