Our Benchmark International team is proud to have released our latest exclusive publication of The Mark, Vol. XX.

This new version titled “RANKED #1,” features a slew of helpful information to enlighten you as a business owner, answer important questions you might have, and apprise you of the latest and greatest updates in M&A and the busy Benchmark world.

In this volume, some of the insightful topics you will find covered include:

• The Current State of Commercial Real Estate
• Can It Be “Too Early” to Put My Business on the Market?
• Be Wary of EBITDAC
• Why Lower Middle Market Companies are Attractive to Buyers
• Should I Sell to an SBIC?
• The Myth Behind Multiples
• Understanding Financial Due Diligence to Prepare for a Successful Close
• What is an Employee Ownership Trust?
• The Critical Focus of Cybersecurity in M&A Deals
  
  

And there’s a reason the volume is titled, “RANKED #1.” It highlights our prestigious recognition by Pitchbook as 2020’s #1 Sell-Side Exclusive, Privately-Owned M&A Advisors in the world, as well as the remarkable award-winning accomplishments of our team leadership.

This is just some of the unique content you can enjoy in this new edition. You will also find reports updating you on Benchmark’s European expansion and new headquarters, our latest featured opportunities, and some of our completed transactions.

We hope you will find it helpful and continue coming back for more.

Benchmark International is incredibly proud to be the main Jersey sponsor for Montverde Academy. Benchmark International aligns itself with partners that have the best-in-class programs. Montverde International Academy is a coeducational, independent school that serves grades Pre-K3-12. The academy strives to increase knowledge and to develop character through a nurturing and diverse community. In addition, Montverde International Academy is home to an athletic training Mecca, developing the world's best athletes. Their state-in-the-art facilities include an athletic complex that spreads over 33 acres, an Olympic-sized aquatic center, a 44 square foot indoor athletic center, a world-class equestrian center, and many more. The Montverde International Futbol club (MIFC) finished their season with a number 1 ranking and was crowned the 2019-2020 National Champions!

The Athletic Department believes that through athletic opportunity, they have the unique ability to build a solid foundation of young adults based on character, knowledge, and community. With similar beliefs as one another, Benchmark International is excited to help support the Montverde International Academy.

You can learn more about Montverde International Academy and their athletics here - Montverde Academy Athletics 

Benchmark International’s new Tampa headquarters has been spotlighted by The Tampa Bay Business Journal’s 2021 feature called Workplaces Reimagined.

The series showcases how business offices in the Tampa Bay region have changed since the pandemic, focusing on new, innovative spaces in Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota counties.

Workplaces Reimagined features one office per month in the weekly edition, and our fantastic new Tampa location in the MetWest building was covered by the publication on July 30, 2021. Our 15,000+ square-foot office was recognized for its welcoming atmosphere, sweeping views, unique décor, and ample amenities that enhance the workspace for our team.

It is just another example of how Benchmark International goes above and beyond to make sure our teams have everything they need to continue to be leaders and trailblazers in the community, and in our industry.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce that our chairman Steven Keane has been named Best International Chairman of the Year by the 2021 Global 100, which is comprised of the world’s leading firms and individuals with votes from global readers in more than 163 countries.

The purpose of the Global 100 is to provide its readers with a complete picture of the world’s true global leaders within their areas of specialty. The unique process follows a very strict format of self-submission and third-party nomination, with the winners then shortlisted based on a highly comprehensive set of criteria. The judging process assesses:

• The strategic nature of work conducted
• The complexity of work conducted
• The scale of work conducted
• Whether it was done in a timely manner and within budget
• Any groundbreaking or innovative processes used

In their own words, the Global 100 provides “a benchmark of the very best of the best industry leaders, exemplary teams, and distinguished organizations.”

Our team proudly congratulates Steven Keane on earning such esteemed recognition, which is well deserved. Global CEO Gregory Jackson said, “With Steven’s outstanding leadership, Benchmark International is strongly positioned to continue to thrive and reach new milestones. This acknowledgment is further validation of how our dedication to being the very best in the business is a philosophy that permeates all levels of our team from the top down.”

The Benchmark International team is proud to announce that our chairman, Steven Keane, has been named International Chairman of the Year in the 2021 Global Business Awards given by Corp Today Magazine.

London-based Corp Today is a business enterprise magazine that focuses on emerging businesses and the world’s leading and fastest-growing companies, as well as their style of doing business and manner of delivering effective and collaborative solutions to strengthen market share. Their reader base consists of 138,000 C-level executives, VPs, Consultants, VCs, managers, and advisors.

The publication’s dedicated team of in-house researchers handpicked all of the 2021 winners based on merit and not popularity. Their stated goal is to recognize the best in the business.

We salute Steven for earning this prestigious recognition, as he certainly deserves it. CEO Gregory Jackson stated, “Steven’s exceptional leadership is a testament to the greatness that our company continually aspires to achieve, never settling for anything less than the very best. It’s just how we are wired at Benchmark International. Congratulations, Steven.”

In the GAMECHANGERS (ACQ5) 2021 GLOBAL AWARDS, Gregory P. Jackson, CEO of Benchmark International, has been named CEO of The Year in the area of Corporate Finance.

