CenterPoint M&A Advisors Research
Advisory Approach
CenterPoint M&A Advisors is a premier investment banking firm serving the lower middle market, specifically targeting business owners with enterprise values between $5 million and $120 million. The firm operates with a clear thesis: mid-sized companies demand the same level of professional M&A representation as large corporations but are typically overlooked by Wall Street investment banks that require six-figure retainers and $1 million minimum success fees.
The firm's positioning is distinctly client-focused. They believe the best outcomes come from exhaustive buyer outreach combined with hands-on process management. Their sweet spot is founder-owned and family-owned businesses in manufacturing, distribution, business services, and healthcare services where operational complexity creates valuation challenges that require sophisticated representation.
What makes CenterPoint unique is their operational depth—principals average 25 years of experience and bring former operator backgrounds (including roles at Waste Management, Inc.), enabling them to understand plant-level economics and operational realities that pure bankers might miss. They've completed transactions in 30 states and Canada, demonstrating geographic flexibility and national reach.
Sector Focus
CenterPoint's transaction history shows concentration in several core industries:
Manufacturing & Industrial: Significant depth in precision manufacturing, contract manufacturing, building products, and industrial equipment. This includes metal fabrication (P-W Industries cable trays), roofing products manufacturing, automotive aftermarket parts, aerospace hardware, and construction equipment rental.
Food & Beverage: Active in specialty food manufacturing including baklava production (Rain Creek Baking), donut/muffin commercial baking, beverage co-packing and private label manufacturing, and proprietary food products.
Business Services: Experience with professional staffing companies, home inspection/HVAC permitting services, billboard/outdoor advertising businesses, and equipment rental companies.
Healthcare Services: In-home care for intellectually and developmentally disabled persons, therapy and education services for autistic children, and medical device manufacturing.
Energy & Industrial Services: Oilfield services (Azurite Service Company wastewater disposal), energy services companies, and environmental services.
Consumer Products: Consumer oral care products, vitamins and plant solutions, sports memorabilia protection products, and consumer branded goods.
Technology & Specialized Manufacturing: Advanced metrology systems for semiconductor manufacturing, semiconductor heating solutions, mission-critical aerospace communications systems, and automotive superchargers.
The firm also maintains capabilities in transportation (campervan rental), real estate services, and distribution businesses.
Deal Track Record
CenterPoint has completed 30+ transactions across their history, with a representative sample including:
- Azurite Service Company to Basic Energy Services (NYSE: BAS) – All-cash sale of Texas wastewater disposal company with 300 employees, 100 tanker trucks, and eight operating facilities
- Rain Creek Baking Company to Kronos Products/Prospect Partners – Competitive bidding process for specialty fillo dough and European-style desserts manufacturer
- P-W Industries to Legrand – Five multibillion-dollar companies competed; French manufacturing firm with $5.5B in worldwide revenue acquired world's leading cable tray manufacturer
- Safety Systems Hawaii – Largest distributor of safety products in Hawaii acquired
- Ultra Pro LP – Automotive superchargers manufacturer acquired
- Next Media Group – Media/entertainment company acquired
- Multiple consumer products transactions including oral care products, vitamins, baklava production, and specialty food manufacturers
- Healthcare services transactions including in-home care providers and autism therapy services
- Manufacturing transactions including commercial roofing products, cable trays, aerospace hardware, and construction equipment
- Energy services transactions including Texas-based energy services companies
- Business services transactions including staffing companies, equipment rental, and inspection services
The firm's process consistently involves controlled competitive bidding. In the P-W Industries transaction, offers from five multibillion-dollar companies substantially exceeded expectations. This pattern of creating competitive tension appears consistent across their transactions.
Process & Fee Structure
CenterPoint runs institutional-quality sell-side processes adapted for lower middle market companies:
Process Approach: Controlled bidding processes with targeted buyer outreach to strategic buyers and private equity groups. They emphasize creating competitive tension through multiple offers, as demonstrated in their Rain Creek Baking and P-W Industries transactions where bidding wars drove valuations higher.
Typical Timeline: 6-12 months from engagement to close, though they successfully closed the Azurite transaction "in the middle of a serious economic meltdown," demonstrating ability to execute in challenging market conditions.
Fee Structure: The firm positions itself as more accessible than Wall Street banks—specifically contrasting their approach to firms requiring "six figure retainers and $1 million minimum success fees." While exact fee percentages are not publicly disclosed, their positioning suggests modified Lehman or success-based structures appropriate for lower middle market transactions. They likely require retainers but at levels more accessible to $5M-$50M companies.
