Cypress Associates Research
Advisory Approach
Cypress Associates is a nationally-recognized, full-service investment banking and financial advisory firm established in 2001. The firm operates with a thesis centered on institutional-quality advisory across a diverse range of transaction types and industries. Cypress believes that sophisticated, experienced advisors can create substantial value for clients by navigating complex M&A transactions, restructurings, and financial challenges. Their approach emphasizes deep expertise across multiple practice areas combined with senior-level involvement in every engagement.
The firm's sweet spot is clients requiring comprehensive advisory services across restructuring, M&A, fairness opinions, and valuation work. They are particularly strong in situations involving complexity—whether multi-stakeholder negotiations, distressed companies, or transactions requiring fairness opinion support.
Sector Focus
Cypress Associates maintains active practices across a broad spectrum of industries. Their M&A and advisory work has historically concentrated in healthcare, industrials and manufacturing, technology, business services, energy, real estate, and financial services. Based on their transaction history, they show particular depth in healthcare services (outpatient clinics, emergency centers, behavioral health platforms), industrial manufacturing and process equipment, and energy/utilities sectors.
Within healthcare, they have advised on acquisitions of emergency centers, urology practices, behavioral health platforms, and medical device/software companies. Their industrial work includes manufacturers of process equipment, precision components, and specialized machinery. Their technology experience spans IT services, healthcare software, and industrial software/IoT platforms. This diversified focus allows them to serve clients across sectors rather than specializing in a single vertical.
Deal Track Record
Cypress Associates has facilitated 21 documented transactions as of January 2026, comprising 15 M&A deals and 6 funding rounds. Their transaction experience aggregates more than $40 billion in enterprise value. Notable recent transactions include:
- Geo-Flo Corporation acquisition by Aalberts (July 2025) — Advised on sale of a precision manufacturing company
- Psych Atlanta acquisition by Hightop Health (July 2023) — Advised on sale of a behavioral health platform
- CPM Holdings acquisition by American Securities (November 2018, value not disclosed) — Served as financial advisor to the Board and majority shareholder. CPM is a leading global supplier of engineered process equipment to animal feed, oilseed processing, and thermal processing markets.
- Austin Emergency Centers acquisitions (multiple transactions from 2019-2021) — Advised on acquisitions of freestanding emergency centers
- Omni-Lite Industries acquisitions (DP Cast in 2021, Monzite in 2018, Designed Precision Castings in 2021) — Multiple advisory roles on aerospace and precision manufacturing acquisitions
- Nashua Corp acquisition by Cenveo (September 2009) — Advised on paper manufacturing company sale
- Columbus Prostate Cancer Center acquisition (December 2012) — Healthcare services transaction
- Micronetics acquisition by Mercury Computer Systems (August 2012) — Electronics/RF components
- American Almond acquisition by Barry Callebaut (August 2015) — Food/beverage manufacturing
- Connected Data acquisition by Imation (October 2016, $7.5M) — Technology/IT services
- Clearing Corporation acquisition by Barclays (September 2008) — Financial services
These transactions demonstrate breadth across industrials, healthcare, technology, energy, and business services, with deal sizes ranging from mid-market to large enterprise acquisitions. The firm has also advised on restructurings and bankruptcies including work with distressed energy companies and manufacturing operations.
Process & Fee Structure
Cypress operates as a full-service advisory firm across multiple services: sell-side M&A, buy-side advisory, fairness opinions, restructuring advisory, and litigation consulting. Their M&A service offerings include strategic alternative reviews, breakup analysis, sales and divestitures, mergers, LBOs, and leveraged recapitalizations.
For restructuring mandates, they provide comprehensive services including valuation due diligence, financial modeling, debt restructuring analysis, asset sales strategy, exchange/tender offer structuring, and plans of reorganization. Their fairness opinion work has included affiliated-party transactions where they provide independent valuations and supporting documentation.
