Benchmark International’s own Kendall Stafford has won the Top USA Woman Deal Maker Award from the 4^th Annual USA Growth Intelligence Forum and the USA M&A Atlas Awards.

The award singularly honors the A-list of the most talented, respected, and brilliant women dealmakers from private equity, venture capital, investment banks, legal, and restructuring transactional communities. It is officially “award winner recognition,” unlike industry lists, rankings, editorial praise, or write-ups.

On October 12, 2021, it was announced that Diagnostics Research Group (DXRG) was acquired by The IMA Group (IMA).

Benchmark International proudly announces that our Managing Partner Kendall Stafford, from our Texas office, has been named Best Mid-Market Financial Services Business Leader 2021 by the 2021 Influential Businesswoman Awards, hosted by Acquisition International.

The winners' selection is made using careful analysis of the panel's final shortlist, as well as anything else that their internal research team learned while doing their online and public due diligence. In addition, the nominee must demonstrate a high level of excellence and work ethic within their chosen field, with their dedication to innovation, commitment, and business development taken into account.

The awards are based solely on merit and not the number of votes that a nominee receives or their financial stature, offering a level playing field for individuals to showcase their talents and achievements.

The Benchmark International team congratulates Kendall on this well-earned commendation, as this isn't the first time she has been recognized as one of the best in the business. "This award confirms everything that we already know about Kendall—that she is a true leader with a unique vision that helps to keep our firm on our trajectory of success and innovation," said Global CEO Gregory Jackson.

A special congratulations to Managing Partner Kendall Stafford at Benchmark International for receiving the Americas Rising Star Dealmakers award for 2020.

Global M&A Network honored the winners of the Americas Rising Star Dealmakers during the 3rd annual virtual ceremony celebrations held this year. The prestigious "once in a lifetime" award singularly recognizes brilliant and exceptional young dealmakers from the private equity and growth investors, lending, M&A, and restructuring transactional communities.

"We congratulate the winners for their talents and commitment to excellence in executing growth generating deals. They represent the future of the industry as an invaluable team member at their firm. We are especially delighted to honor their outstanding achievements during these times of economic uncertainty as the recipient of the "rising golden star" personal trophy accolade and wish them many successes throughout their professional career and for many more years ahead." said Shanta Kumari, CEO and global group editor, at Global M&A Network.

Kendall Stafford was chosen based on her track record of success, compassionate leadership skills, and expanded M&A knowledge. Kendall commented regarding the award, "It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by the Global M&A Network as one of America’s top dealmakers. I am passionate about helping middle-market business owners achieve their exit strategies. I have been fortunate to have been given the opportunity to thrive in such a rewarding market.”

Kendall began as a Director at Benchmark International's US headquarters in Tampa, Florida. She now resides as the Managing Partner at Benchmark International's Austin office, where she continues to lead with compassion, empathy, and transparency, not only for her clients but for her team. 

Check out the full list of 2020 winners HERE, and again congratulations to Kendall Stafford for being acknowledged and receiving this prestigious award.

Calvin’s Electric is an electrical contractor that focuses on residential projects.  The company provides hardwire electric services for their clients’ projects while improving each customer’s electrical efficiency and providing electrical code compliance consulting as needed. They also offer 24-hour service for their existing customers.

Calvin’s Electric is based in Dripping Springs, a suburb of Austin, Texas, but the company services Austin and the surrounding area. They work with new home builders such as Ash Creek Homes, Brookfield Residential, Sitterle Homes, and Scott Felder Homes, to name a few.

In Charge LLC began in 2007 and provides residential production construction, custom residential and commercial construction, and retrofit services.  In Charge completes jobs that are production or custom and have vast expertise in the areas of electric options, smart home technology, and lighting. In Charge is headquartered in Round Rock, Texas, a suburb of Austin, Texas. Prior to the acquisition of Calvin’s Electric, they had seven locations in Texas.

