Our strength is our understanding of middle market businesses developed from our accumulated experience of investing in this sector and working closely with both management teams and owners to grow their business. Because of this strength we make decisions very quickly, tailor our investment to the needs of the business, and bring additional capabilities to a situation if required.

Side-by-Side With Management Teams

We seek to work closely with management teams of companies to help them grow, build, and diversify their businesses in partnership with us. However, we believe that the only effective way to partner with management groups is to make them “partners” in the true sense of the word. Thus, in all of our investments, senior management is provided equity ownership to give them a meaningful stake in the success of their business.

While serving on the board of directors, we strive to work with senior management teams to grow their companies through internal expansion and strategic acquisitions. Whether through sourcing add-on acquisitions or providing additional growth capital, Champlain works side-by-side with management to help them execute their expansion plans. We view ourselves as “business catalysts” that serve to help managers unlock the hidden potential of good companies. Ultimately, our success depends on building value as we help senior management do what they do best – run successful businesses.

Hand-in-Hand with Business Owners

The issues that most business owners face as they consider their liquidity options can be quite daunting. Estate planning considerations, tax issues and succession concerns all weigh heavily on the decision process of owners of privately-held companies. As most owners have virtually all of their net worth tied up in the companies they have built, these decisions require guidance, prudence, patience and experience. Knowing when to sell a business is only part of the equation. Knowing how to structure a sale is critical.

Champlain has skilled professionals who can work with owners to develop and execute an appropriate exit strategy with them. We pride ourselves in being able to structure creative and flexible transactions that allow owners to gain the liquidity they deserve while minimizing the impact to the company, employees, and customers that are left behind. In many transactions, we are able to design ways for owners to not only gain the liquidity they desire, but also participate in the future upside potential of the business as well.