The ACQ is a leading corporate news publication serving the sector since 2003, with a global audience of more than 261,000 subscribers. The GAMECHANGERS (ACQ5) GLOBAL AWARDS celebrate achievement, innovation, and brilliance, recognizing the world's most outstanding organizations and professionals.

Benchmark International HQ is currently participating in the Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful initiative, specifically the Adopt-A-Road program for the next two years to promote environmental stewardship, team building, and to keep our city and streets beautiful. 

The Adopt-A-Road program is a great opportunity for corporations to give back to the community through stewardship of public right-of-ways, parks, and shorelines. Adoptions greatly enhance the appearance of our communities and go a long way in reducing litter and debris from entering our waterways and polluting the natural habitats of our native wildlife. 

The Tampa office has officially adopted the stretch of road from W Boy Scout Blvd/W Columbus Drive, and as part of the program, is responsible for at least four cleanups a year.

Recently, the Tampa office participated in its first official cleanup of 2021. There were 15 volunteers that split up into two teams that covered the two-mile stretch of road to pick up debris, enjoy the Florida sunshine and fresh air, and got to wear very fashionable safety vests and use trash grabbers.

The staff was able to enjoy an afternoon of team bonding, cleaning up for a good cause, and remembering in the process to keep Tampa beautiful.

The goal is to have the entire office volunteer over the year to get to know their team members more and again give back to an amazing cause.

Benchmark International is honored to be a part of this initiative and looks forward to the upcoming Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful cleanups in the months to come. Learn more about how you can support or get involved with Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful - https://www.keeptampabaybeautiful.org/

About Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful 

Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful is an environmental nonprofit organization. Our mission is to promote a culture of environmental stewardship through volunteer and educational opportunities. Our focus areas are conservation, waste reduction, and beautification. Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful provides a unique experience for individuals to make an impact in our community. We offer a variety of service projects to work with groups of all ages. 

Benchmark International has successfully facilitated the transaction between Twenty First Century Engineering (“TFCE”) and J.S. Held LLC.

TFCE, based in Vero Beach, Florida is a renowned full-service professional engineering firm focusing on forensic services. TFCE provides civil, structural, forensic, and design/build services to individuals, corporations, and contractors throughout Florida, the greater Southeast United States, Texas, and the Caribbean. The company holds dual licenses in engineering and general contracting, which enable an expedited, turn-key process for clients.

J.S. Held is a global consulting firm with expertise in construction, environmental health & safety, forensic accounting & economics, water & fire restoration, equipment, and forensic architecture & engineering matters. According to the company’s announcement, “This acquisition further expands our forensic services for complex litigation needs, while also strengthening our geographic resources” (Bill Bracken, PE, J.S. Held Forensic Architecture & Engineering Practice Leader).

John Carroll, the founder of TFCE, added in the announcement, “Our clients will have the benefit of a new suite of technical services and the accompanying specialized staff to support their needs on a variety of construction; equipment; environmental, health, and safety; as well as forensic accounting and economic matters.”

Regarding the deal, Senior Transaction Associate Sunny Yang Garten at Benchmark International commented, “It was a pleasure to represent TFCE in this strategic transaction. John and his team were wonderful to work with. They were engaging and always responsive to diligence requests. We’re excited to see that their legacy will be preserved and enhanced through this transaction with JS Held. On behalf of Benchmark International, we wish both companies continued success.”

There is great need all around us. During COVID-19 and this time of social distancing, many local businesses are considering ways of how to give back and do their part to support their local communities and businesses.

Benchmark International founders Steven Keane and Gregory Jackson showed their support to the community by purchasing 400 pizza pies over a two-day span from their favorite pizza place - Grimaldi’s Pizzeria in Tampa, FL to be able to feed the healthcare professionals at Tampa General Hospital (TGH).

Steven Keane and Greg Jackson hand-delivered the pizzas this past Tuesday and Wednesday to provide food to the frontline healthcare workers who are selflessly working each day to provide help and comfort to thousands of in-need patients.

As a team, Benchmark International and Grimaldi’s Pizzeria was able to set a few new Grimaldis records.

The records consisted of the following:
• The most pizzas to be in the oven at any one time
• The largest single order – 200 pizzas in one order
• The largest single order two days in a row – Totaling 400 pizzas

Benchmark International was honored to be able to provide this contribution to their local community and also the healthcare workers at Tampa General Hospital (TGH) and would like to thank Jeff, Rick and the Grimaldi’s team who work so hard to help make this happen.

Members of the Benchmark International team, completed the St. Jude 5K Walk/Run this past weekend in Tampa, FL to support ending childhood cancer. 

Benchmark International is pleased to announce that our very own Global CEO, Gregory Jackson, has been announced a recipient of the 2019 Leadership Award from M&A Advisor. Our organization works hard to make the best transactions for our clients, and Mr. Jackson notes that without all members of the Benchmark International team, this accomplishment would not be possible.

Benchmark International is proud to announce that our Chairman, Steven Keane, has won Chairman of the Year 2018 by Acquisition International. Congratulations Steven!!!

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