Benchmark International proved value in finding a buyer with experience in the industry through its proprietary multi-medium marketing strategies.  Also, Benchmark International incorporated several campaigns with local, regional, and national associations. While clients are often hesitant to meet with local competitors, after speaking with both parties about their goals with a potential transaction, it was abundantly clear that there could be a great fit between them. After much work, we could get both parties in the same room where the great cultural fit emerged.

Deal Associate Amy Alonso commented, “We are excited to see that our client’s legacy will remain and prosper through this transaction. We understood that our client was seeking a company that would provide a succession plan for the company’s future while also providing a great work environment for their employees. On behalf of Benchmark International, we wish both companies continued success in the future.”

Benchmark International’s client Gasket & Packing Inc. a Borger, Texas-based industrial supply and distribution company has successfully sold to a subsidiary of German-owned conglomerate Elring Klinger.

Gasket & Packing Inc. is an industrial supplier of fluid sealing & bolted joint assembly products.  The Borger, Texas-based company with four locations supplies fluid sealing products for industrial customers. Products include manufactured gaskets, pump and valve packings, mechanical seals, hydraulics, o-rings, lubrication equipment, metal and concrete repair equipment, industrial bolting, and corrosion prevention supplies. The company also sells, rents, calibrates, and repairs torque equipment for bolted joint assemblies.

As an independent and globally positioned supplier,  Elring Klinger is a powerful and reliable partner to the automotive industry. Be it a car or commercial vehicle, an optimized combustion engine, hybrid technology, or electric motor – they offer innovative solutions for all types of drive system in-passenger cars and commercial vehicles. They also make a commitment to making a contribution to sustainable mobility.

Transaction Director Luis Vinals stated, “This transaction demonstrates Benchmark International’s global capabilities, and the quality of its creative marketing strategies to identify buyers for our clients’ businesses.  We are excited to see our client's legacy in the capable hands of such a reputable firm and look forward to their continued success.”

Benchmark International continuously thinks of ways to give back and support its local communities, especially during this time of safe social distancing. The Benchmark International Austin office showed their support to the community this week by volunteering at the Central Texas Food Bank.

The Central Texas Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief charity in Central Texas. They help about 46,000 people per week, with one-third of them being children, get the nutritious food they need and otherwise wouldn't be able to afford. The food bank serves 21 counties in Central Texas through partnerships and smaller pantries.

Our team, along with others from the community, boxed 4,360lbs of food, which will serve 3,625 meals. This effort was completed while maintaining social distancing guidelines.

Benchmark International was honored to volunteer and contribute to the Central Texas community. Learn more about how you can support the Central Texas Food Bank - https://www.centraltexasfoodbank.org

Benchmark International is proud to announce the acquisition of Cello-Wrap Printing, Inc. by Cello-Wrap Packaging, Inc. The Benchmark International team worked diligently on behalf of Cello-Wrap Printing and was a resource for the transaction through the closing date.   Both the seller and buyer have already indicated that the integration has been smooth, and we anticipate maintaining the relationship with Cello-Wrap Packaging, Inc. as we continue to work on relevant mandates. 

Cello-Wrap Printing, Inc. is a three-generation family business located in Farmersville, Texas.  The company is a full-service flexographic printing company that offers printing, lamination, and slitting services utilizing polypropylene, cellophane, and foil as substrates.  The company primarily serves the food packaging industry and has been in operation for over 60 years.

Cello-Wrap Packaging, Inc. is Southwest Michigan's premier provider of flexible packaging serving customers with diverse product lines and evolving needs.  CPI was founded half a century ago as a plastic bag manufacturer for parts to the Detroit automotive industry.  They are now a leading BRC certified manufacturer of plastic bags and flexible packaging serving a variety of industries, with an emphasis on the food-retail sector.

The Benchmark International team used its vast array of resources and experience to help facilitate a transaction structure that allowed for both the buyer and seller to come to terms.  This included a carve-out of real estate and ensuring that the seller and their family was taken into consideration as part of a respectful and considerate transition of the business.