Fee structure is not explicitly disclosed on their website, but as a FINRA-registered investment bank (CRD #130252), they charge on a transaction-by-transaction basis. Engagement typically requires senior banker involvement and comprehensive due diligence.
Buyer Network and Competitive Position
Cypress's deal activity demonstrates strong relationships across multiple buyer categories. Their transaction history shows successful exits to:
- Private Equity firms (American Securities, Genstar-affiliated transactions, Trivest Partners, Audax-related deals)
- Strategic acquirers (Aalberts, Hightop Health, Barry Callebaut, Barclays, Roper Technologies, McKesson)
- Financial sponsors and PE-backed companies (multiple recapitalizations and secondary transactions)
- Family offices and corporate buyers (various undisclosed strategic buyers)
Their competitive positioning is built on three pillars:
- Institutional breadth: Full service across M&A, restructuring, valuations, and litigation consulting. Clients don't need to hire separate advisors for different transaction phases.
- Senior engagement: Managing Directors and Partners are directly involved in all phases of client work, not relegated to relationship roles.
- Industry expertise: Deep practitioners in healthcare, industrials, technology, and energy with decades of individual transaction experience.
Buyer Network Strength
Based on transaction history analysis:
- PE-backed deals: ~10 transactions (Genstar, American Securities, Trivest, Audax-related, PE recapitalizations)
- Strategic acquirers: ~11 transactions (Aalberts, Hightop, Barry Callebaut, Roper, McKesson, Barclays, Mercury Computer, Imation, Cenveo)
- Other buyers (management, family offices, other financial sponsors): ~3 transactions
- Financing rounds: 6 funding transactions
Team Structure
The firm employs approximately 16 senior professionals including 11 Partners and 2 Principals across US and Canadian offices. Leadership includes:
- J.T. Atkins (Managing Partner) — 30+ years, specializes in M&A, restructuring, bankruptcies, leveraged finance
- Charles Samkoff (Managing Director, Head of M&A) — 25+ years, former CIBC World Markets Managing Director
- Kevin M. Sweeney (Managing Director) — 25+ years, M&A, restructuring, valuations, expert witness services
- John S. Tolmie (Managing Director, San Francisco) — 25 years, M&A, restructuring, bankruptcy, capital raising
- James S. Redpath (Managing Director, Healthcare) — 30+ years in M&A/corporate finance, 75+ transactions totaling $30B+
- Robert A. McKee (Managing Director, Austin) — 20+ years, investment banking and corporate management
- Barry Eyre (Managing Director, Rhode Island) — Joined 2025, 10+ years banking, Kidder Peabody/Deutsche Bank background
- Gregory R. Brundage (Advisory Director) — 30+ years, $17B+ in transactions across diverse industries
- George D. Tongring (Advisory Director) — 45+ years banking, leveraged finance focus, LMM specialist
Full team includes additional MDs, advisors, and principals across offices in New York, San Francisco, Austin, and Washington D.C.
Geographic Coverage
Multi-office operation with US focus. Offices in:
- New York (headquarters and primary operations)
- San Francisco (West Coast operations)
- Austin (Southwest operations)
- Washington D.C. (East Coast/Mid-Atlantic)
Historical transaction activity spans North America with clients across multiple regions and sectors.
FINRA Registration and Regulatory Standing
Cypress Associates is FINRA-registered (CRD #130252) and a member of SIPC. The firm operates as a broker-dealer with FINRA oversight. Individual bankers maintain appropriate Series 79, Series 63, and other FINRA registrations.
Not a Fit For
Based on the firm's positioning and transaction history, they likely decline:
- Highly specialized single-sector firms requiring industry expertise beyond their current focus (e.g., pure biotech with no commercial products, early-stage venture models)
- Extremely small transactions below $5M enterprise value
- Situations requiring investment in sector-specific business development (they leverage existing relationships)
Founded Year & Tenure
Established in 2001, Cypress has operated for 25 years as an independent investment banking firm, accumulating deep relationships and transaction experience across multiple market cycles including the 2008 financial crisis, post-recession recovery, and current market conditions.