Askew Kabala & Company Research
Advisory Approach
Askew Kabala & Company is an independent investment banking and business consulting firm established in 2002 that serves entrepreneurs, business owners, and private companies seeking to stabilize performance, accelerate growth, attract capital, restructure existing credit, acquire other companies, or sell their businesses. The firm operates with a thesis centered on providing comprehensive advisory services that maximize client value across the entire transaction lifecycle. Their approach emphasizes institutional-quality consulting combined with practical execution experience, recognizing that successful M&A outcomes require both strategic guidance and operational expertise.
The firm's foundational principle is that clients benefit from advisors who understand both financial engineering and operational realities. This is reflected in the composition of their principal staff, which comprises experienced professionals from accounting, software, technology, healthcare, aviation, manufacturing, and business consulting. Rather than offering a narrow specialization, Askew Kabala positions itself as a generalist M&A advisor capable of serving entrepreneurs and business owners across diverse industries and deal structures.
Sector Focus and Industry Expertise
Askew Kabala's transaction history demonstrates deep expertise across multiple verticals. The firm has particular strength in manufacturing and industrial products, including precision component suppliers, automotive after-market manufacturers, specialty chemical producers, and packaging companies. Their manufacturing practice has managed acquisitions and sales of companies ranging from discrete manufacturers (valves, electrical casings, plastic components) to process manufacturers (juice concentrates, food products, beverages).
The firm has also developed significant capability in business services and professional services verticals, including distribution operations (valve distribution, chiropractic equipment distribution), financial services advisory, and consulting services. Their healthcare practice includes medical records transcription services and medical imaging companies. Additionally, the firm has executed transactions in technology and software, including B2B SaaS platforms and technology infrastructure companies.
Askew Kabala's international experience is notable—they have advised on transactions in Mexico (reinsurer establishment in Bermuda), pursued opportunities in Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru), Southeast Asia, and Europe. This global perspective informs their ability to structure cross-border transactions and access international buyer networks.
Track Record and Transaction History
The firm's representative transactions include:
Manufacturing & Industrial:
- Cafe Au Lait, Inc. (coffee roaster and tea company) - sale to Sara Lee Corporation
- Brooks Products, Inc. (concrete electrical casings for construction) - M&A advisory
- Rahn Industries, Inc. (automotive after-market products) - sale to TransPro, Inc.
- M & N Valve, Inc. (West Coast distributor of oil valves to petroleum industry) - sale to Van Lewen Industries (Netherlands-based)
- J & J, Inc. (value-added plastic manufacturer) - secured revolving line of credit
Distribution & Logistics:
- Meyer Distributing Co. (West Coast's largest chiropractic equipment distributor) - sale to major East Coast competitor
- Continental Logistics Freight and Storage - arranged revolving line of credit
- Food Forward Company (Uruguay) - arranged trading line of credit
Healthcare & Medical:
- Medical records transcription service ($4 million acquisition and integration for PE-backed roll-up)
- Medical imaging space corporate acquisition and due diligence
- Medical diagnostic imaging sales and maintenance company - business advisory and equipment-based lending
Technology & Telecommunications:
- B2B software-as-a-service (SaaS) company - business advisory and financial modeling
- Telecommunications metropolitan dark fiber company - presented to mezzanine and equity capital markets for $20 million financing
- Telecommunications product distributor ($250 million annual sales) - established working capital financing and restructured past-due payables
- Telecommunications equipment manufacturer - established international distribution network
Capital Formation & Financing:
- Damon Industries (juice concentrates and alcoholic mixers) - expansion financing
- First Packaging Co., Inc. (packaging company) - acquisition advisory and working capital funding
- Park DCS, Inc. (flat panel display manufacturer) - arranged equity capital for expansion
- Q-4 PackCo., Inc. (juice products packaging startup) - arranged equity capital
- Technology company - raised $5 million in successive private placements
- Gresham Holdings, Inc. (reinsurer) - advised on structure, capital raise, and Bermuda domicile establishment
Leveraged Buyouts & Recapitalizations:
- Management-led buyout of $325 million division (international telecommunications company)
- Owner/management merger with public company spin-off ($17 million private equity placement)
- Commercial bank organization - regulatory preparation, board formation, staffing
Real Estate & International:
- Commercial/residential project in Seoul, Korea - acquisition and capitalization
- Multi-national tool and industrial import/export company - multi-lingual marketing program development
The firm's transaction volume, while the complete historical count is not publicly disclosed, includes representations across a "wide spectrum of business verticals and capital values." Based on the breadth and consistency of transaction activity documented since founding in 2002, the firm has completed dozens of transactions spanning acquisitions, sales, recapitalizations, financing arrangements, and restructurings.
Advisory Process and Engagement Model
Askew Kabala's service offerings span the complete M&A lifecycle:
On the Sales Side: The firm provides M&A advisory services that guide business owners through the entire sale process, from valuation analysis and buyer identification to negotiation and closing support. They manage comprehensive buyeridentification campaigns, prepare companies for M&A (management presentation coaching, due diligence preparation, data room organization), and handle financial engineering to optimize deal structure for the seller.
On the Buy Side: For acquirers, the firm provides acquisition advisory including target identification, valuation analysis, diligence oversight, and deal structuring. They have executed multiple acquisitions for clients and supported integration planning.
Capital Structure & Financing: A significant portion of Askew Kabala's practice involves debt and equity capital formation. Services include:
- Private institutional equity placement
- Mezzanine and subordinated debt financing
- Senior debt financial structuring
- Leveraged and management buyouts
- Working capital and equipment-based lending arrangements
- Restructuring of existing credit facilities
Fee Structure: Based on available information, the firm works on engagement models that include success-based compensation aligned with transaction outcomes. Specific fee structures (Lehman scale, flat percentage, retainer models) are negotiated on a per-engagement basis depending on transaction size, complexity, and client circumstances.
