“More Than Doubled Post-Transaction”
The Challenge: Dan and his partner built American Group from nothing to an Inc 5000 #51 fastest-growing company. They wanted to protect what they’d built while finding the right asset-based trucking partner to help them 10x the business. They were constantly fielding calls from M&A advisors who didn’t understand LTL trucking or the value of their 45 blanket carrier tariffs.
What We Did:
- Leveraged existing industry relationship and trust built over years
- Used proprietary Black Belt data system to compress due diligence from typical 6-7 months to 2-3 months
- Pre-filtered buyers for cultural and strategic fit
- Facilitated on-site visits so Dan could evaluate buyers, not just be evaluated
- Provided steady counsel through negotiations and purchase agreement discussions
The Outcome:
- Found the right strategic partner (not just the highest bidder)
- Took chips off the table while retaining equity for second bite
- Business more than doubled in size post-transaction
- Due diligence timeline compressed by 4+ months
In Dan’s Words: “For us, it was all about being able to trust the person representing us. Mike and Black Belt have the utmost integrity. They deal in transparency and honesty, and they are absolutely an advocate for you.”