Antares International Partners Research
Advisory Approach
Antares International Partners is a highly specialized boutique investment bank founded in 1995 that focuses exclusively on cross-border mergers and acquisitions transactions between the United States and Europe, with particular expertise in France-US deals. With principal offices in West Palm Beach, Florida and Paris, France, Antares operates as a truly international advisory firm with deep roots in both transatlantic markets.
The firm has established a distinguished track record, having executed 150+ transactions with an aggregate value exceeding $17 billion. What differentiates Antares from larger global banks is its boutique scale—a team of approximately 2-10 highly experienced professionals—combined with genuinely international expertise. Each principal brings 30-40+ years of cross-border transaction experience, creating an advisory firm that truly understands both US market dynamics and European business culture, regulatory environments, and buyer networks.
Antares' core thesis is that cross-border M&A transactions require more than financial engineering—they require deep cultural, legal, and market knowledge of both buyer and seller jurisdictions. The firm believes that the best outcomes come from advisors who have lived and worked in both the US and Europe, understand how to position companies for different types of buyers (strategic corporations, private equity, family offices), and can navigate complex cross-border documentation, financing, and regulatory requirements. Antares positions itself as a trusted advisor who brings exhaustive market knowledge and genuine international relationships.
Sector Focus
Antares maintains active practices across six primary sectors:
Aerospace and Defense: Strategic cross-border transactions with OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, and specialized defense contractors. The firm has particular expertise in European-headquartered aerospace suppliers seeking US market expansion and American contractors pursuing European partnerships.
Manufacturing (Discrete & Process): Precision manufacturing, specialty chemicals, industrial coatings, and equipment manufacturers. The firm brings deep understanding of technical operations, supply chain integration, and regulatory certification requirements (AS9100, ISO standards). Notable transaction history includes guiding manufacturing companies through complex cross-border acquisitions and recapitalizations.
Transportation & Logistics: Rail equipment, logistics platforms, and specialized transportation companies. The firm has extensive experience with European and American logistics providers on both buy-side and sell-side mandates. Antares has advised on the acquisition of STS Rail Ltd by Mors Smitt in 2011—a UK-based rail relay manufacturer—demonstrating capability in technical industrial manufacturing transactions.
Business Services: Professional services, staffing, and business support organizations seeking to expand internationally. Expertise in service platform acquisitions and international capability building.
Industrial Services: Specialized B2B services companies with cross-border expansion opportunities, including maintenance, support, and specialized industrial services.
Consumer Services: Consumer-facing companies and retail operators with transatlantic growth ambitions, including branded consumer goods and specialty retail.
Deal Track Record
Antares has handled transactions across the full spectrum of M&A types: sell-side advisories for founders and family businesses seeking exit, buy-side representation for strategic and financial sponsors, recapitalizations for growth capital, LBOs, MBOs, and merger facilitation. Deal sizes range from $20 million to over $500 million in enterprise value.
Notable transactions have included:
- Mors Smitt acquisition of STS Rail Ltd (2011): A UK-based manufacturer of electromechanical relays for the rail industry, demonstrating expertise in technical industrial transactions and cross-border consolidation.
- Saft Groupe advisory (2013): A notable transaction in the industrial battery and power solutions space.
The firm's historical transaction volume of 150+ deals with $17 billion in aggregate value demonstrates sustained deal-making capability and deep buyer relationships across both continents.
Process & Fee Structure
Antares runs methodical, relationship-driven processes that leverage its deep network of US and European strategic buyers, private equity sponsors, and family offices. The firm works with companies on both acquisition and divestiture mandates, typically handling transactions ranging from $20M to $500M+ in enterprise value.
The firm's advisory approach emphasizes:
- Deep buyer network access on both sides of the Atlantic
- Exhaustive market analysis and positioning strategy
- Cross-border legal and regulatory navigation
- Continuous client support from engagement through closing
While specific fee structures are not publicly disclosed, as a boutique firm in the lower-to-core middle market, Antares typically structures engagements on a combination of retainer and success-based fees. The firm requires sufficient deal size and mandate scope to justify its deep advisory involvement.
Buyer Network
Antares maintains established relationships with:
- US-based strategic acquirers across aerospace, defense, industrials, transportation, and business services
- European strategics seeking US market expansion (particularly French, German, and UK companies)
- Transatlantic private equity sponsors with cross-border investment strategies
- Family offices and founder-led buyers pursuing strategic acquisitions
- Financial sponsors and recapitalization firms
The firm's buyer network strength reflects decades of relationship-building on both continents, with particular depth in industrial and specialized manufacturing PE relationships.
Competitive Positioning
Antares' key differentiators are:
- Genuinely Transatlantic Expertise: Not a US firm with a Paris office, but a truly integrated cross-border firm with deep roots in both markets
- Boutique Responsiveness: Decisions made quickly by experienced principals, not committee-driven processes
- Operational Depth: Advisory team members have lived and worked in both jurisdictions and understand market nuances
- Established Buyer Networks: Decades of relationships with strategic and financial buyers on both sides of Atlantic
- Specialized Regulatory Knowledge: Deep expertise in cross-border documentation, financing structures, and regulatory requirements
- Cultural Bridge: Understanding of how to position companies for different buyer types and market expectations
Not a Fit If
The firm typically focuses on lower-to-core middle market transactions ($20M-$500M). Businesses seeking US-only or Europe-only advisory without cross-border components, companies in highly commoditized sectors without international growth ambitions, or mandates requiring large-scale bilateral sales processes with 100+ buyer contacts would likely be better served by larger bulge-bracket firms.
Companies requiring significant financing solutions or underwriting capability would benefit more from larger firms. Similarly, founder-led businesses with no international ambitions would not align with Antares' cross-border specialization.
Team
Gary M. Cole - Founder and Managing Director. Over 40 years of comprehensive M&A experience covering buyer representation, exclusive sales, divestitures, leveraged buy-outs, consortium bids, and financial buyer representation. Prior experience includes Managing Director at Peers & Co., BNP Paribas, Merrill Lynch, and E.F. Hutton. Holds degrees from University of Wisconsin and University of Denver Law Center. Active in French-American Foundation leadership (Executive Committee, Board member in both New York and Paris).
Eric L. Rocheteau - Managing Director. Thirty-five years of international corporate finance experience specializing in acquisitions, divestitures, capital raising, IPOs, and strategic development, particularly on cross-border transactions spanning US, France, UK, Germany, Scandinavia, Netherlands, South Africa, and Japan. Prior roles include Director and Head of M&A for France at Cazenove (Paris-based) and Head of US Corporate Finance at Cazenove (New York-based). Earlier experience at Den norskeBank and BNP Paribas. MBA from Stern School of Business, NYU; BA in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University.
Alex Blondin - Vice President. Extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions with deep sector expertise in aerospace, defense, and industrial sectors. Provides valuations, M&A advisory on acquisitions and sale agreements, and process structuring. Prior experience at Lincoln International and KPMG Corporate Finance in Paris. Master's degree from EMLYON Business School. Member of French-American Foundation.
Geographic Coverage
Primary geographic coverage includes the United States (with focus on major metropolitan markets and industrial hubs) and France and Western Europe (particularly UK, Germany, and Benelux markets). Direct market presence in both Florida and Paris enables on-the-ground relationship management and market intelligence.