Infinity Financial Group Research
Advisory Approach & Philosophy
Infinity Financial Group operates as an elite boutique investment banking firm specializing in sell-side M&A advisory for the lower middle market. Founded in 2005 by Daniel L. Flick, the firm was established with a fundamental philosophy: that business owners deserve more than transactional banking relationships. The core thesis is that the best outcomes for family-owned and closely-held business owners come from a combination of deep advisory expertise, institutional-quality process management, and emotional intelligence regarding the owner's personal and financial objectives.
The firm distinguishes itself through what leadership describes as "senior-level advice, no juniors." Every client engagement involves senior investment banking professionals with 20-45+ years of relevant experience. This contrasts sharply with larger banking firms where deals are frequently delegated to junior associates. Flick's founding insight was recognizing that a significant cohort of Baby Boomer business owners were entering a critical life stage—considering liquidity, estate planning, and legacy preservation—and required advisors who understood both the financial and emotional dimensions of selling a business.
Market Position & Sweet Spot
Infinity Financial Group explicitly positions itself as "the best boutique independent mergers and acquisitions advisory firm in the United States focused on the lower middle market." The firm's geographic sweet spot is the United States, though team members bring extensive international M&A experience from prior roles at Citigroup Global Capital Markets, Bank of America, and specialty finance firms.
The company size sweet spot is precisely defined: $25 million to $250 million in revenue. This focus allows the firm to avoid both the smallest deal sizes (which lack sufficient fee economics for a quality process) and the large mid-market transactions (which are dominated by bulge-bracket banks with vastly larger platforms). Within this range, the firm has achieved particular depth in manufacturing, healthcare services, business services, consumer products, and metals/recycling sectors.
The ideal client profile is a founder-owned, closely-held, or family-controlled business where the owner seeks maximum value realization, wants a trusted advisor managing the complexity of the sales process, and values confidentiality and a limited buyer universe. The firm is NOT a fit for businesses seeking a broad "auction" process or for owners unwilling to allow the bank to confidently manage buyer outreach and negotiations on their behalf.
Sector Focus & Industry Expertise
Infinity Financial Group maintains five primary industry practices:
Manufacturing (Discrete & Process): The firm has completed numerous transactions in precision machining, metal fabrication, specialty chemicals, industrial coatings, and building products manufacturing. Case study examples include the $52 million sale of LifePort, an aerospace aircraft interior conversion manufacturer, and multiple transactions in contract manufacturing. The firm understands plant-level economics, supply chain complexity, and the capital intensity of manufacturing businesses. Industry advisor Gary Darley, founder and former CEO of LifePort, brings firsthand aerospace manufacturing expertise.
Healthcare Services & Products: With healthcare specialist Charlene Flick, RN, MS, CPHQ (25+ years healthcare management experience), the firm has completed transactions in medical devices, healthcare informatics platforms, physician practice management, and behavioral health services. The $13.2 million management-led buyout of Osseus Fusion Systems (minimally invasive spine surgery devices) exemplifies the firm's healthcare product expertise. The team understands regulatory complexity, clinical adoption barriers, and strategic buyer behavior in the healthcare space.
Business Services: The firm has deep transaction experience in industrial staffing, facilities management, outsourced operational services, and business consulting. These businesses typically have recurring revenue, predictable cash flows, and appeal to both strategic and financial buyers.
Construction & Pipeline Services: Multiple transactions in commercial construction, pipeline construction (exemplified by the JOMAX Construction Company transaction—the largest non-union pipeline construction company in the US), and heavy civil infrastructure. The firm understands contractor margins, bonding, customer concentration risk, and the cyclical nature of construction markets.
Metals & Recycling: The firm counted Niles Iron and Metal Company (a 90-year-old family business with $80 million in annual revenue in the scrap metal and paper recycling sector) as both a client and industry advisor, evidencing deep sector knowledge.
Process & Service Model
Infinity Financial Group's sell-side M&A process follows a four-phase model:
Phase 1: Decision to Sell — Before formal engagement, the firm works with prospective clients to bring objectivity to the decision. This phase includes exploring the owner's financial and personal objectives, reviewing the timeliness of a transaction, educating the owner about transaction mechanics and valuation parameters, and setting realistic expectations.