Deal Associate, JP Santos commented, “The Benchmark team is excited for what the future holds for Mr. Whitaker, our client, and the new ownership of Cello-Wrap. Both parties were aligned in their desire to ensure the continued success of the business, and we are pleased that an equitable transaction was agreed upon and executed successfully.” 

Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Transaction between Seltech, Inc. and Hatfield and Company.

Seltech specializes in engineering and industrial equipment sales. They specifically focus on instrumentation and process control, environmental monitoring, and filtration systems.  Seltech began in Tulsa, Oklahoma as a manufacturer’s representative firm and became a region wide wholesale provider of engineering and industrial equipment.

Benchmark International proved its value by finding a buyer with experience in the industry through its proprietary multi-medium marketing strategies.  In addition, Benchmark International incorporated several campaigns with local, regional, and national associations.

Deal Associate, Amy Alonso commented, “Benchmark International added value by negotiating this deal.  We saw throughout the entire process that the buyer, Hatfield and Company, was a perfect fit who stood to benefit greatly from the experience, industry knowledge, and high quality service that they would gain from the existing owner. With this knowledge, the team was able to negotiate a deal that would allow for the existing owner to successfully transition the business to a capable buyer.  We wish Seltech, Inc. and Hatfield and Company the best of luck in their future endeavors.”

A special congratulations to Managing Partner, Kendall Stafford at Benchmark International who was recognized and awarded by Insights Success Magazine as one of the top 10 most successful businesswomen to watch in 2019.

Insights Success Magazine focuses on leading companies, their style of conducting business and ways of delivering effective solutions to strengthen market share.  

Kendall was recognized for her compassionate leadership skills and M&A knowledge that continue to shine throughout her career and success with Benchmark International.  

Kendall began as a Director at Benchmark International’s US headquarters in Tampa, Florida. She now resides as the Managing Partner at Benchmark International’s Austin office, where she continues to lead with compassion, empathy, and transparency not only for her clients but for her team.  

She is responsible for motivating and mentoring the team in Austin, ensuring customer service standards are consistently met, and effectively transacting duties the team was hired to perform.  She says, “If I do these three things successfully, everything else falls in line. My effective communication, organization, and negotiation skills serve me well in this role.” 

Kendall's reaction to receiving this recognition and award demonstrates her determination to continue to be a leader in this space and an inspiration for other women. “I’m honored to have been recognized for this award. I think it is a testament to the values I hold for myself but also for the values I continue to evoke as my role as Managing Partner at Benchmark International.”  

Kendall added in the article that for budding women leaders, she advised, “Young women who would like to start their own business should just go for it. There’s no time like the present and you must believe in yourself. Don’t listen to anyone that says you can’t do something and never let fear stop you from trying. You will learn a lot about yourself and your business during the journey and, ultimately, you will be surprised at what you accomplished along the way.” 

Check out the complete article here, and again a special congratulations to Kendall Stafford for being acknowledged and receiving this prestigious honor.  

The global oil and gas industry is expected to remain relatively stable in 2019, even amid oversupply risks and volatile pricing, as oil demand continues to increase. Oil usage is expected to grow by more than 3.5 million barrels per day.

 Key Industry Trends for 2019

• Natural gas remains a major player as a generator of lower-carbon power, especially in North America. Over the next decade, it is expected to surpass coal to become the second-largest source of fuel worldwide.
• China and India are leading the way in overall energy demand growth. India is projected to have the largest additional oil demand and fastest growth through 2040.
• U.S. sanctions on top exporters such as Iran and Venezuela continue to affect the global oil industry, as a retraction in the oil supply leads to inflated global oil prices.
• Improvements in infrastructure are becoming more critical because production and the physical ability to move products directly impacts pricing.
• The oil and gas pipeline market is predicted to grow at more than 6% by 2024.
• Sustainability is becoming a more central issue as renewable energy draws more investment from oil companies, and both consumers and companies wish to mitigate methane emissions.
• The industry is focusing on how digital technologies can improve capital productivity. Robotics, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and data analytics are being implemented to enhance efficiency and production.
• The oilfield services sector will see a 10 to 15 percent increase in earnings, with a positive outlook for offshore oilfield services. There are more than 100 new projects planned for 2019 approvals and $210 billion earmarked for offshore oilfield services worldwide.
• After years of limitations, deepwater exploration and production activity is likely to resurge this year with a spike in investments in deepwater projects.

