Our Vantage Point provides insights from the Vantage Investment Banking team on mergers and acquisitions, business value, and the factors that shape successful transactions. Our articles provide general educational information and perspectives and are not intended to be all-inclusive or a substitute for advice tailored to a specific company or transaction.
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With over a decade of middle market investment banking experience, Mike brings extensive transactional and advisory expertise to the team. He has advised on more than 40 M&A, Debt Placement, and Capital Raising transactions spanning the industrials & manufacturing, business services, technology & IT services, consumer products, and food & beverage industries.
In his role, Mike provides senior-level leadership across all aspects of transaction strategy and execution. He is actively involved in shaping go-to-market strategies, advising clients on valuation and deal structure, and leading negotiations with buyers, investors, and other counterparties. Mike oversees the development of marketing materials, manages buyer and lender engagement strategies, and guides clients through complex diligence and closing processes. His breadth of experience and strategic perspective allow him to provide clear, thoughtful advice to business owners and management teams, helping them navigate significant financial and strategic events with confidence.
Prior to entering investment banking, Mike worked as a Senior Accountant with Baker Tilly. Mike holds a BBA in accounting from St. Norbert College and is a licensed CPA.
Working in the middle market investment banking industry since 2020, Alex is responsible for leading the day-to-day execution of M&A transactions for the Vantage Investment Banking team. His responsibilities span all phases of the transaction process, including financial modeling and valuation analysis, preparation of marketing materials, buyer and investor outreach, and coordination of due diligence activities. He plays a central role in managing timelines, facilitating communication between clients and counterparties, and supporting negotiations to ensure smooth execution.
Alex has advised on more than 25 M&A, Debt Placement, and Capital Raising transactions across multiple industries, including industrials & manufacturing, business services, technology & IT services, consumer products, and food & beverage. His experience working with both privately held businesses and institutional investors gives him a well-rounded perspective on the strategic, operational, and financial considerations that drive successful outcomes.
Alex holds a BBA in finance from Marquette University, centering his education around investments and participating in the Accelerating Ingenuity in Markets (AIM) Program.
Bill brings more than 25 years of investment banking experience, previously founding and building a boutique investment banking firm focused on advising middle market companies on mergers and acquisitions, debt placements, capital raising, and strategic advisory transactions. Over the course of his career, he has advised on more than 150 transactions across a wide range of industries. Bill remains active in the greater Milwaukee community, serving as a board member of several Wisconsin-based organizations and a shareholder in a number of privately held businesses.
Bill’s extensive experience gives him a unique perspective on both the advisory and operational sides of businesses, allowing him to provide thoughtful, senior-level guidance to business owners, management teams, and investors. Bill remains actively involved in all aspects of client engagements, ensuring each process benefits from his deep industry knowledge and leadership.
Prior to entering investment banking, Bill spent several years with U.S. Bank Capital Markets where he personally arranged over $200MM in structured finance transactions. Bill earned his Masters Degree in accounting and received a BBA in finance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and has passed the CPA exam.
From identifying the ideal buyers to negotiating favorable terms and navigating complex due diligence, they were proactive, responsive, and deeply committed to our success. Both Bill and Mike consistently anticipated challenges, communicated clearly and timely, and delivered results beyond our expectations. Thanks to their expertise, we were able to maximize value and close the deal in a timely fashion.
Your skillful approach in communicating Protanic’s goals for a transaction to the eventual buyer, while also maintaining continued dialog throughout the process with our Board, the Buyer, and the Buyer’s Advisors, ensured all parties remained on track. Your leadership, tenacity, and counsel were vitally important as we worked through all of the transactional details during this journey.
[Mike and Alex’s] expertise and attention to detail in highlighting goals and tactics for this purchase helped to ensure the transition in ownership was smooth, as well as offering guidance for a bright and sustainable future.
[Bills’s] experience, expertise, and reputation allowed us to sell PSC at a higher multiple than we had anticipated. We found [their] team to be very professional, and their experience was invaluable in leading the effort and coaching us through the process to a successful conclusion.
[Bill’s] management of the entire process from original dialogues to closing documents was all encompassing and exactly as
promised.
From the beginning, you had a firm grasp on the overall objective. I was equally impressed with how fast you and your team learned and understood our relatively complex technology business, which proved invaluable throughout the process. You assembled the appropriate team and kept the process moving, even at times when conditions were clearly out of your control. Lastly, you never wavered on your convictions and beliefs.
[Bill and Mike’s] attention to the financial diligence and legal process was critical in keeping all parties on track with the timeline agreed upon in the LOI. We were very pleased that the transaction closed on the terms originally agreed to.
[Bill and his team’s] ability to manage multiple parties, including lenders, the seller, their investment banker, and our ownership group exceeded my expectations. I was skeptical that we would be able to be in a position with multiple options and close the transaction by the end of the year, but [their] expertise achieved our objectives.
I highly recommend to business owners and CEO’s to always use a competent advisor such as [Bill] when raising capital or engaging in M&A activity. Your team is well suited for both and will undoubtedly serve others well.
[Bill and Mike] quickly grasped AIA’s value drivers and expertly identified the optimal set of potential buyers, including a private equity firm with an existing industry-aligned platform seeking to grow via acquisition.
[Bill and Alex] quickly understood our business and our expectations in the sale.
[They] were always professional, pragmatic, and responded timely to requests from both us and the buyer which kept the process moving along.
As expected, [Bill & Alex] handled this transaction with professionalism and expediency and achieved a great outcome.
I appreciate the relationship that we have developed over the past years and always enjoy working together.
Throughout the engagement, Mike and his team were highly collaborative and proactive. They leveraged their extensive network to identify a buyer who was not only a strong fit financially but also aligned with my values and long-term goals for the business and its employees. Mike acted as a partner who understood what mattered to me and worked diligently to achieve it.
What sets Bill and Alex apart is their integrity. They are people you can trust-plain and simple. They operate with a strong moral compass, and I always felt they were advocating for me, not just as a client, but as a partner. They are true professionals and even better people.