Buyer Outreach: Their transactions show consistent ability to attract both strategic buyers (Legrand, Kronos Products, Basic Energy Services) and private equity firms (Prospect Partners, various PE portfolio companies). The P-W Industries deal specifically mentioned five multibillion-dollar bidders, indicating robust buyer relationships.
Buyer Network
CenterPoint maintains relationships with both strategic acquirers and private equity firms:
Strategic Buyers: Fortune 500 manufacturers, international strategic acquirers, and industry-specific buyers. Examples include Legrand (French manufacturing, $5.5B revenue), Kronos Products (strategic food processor), Basic Energy Services (NYSE: BAS), and various strategic acquirers in manufacturing, healthcare, and business services.
Private Equity: Active relationships with PE firms and portfolio companies. Prospect Partners backed the Kronos acquisition of Rain Creek Baking. Multiple transactions reference buyers as "portfolio companies," indicating established PE relationships.
The firm's 30+ completed transactions, with a significant portion to PE-backed buyers and strategic acquirers, demonstrates an active and effective buyer network. Their ability to attract five multibillion-dollar bidders for P-W Industries specifically indicates strong buyer relationships.
Competitive Positioning
CenterPoint differentiates from other lower middle market advisors through several key factors:
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FINRA Registration: As a registered broker-dealer (CRD# 139611), they bring regulatory credibility and compliance infrastructure that unregistered intermediaries lack.
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Operational Experience: Principals average 25 years of experience with former operator backgrounds, enabling them to understand operational complexity and plant-level economics that pure finance professionals might miss.
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Process Rigor: Controlled competitive bidding processes with demonstrated ability to attract multiple qualified bidders and create competitive tension.
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Geographic Reach: Transactions in 30 states and Canada demonstrate national capability despite Los Angeles base.
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Accessibility: Positioning explicitly contrasts with Wall Street firms requiring "six figure retainers and $1 million minimum success fees," making them accessible to $5M-$50M companies.
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Clean Regulatory Record: FINRA BrokerCheck shows no disclosure events, regulatory actions, or disciplinary matters—clean since 2006 registration.
Not a Fit If
Based on their positioning and transaction history, CenterPoint is typically not a fit for:
- Businesses below $5M TEV (their stated range starts at under $5M but positioning suggests floor around this level)
- Businesses above $120M TEV (their stated maximum)
- Founders wanting limited processes—their value proposition is exhaustive buyer outreach and competitive bidding
- Pure asset sales (they focus on going-concern enterprises with operational complexity)
Team
The firm is led by two co-founding principals with deep M&A experience:
Scott Berejikian – President, Co-Founder, AMLCO, CCO. 26-28 years of M&A experience since 1998. Previously Vice President at a middle-market Southern California investment bank. Spent eight years in operations and business development at Waste Management, Inc.'s hazardous waste disposal division, giving him operational perspective. MBA in Corporate Finance from USC, Bachelor's in Aquatic Biology from UC Santa Barbara. FINRA Series 7, 24, 63, 79. California Real Estate Broker license. Named to Los Angeles Business Journal's "Most Influential Investment Bankers" and "Leaders of Influence: Investment Bankers." Has completed transactions in 35 states and Canada.
Chris Bandouveris – CEO, Co-Founder. 32+ years of M&A experience since 1992. Previously president of a middle-market investment bank for 12+ years. MBA in Finance from USC (Commerce Associates Fellowship), Bachelor of Arts from Georgetown University (Magna Cum Laude). FINRA Series 7, 24, 63, 79. Also recognized by Los Angeles Business Journal's "Most Influential Investment Bankers" and "Leaders of Influence." Has advised business buyers and sellers in smaller middle-market transactions for three decades.
Steven Lee Thornton – Financial Operations Principal (FINOP). Less than 5% ownership, joined firm in 2005.
Both principals are General Securities Principals with full FINRA registration, bringing technical compliance capabilities. The firm has no disclosure events on FINRA BrokerCheck, indicating clean regulatory history since 2006.
Geographic Coverage
Headquartered in Woodland Hills, California (Los Angeles area), CenterPoint has completed transactions in 30 states and Canada. While California and Western states are core markets, their transaction history demonstrates national capability. Recent transactions include Texas-based energy services companies, Hawaii-based safety product distribution, and various transactions across the United States. The firm maintains physical presence only in Woodland Hills but operates nationally through virtual engagement and travel.