Phase 2: Preparation & Due Diligence — Once a formal engagement is signed, the firm conducts comprehensive due diligence internally: assessing the company's strengths and weaknesses, analyzing historical and projected financial performance, reviewing operational and management infrastructure, and researching the competitive landscape. The firm also guides the client through preparation, including organizing data rooms and coordinating with legal/accounting advisors.
Phase 3: Marketing & Buyer Identification — The firm prepares a comprehensive confidential information memorandum (IM) and develops a well-researched list of potential acquirers. The firm draws on its extensive network and proprietary database to identify strategic buyers, foreign corporations, and private investment groups. Crucially, the firm maintains rigorous discipline on buyer qualification—contacting only parties with genuine financial capacity and clear strategic/financial fit.
Phase 4: Negotiation & Closing — The firm remains the client's advocate and intermediary through LOI, definitive purchase agreement, and final closing. The firm is experienced in addressing complex issues including seller notes, earnouts, claw-back provisions, key-man agreements, non-competes, and environmental/labor/benefits issues. The firm provides transaction counsel throughout and coordinates with M&A legal counsel (the firm recommends 2-3 qualified firms for client selection).
A hallmark of the firm's approach is tenacity—the firm "works intensely on transactions and does not let up until closing. Where others usually stop, we only begin." This philosophy translates to active problem-solving, anticipating deal risks before they become terminal, and managing the critical path aggressively.
Deal Track Record
Infinity Financial Group has completed transactions representing hundreds of millions of dollars in aggregate value. Documented deals include:
- Niles Iron and Metal Company: Sale of 90-year-old family-owned scrap metal and paper recycling business ($80M revenue)
- LifePort: $52 million sale of aerospace aircraft interior conversion and OEM component manufacturer to private equity (7x revenue multiple)
- Kinley Construction: $32.4 million family recapitalization/buyout (October 2021)
- Osseus Fusion Systems: $13.2 million management-led buyout of minimally invasive spine surgery device company
- JOMAX Construction Company: Exclusive representation of the largest non-union pipeline construction company in the United States (Kansas headquarters, operations in OK, WY, MT, ND)
- Badanco: Sale to Champlain Capital Partners with subsequent resale for $69 million (demonstrating ability to position companies for PE buyer success)
- Lifeport: Structured sale of LifePort real estate to W.P. Carey (global real estate investment firm with $4B+ in assets) while simultaneously completing aircraft interior manufacturing company M&A
- Pandigital: Structured, negotiated, and placed $100 million in growth capital financing for digital photo frame company (ranked #4 on SF Business Times "100 Fastest Growing Private Companies" list)
- Cullum Construction: Strategic acquisition by Triosim Corporation (5th acquisition in 4-year span, demonstrating firm's ability to position companies as attractive serial acquisition targets)
- Convectop: Structured $14 million financing ($4M purchase order + $10M accounts receivable) for early-stage consumer housewares company
- Sourcing Network Sales: Structured and placed $20 million receivable and inventory credit facility for international electronics distribution business
From 2006-2007 alone, the firm generated over $185 million in client liquidity. The firm's transaction experience spans sell-side M&A, minority and majority recapitalizations, management buyouts, growth capital financing, and corporate finance advisory.
Buyer Network & Strategic Relationships
Infinity Financial Group maintains established relationships with 2,000+ active private equity firms and strategic acquirers. The firm's deal history demonstrates consistent access to both financial and strategic buyers across multiple industries:
Private Equity Relationships: Documented PE buyers include Champlain Capital Partners, Audax Group (implied from acquisition patterns), and other regional and national PE platforms investing in the lower-middle-market. The firm's PE network provides access to investor capital ranging from $100+ billion in aggregate assets under management.
Strategic Buyers: The firm has placed deals with strategic acquirers including Triosim Corporation (multi-platform industrial acquirer), W.P. Carey (global real estate), and industry-specific strategic buyers across manufacturing, healthcare, and services sectors.
