ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

M&A Advisory for Middle Market Business Owners

The global economy is at an inflection point. We are in the early innings of an automation and digitization boom that promises to fundamentally transform the global manufacturing and distribution industries. Companies that don’t adapt are at significant risk of being left behind.

Firms in the Advanced Manufacturing, Distribution Logistics and Automation industries operate in a rapidly evolving environment. The capital markets have taken notice and aggressive, well-funded acquirers are rapidly transforming the competitive landscape.

The FOCUS Advanced Manufacturing team is here to help business owners navigate this new and unfamiliar terrain. We provide M&A advisory services (buy and sell side) and locate the capital businesses need to grow. Our team is composed of seasoned investment bankers and advisors with extensive operating experience in manufacturing and distribution backed by a deep research team.

Connect with our Advanced Manufacturing team to discover what your business is worth.

Our team works across multiple sectors:

Manufacturing

Automation Industry

  • Additive Manufacturing
  • Automation Integration
  • Drones and Autonomous Vehicles
  • Internet of Things/Industry 4.0
  • Optics, Photonics and Sensors
  • Robotic Process Automation
  • Robotics and Artificial Intelligence

Who We Serve Best

At FOCUS, we specialize in serving lower middle market companies in the advanced manufacturing sector.

Our clients are typically:

  • Privately held businesses with $10M–$300M in annual revenue

  • Companies with $2M–$30M in EBITDA

  • Organizations employing 50 to 500 people, often with multiple facilities or complex supply chains

We work closely with a variety of ownership structures, including:

  • Founder- or family-owned businesses planning for succession or seeking partial liquidity

  • Private equity portfolio companies preparing for exit or add-on acquisitions

  • Entrepreneur-led manufacturers exploring growth capital or strategic partnerships

Many of our clients face one or more of the following challenges:

  • Succession planning in the absence of a clear next-generation leader

  • The need for growth capital to expand capabilities, invest in automation, or pursue M&A

  • Navigating industry consolidation and increased competition from larger players

  • Seeking to unlock value in preparation for a strategic sale or recapitalization

  • Evaluating options for vertical integration, reshoring, or digital transformation

If you’re a manufacturing business owner or executive thinking about what’s next—whether it’s growth, succession, or sale—our team brings deep industry experience and a proven track record to guide you through your next chapter. Contact us to learn more.

Our Process

Our mission is to help business owners identify and achieve strategic goals by:

  • Evaluating your business, including:

  • Its position in the industry,

  • Its readiness for sale or growth,

  • The opportunities and risks automation presents your firm, and

  • Your strategic alternatives and company value based upon these factors and the current financial markets.

  • Advising you on preparing your business for sale, growing your business through acquisition or raising capital to support your growth.

  • Finding multiple prospects for a sale, an acquisition or new capital.

  • Structuring the deal; from asset or stock purchase, cash or debt, goodwill purchases, earnouts and more.

  • Our proven process targets multiple bidders and a robust negotiation to achieve the best price and terms for you as seller.
  • As entrepreneurs, we know the importance of taking care of your employees.

  • Recognizing that transitioning after a sale and the impact of the sale on you and your family are important to your decision and go beyond pure economics.

We also represent buyers of businesses in our targeted sectors. Using a highly disciplined research based approach we:

  • Assist our clients in determining actionable growth criteria,
  • Identify qualified candidates,
  • Reach out to these targets to tell our client’s story in a compelling way,
  • Introduce interested and qualified candidates to our client,

  • Assist in the negotiations until an LOI or IOI has been executed;

  • Provide coordination and support throughout due diligence and documentation process to closing.
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TEAM

Driving M&A Success



RELATED DEALS

Growth-Driven Strategic Transactions

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING CASE STUDIES

Solutions That Delivered Results

Bearing case study
PrecisionX Group Case Study
Viper case study
CORE and Coining case study
Hear From Our Clients

Success Stories From Our Clients

“John Slater and Jorge Maceyras with FOCUS Investment Banking, expertly coordinated a process that generated significant interest in my company from the market.  The ultimate result of that process yielded a positive outcome for me personally and professionally as well as for the employees of HL Precision Manufacturing and its enduring future in an increasingly consolidating industry.  Our deal combined elements of a merger, sale, and acquisition all resulting in the formation of a new parent company, H3 Manufacturing Group, LLC which now owns both HL Precision as well as Hi-Grade Welding & Mfg.  The work done by the FOCUS team was disciplined, very well documented, and portrayed HL Precision in an accurate and attractive manner.  I would very much recommend FOCUS to other business owners and CEO’s looking to take their company to market and/or seek strategic partners for their road ahead.”

Steve Hillard headshot

Steven C. Hillard, President & CEO

H3 Manufacturing Group, LLC

NEWS & INSIGHTS

Latest Trends and Industry Insights

Frequently Asked Questions

We advise a wide range of companies across the advanced manufacturing spectrum, including precision machining, robotics, additive manufacturing (3D printing), industrial automation, contract manufacturing, aerospace and defense suppliers, and component manufacturers.

FOCUS offers M&A advisory, capital raising, strategic growth consulting, and business valuation services. Whether you're looking to sell your business, acquire a competitor, raise growth capital, or assess strategic options, our team can help.

Our deep industry knowledge, extensive buyer/investor network, and senior-level attention set us apart. Each engagement is led by experienced bankers with hands-on expertise in manufacturing and tailored support throughout the transaction process.

FOCUS specializes in serving lower middle market companies, typically with revenues between $10 million and $300 million. If you’re unsure whether we’re the right fit, we’d be happy to have a confidential conversation.

Most sell-side engagements take 12 months from preparation to closing. The timeline can vary based on market conditions, company readiness, and buyer dynamics.

Valuation depends on a variety of factors including financial performance, customer concentration, competitive differentiation, industry trends, and more. FOCUS can provide a detailed, market-based valuation as part of an initial engagement.

Absolutely. We understand the sensitivity of M&A and capital raise processes. All outreach and discussions are conducted with strict confidentiality, and NDAs are used with all potential buyers or investors.

We regularly advise owners who are 1–3 years away from a transaction. Early planning can significantly enhance value and readiness. We’re happy to start the conversation and help you build a strategy.

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