New partner in the US joins Clairfield

Clairfield International has further expanded its global M&A presence through a new partnership in the United States with Atlanta-based investment bank Croft & Bender. Croft & Bender provides mergers and acquisitions, private capital-raising, and financial advisory services to middle-market and emerging growth companies. Croft & Bender will be exclusive partner for Clairfield in the United States.

Croft & Bender was founded in 1996 by Ed Croft and Ted Bender, former bankers at The Robinson-Humphrey Company, Inc. and today has a staff of 20 with six managing directors. In addition, the firm manages C&B Capital, three growth equity funds with over USD 80 million under management.

Recent notable transactions advised by Croft & Bender include:

• • The merger of ControlScan, a provider of security and compliance solutions, with EchoSat, a portfolio company of Thompson Street Capital Partners.
  • The sale of Automation Control Products, a provider of server management software, to Rockwell Automation.
  • The sale of Service Brands International, a leading multi-concept residential services franchisor, to Dwyer Group.
  • The sale of SEI Group, a leading installer of insulation and other building products, to Narrow Gauge Capital.

The firm attributes its success to the close involvement of senior bankers in every aspect of deal execution, as well as its focus on key sectors including business services, consumer, technology, industrial, and healthcare. These sectors are also a focus of Clairfield International.

“Strong international access is challenging to find in the midmarket,” says Bo Briggs, managing director at Croft & Bender. “I am pleased that our partnership with Clairfield will permit us to offer our clients access to experts on the ground worldwide.”

Croft & Bender managing director Steve Hunter collaborated with Clairfield International previously in his career. “While there are several other loosely-structured international M&A-networks out there promising global reach, Clairfield is a true one firm partnership that can deliver superior results for our clients providing seamless teamwork and high-quality services.  I am thrilled to be working again with the professionals at Clairfield.”

“We are extremely impressed by the contact base and close relationships with clients that Croft & Bender dealmakers show across the US, including New York and West Coast, complementing our existing offices in New York and Miami. The Croft & Bender partnership shares values that are fully aligned with Clairfield’s,” says Alexander Klemm, executive chairman of Clairfield International. “We are pleased to welcome Croft & Bender on board and to gain greater access to this very important US-market for our clients and assist US clients in other parts of the world.”