Increased Drilling Activity

2019 is experiencing increased activity in global oil and gas drilling, led by the United States due to shale production. Outside the United States, global drilling activity is expected to rise by 2.5 percent. Across the world’s eight major oil and gas producing regions, each is predicted to see a higher number of wells drilled.

2019 Forecasted Percentage Increase in Drilling Activity by Region

Africa: 8.7 percent

Saudi Arabia: 5.4 percent

North America: 5.1 percent

Western Europe: 3.9 percent

South Pacific: 3 percent

United Arab Emirates: 2.5 percent

Far East/South Asia: 2.6 percent

South America: 1.7 percent

Eastern Europe/Former Soviet Union: 1.4 percent

Iraq: 1 percent

The most growth in the overall global drilling market will be in offshore oil and gas drilling, with expected growth at around 6 percent. The most active offshore drilling regions are Brazil, Canada, Norway, Angola, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, China, and India.

Rystad Energy has reported that global deepwater liquid production is set to reach a record high of 10.3 million barrels per day in 2019. This is a result of new fields in Brazil and the Gulf of Mexico. Other leading deepwater producers include Angola, Norway, and Nigeria.

Ready to Move Forward?

Contact us at Benchmark International if you are interested in exploring your options and embarking on the next chapter of your business.  

Benchmark International is delighted to announce that one of our very own has been awarded as an Emerging Leader by The M&A Advisor. The M&A Advisor created the awards to show recognition of leading M&A, financing and turnaround professionals, and to gather professionals together for professional development and mentorship opportunities.

Senior Deal Associate, JP Santos, has been chosen for his accomplishments and expertise from a pool of nominees by an independent judging panel of distinguished business leaders. Benchmark International is proud to be represented by one of our talented teammates at this prestigious event.

Santos expressed his gratitude for the award stating “I’m humbled at being nominated as an Emerging Leader by Benchmark International and subsequently being chosen as a winner. I’m fortunate that I have the opportunity to be a part of a team of driven individuals who are passionate about serving our clients in an effort to help them reach their goals,” he said. “This award is a tremendous honor for me personally as well as our firm, and I appreciate the recognition from The M&A Advisor and the panel of judges.”

On Tuesday, September 17, The M&A Advisor will host a black tie Awards Gala at the New York Athletic Club in Manhattan to introduce the 2019 Emerging Leaders Award Winners to the business community and to celebrate their achievements. The Awards Gala is a feature of the 2019 Emerging Leaders Summit—an exclusive event bringing current and past Emerging Leaders Awards winners together with their peers and industry stalwarts.

In 1998, The M&A Advisor was founded to offer insights and intelligence on M&A activities. Over the years, networks have grown, and their award ceremonies have been dubbed the Oscars of M&A. Benchmark International is proud to accept recognition from this organization and always strives to leave no stone unturned.

The M&A Advisor announced the winners of the Emerging Leaders Awards on Tuesday, June 26, 2018. The M&A Advisor, renowned globally for its recognition of leading M&A, financing and turnaround professionals, created this event to promote mentorship and professional development amongst the emerging business leaders. Luis Vinals was chosen from a pool of nominees by an independent judging panel of distinguished business leaders.

“The Annual M&A Advisor Emerging Leaders Awards was born as the 40 Under 40 Awards in the United States in 2010 to recognize and celebrate the achievements of young M&A, Financing and Turnaround professionals who had reached a significant level of success and made a notable contribution to their industry and community. With the expansion of the Emerging Leaders program to the United Kingdom, and Europe in 2016, the 2018 US award winners join a truly global network of outstanding young professionals,” said David Fergusson, President and Co-CEO of The M&A Advisor.