Competitive Positioning
Askew Kabala differentiates itself through several key factors:
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Independence and Flexibility: As an independent firm (not owned or affiliated with any other business entity), they operate with flexibility in structuring deals and maintaining client confidentiality without parent company constraints.
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Depth of Team Experience: The founding partners bring 20-30+ years of investment banking experience. Ron Askew previously led Pacific Inland Bank (combined assets of $1.7 billion) and served as MD of a national investment banking firm. Jim Chamberlain brings public company CFO experience (Times Mirror, Fluor) and has managed M&A activity for multi-billion-dollar corporations. Michael Crowe brings technology expertise and international business development experience. Jerry Connolly brings aerospace and defense sector expertise with senior government experience.
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Generalist Approach with Deep Verticals: While capable across multiple industries, the firm has developed particular depth in manufacturing, industrial services, healthcare, technology, and aviation—sectors where their team members have direct operational or functional experience.
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International Capability: With team members having worked in Latin America, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Middle East, the firm can structure cross-border transactions and access international buyer networks.
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Financial Engineering Expertise: The team's combined experience includes structured finance, public company treasury management, debt/equity recapitalization, and financial engineering—enabling sophisticated deal structures beyond basic M&A.
Buyer Network and Strategic Relationships
Based on the firm's transaction history, they maintain relationships with:
- Strategic acquirers across industrial, healthcare, food and beverage, technology, and telecommunications sectors
- Private equity firms (evidenced by multiple PE-backed acquisition and roll-up scenarios)
- Financial sponsors and family offices (recapitalizations and equity placements)
- Commercial banks and lenders (debt and working capital facilities)
- International acquirers (Van Lewen Industries in Netherlands, cross-border telecommunications deals)
The consistency of deal closings across multiple buyer categories and geographic regions suggests a well-established buyer network cultivated over 20+ years of advisory relationships.
Not a Fit If
Based on the firm's practice, they typically focus on:
- Established businesses with proven revenue and profitability (vs. pre-revenue startups)
- Transactions with clear buyer universes
- Transactions requiring traditional M&A or financing expertise
They are less suited for clients seeking public equity market access (IPOs) or specialized in venture capital advisory for early-stage companies, as evidenced by their transaction history focusing on established and profitable middle-market companies.
Geographic Coverage
The firm is based in Laguna Hills, California (Orange County area) and operates with a nationwide practice. Their transaction history includes deals across the United States, with particular activity in California (West Coast), and demonstrated capability in cross-border/international transactions (Netherlands, Bermuda, Korea, Latin America, Southeast Asia).
Management Team and Credentials
The firm's leadership brings deep expertise:
Ronald L. Askew, President & Managing Director
- Former Chairman and CEO, Pacific Inland Bank ($1.7B in combined assets)
- Former Managing Director and Partner, prominent national investment banking firm
- Executive Vice President, Benefit Capital Company (investment banking)
- Regional VP, Imperial Bank; Officer positions at Coast Bank, Union Bank, Wells Fargo Bank
- Member of multiple boards (private and public companies)
- BS Finance (University of Arizona), MBA (Golden Gate University), Executive Education (University of Washington)
- Certified in Corporate Governance and Directorship (UCLA Anderson)
Michael X. Crowe, Managing Director
- 30+ years of technology and management guidance across diverse sectors
- Executive Vice President, Wolf International Holdings (global aviation services)
- Vice President of Aviation Solutions, Aria International Inc. (airborne security and surveillance)
- Senior Technology Management Advisor, TechPolis (telecommunications consulting)
- VP International Business Development, Align Micro (electronics manufacturing)
- Director of International Business, Orbis Communications (electronics manufacturing, Brazil operations)
- Technology Director, GreyStone Technology (flight simulators and cockpit technologies)
- BA Cognitive Science/AI (UC San Diego), studies in mathematics, engineering, biology (UC Irvine)
Jerry Connolly, Managing Director
- 25+ years of senior leadership and management experience
- Specialized expertise in aerospace and defense sectors
- Air Vice-Marshal (RAF, United Kingdom) - managed £6 billion operating budget
- Respected senior executive, director, and consultant in public and private sectors
Jim Chamberlain, Associate
- 30+ years of financial management in private and public companies
- Chief Financial Officer experience: Hustler/Flynt Family (consumer), On Radio.com (Internet), ETM Entertainment (startup networks, $40M+ revenue)
- Vice President of Financial Planning: ETM Entertainment (raised $45M+ PE and mezzanine, positioned for IPO)
- CFO and Founder: EDiX Corporation (raised $8M VC, executed acquisitions, sold to NASDAQ company)
- Director of Financial Planning and Analysis: Times Mirror Corporation (M&A oversight, shareholder value management)
- General Manager of Corporate Planning: Fluor Corporation
- CFO positions: Occidental Petroleum Technology Center, Occidental Chemical, Stauffer Chemical
- Officer experience: Ernst and Ernst
- BA (UC Berkeley), MBA (University of Bridgeport), CPA, CMA
Additional Team:
- Dr. David Alleva
- Mark Coscarello
- Megan Johnson
- Dr. Dean McKay
- William C. Prentice
- Edward Richard
- Daniel Thomas
Summary
Askew Kabala & Company is an established, independent M&A advisory and investment banking firm with 20+ years of transaction experience across manufacturing, distribution, healthcare, technology, and capital formation. The firm's leadership brings significant experience in public company finance, banking, aerospace, technology, and international business development. Their generalist approach combined with depth in key verticals, institutional-quality process management, and international capability positions them well to serve business owners seeking comprehensive M&A and capital structure advisory across diverse industries and deal types.