On Friday, September 14th, 2018 The M&A Advisor will host a black tie Awards Gala at the New York Athletic Club in Manhattan to introduce the Emerging Leaders Award Winners to the business community and celebrate their achievements. The Awards Gala is a feature of the 2018 Emerging Leaders Summit – an exclusive event pairing current and past Emerging Leaders winners together with their peers and industry stalwarts.

Luis Vinals is a Transaction Director at Benchmark International. He leads a team of analysts to help achieve Benchmark International’s clients’ goals of growing or exiting their businesses. Luis has experience in many different industries including, importing/exporting, specialty manufacturing, business services, etc. Luis’s experience in international trade and banking provides a unique perspective to the various transactions that he leads.

We’ve all heard it, the best measurement of a city’s growth is the number of cranes and projects going up. We’ve all heard buzzwords about Austin, TX being an “IT” city, but it’s not just Austin that is sprawling with new developments and high-rises. Stop and think about this type of buzzing activity throughout a 70 mile stretch from San Antonio, the home of the Alamo, to Austin-Roundrock. This, my friends, is the I-35 corridor, a stretch of interstate highway that connects San Antonio, San Marcos, Austin and Dallas. Almost everyone has benefited one way or another from the massive growth happening in the region. Better jobs, more activities for the young professionals, and an overall increased quality of life. The growth in the region has, of course, brought upon Central Texas its unique set of challenges that one does not think of
right away.

No, it is not practically unaffordable real estate and rent. The biggest challenge lies in making these interconnected cities feel like home 24/7. Going home sure in the knowledge that the roads will be safe, our lights will turn on, and that water will flow when we take a shower after a long jog in Town Lake (Lady Bird Lake for you non-Austinites).

With the increased growth in population over last decade, the Central Texas region, that is known as the i-35 Corridor, has experienced its unique set of challenges. While home builders and apartment complexes make fortunes from overpriced property values, there is an unsung hero behind the scenes: the engineers who make all this growth possible. As mentioned previously, everyone expects their roads to be safe, their lights to turn on, and their water to run. In Texas, these are all major engineering feats. No, we’re not just flatland sitting on enormous oil and gas reserves. Central Texas is home to the Hill Country, one of nature’s gifts to the world; and as its name implies, it has plenty of hills.

So, how does one exactly get water to flow up the hill? Well, we didn’t know the answer either, and quite frankly, we still don’t, but some of the Benchmark International teammates live on top of hills. So, not having water up there would be a problem. Engineering firms in Texas have long solved problems before the growth spurt in Central Texas. The Colorado River dam for example, or the Houston Port.

Benchmark International’s Managing Director, Kendall Stafford, has been chosen as an International Advisory Expert Award recipient. International Advisory Experts is a global alliance of well-established and experienced legal, financial and consulting firms that are committed to providing clients with specialist solutions for their international business requirements.

The M&A Advisor has announced the winners of their 7th Annual Emerging Leaders Awards. Kendall Stafford, Managing Director, located in Benchmark International’s Texas region has been named an Award Winner of this prestigious honor. Kendall was selected as an Emerging Leader in the Dealmaker category amongst other dealmakers from companies such as Raymond James, Deloitte, and PWC.

Benchmark International continues to rake in awards in 2016. Benchmark International gained recognition in Tampa with the Best of Tampa Award for Business Services and won the 2016 Corporate LiveWire M&A Award Corporate Exit Strategy of the Year for the Fingerprint document while Kendall Stafford, a Managing Director for Benchmark International, won the M&A Advisor Emerging Leaders Award. The company continues to strive for excellence within the industry and 2016 should be no exception.

2015 has been an exciting and prosperous year for Benchmark International and clients alike, bolstered by the M&A industry’s continued resurgence.