Capital Providers: Allen Frederic brings 24+ years of banking relationships and 20+ years of specialized lending relationships with family offices, mezzanine finance providers, asset-based lenders, venture capital firms, specialty finance companies, and institutional debt/equity providers. The firm has successfully sourced growth capital from numerous sources including Simmons Bank (MBO financing partner).
Competitive Positioning & Differentiation
Infinity Financial Group differentiate through several dimensions:
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Founder-Led Boutique Model: Unlike regional and national banks that view lower-middle-market deals as training grounds for junior bankers, Infinity is founder-led and staffed exclusively by senior professionals. Daniel Flick, the founder, remains actively involved in client relationships, bringing 25+ years of business ownership and financing experience.
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Specialized Experience in Family Business Dynamics: The firm explicitly focuses on family-owned and closely-held businesses. Team members understand succession planning, multi-generational wealth transfer, family governance issues, and the emotional weight of selling a business built over decades.
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Broad Financial Expertise: The team brings depth across M&A, corporate finance, lending, real estate, private equity, and international transactions. Allen Frederic's 48 years in commercial finance, Pat Flick's 45+ years in corporate finance and distressed assets, and Kevin Flick's $1.1B+ in capital raising experience create a rare concentration of financial expertise.
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International and Cross-Border Capability: Multiple team members have lived and worked internationally (Pat Flick in Hong Kong, Hong Kong office experience with Citigroup; Kevin Flick's exposure to Asian markets; Dan Flick's work in Eastern Europe). This enables advising on foreign buyer acquisitions and cross-border transactions.
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True Industry Specialization: Rather than claiming expertise across 20 industries, the firm has concentrated depth in 5-6 core verticals, allowing genuine industry knowledge, established buyer relationships, and credibility with industry participants.
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Comprehensive Solution Approach: The firm doesn't hand off transactions mid-process. From decision-making through closing, the firm manages the entire client journey, coordinates with legal/accounting advisors, and actively solves problems.
Not a Fit If
The firm explicitly declines:
- Businesses below $25 million in revenue
- Pure asset sales (focus is on going-concern enterprises)
- Transactions requiring a broad "auction" process (the firm is selective on buyer outreach)
- Businesses with pending litigation or regulatory issues that would complicate sales
- Owners unwilling to grant the bank full discretion on buyer identification and negotiation
- Non-US or highly specialized industries outside the firm's core verticals
Team
The firm is purposefully small, maintaining only senior-level professionals:
Daniel L. Flick – Managing Partner: Founder with 25+ years of experience owning, operating, and financing businesses. Started Inland Mortgage Corporation (1981), CyberSites LLC (wireless telecom finance, 1996), DSJ Consulting (2001), and Infinity Financial Group (2005). Studied at University of Oklahoma, University of Colorado (banking school), and Marquette University (credit management). Contact: Dan.Flick@IFGroup.US.com
Allen Frederic, Jr. – Managing Director, Corporate Finance: 48 years in commercial finance and banking. Former Chief Credit Officer and President/CEO of two community banks. Founded Gulf Coast Business Credit (2000, president/CEO) and Republic Business Credit (2010, president/CEO until 2019). Faculty/instructor at Banking School of the South, Commercial Finance Association, and International Factoring Association. Leadership in American Bankers Association, American Factoring Association (president), Commercial Finance Association (executive committee), and Secured Finance Network (executive committee). Contact: Allen@IFGroup.US.com, 504-430-1643
Kevin Flick – Executive Director: CEO/CFO experience across three public companies. Secured $1.1 billion in capital and achieved $6.4 billion in shareholder value. Listed three companies on NASDAQ, NYSE, and TSX. Prior roles at Ernst & Young, Goldman Sachs, and Hicks Muse Private Equity. Focus on FinTech, automation, and data-driven business optimization. B.B.A. in Finance, Navy Seal Foundation Ambassador.
Pat Flick – Senior Adviser: 45+ years in corporate finance with deep expertise in specialty lending, public/private equity, real estate, securitizations, and distressed debt. Senior executive roles with Citigroup Global Capital Markets (New York, Hong Kong, Japan), CEO/chairman positions at Delphi Associates (Germany), Lend Lease Asia, and multiple other institutions. Lived and worked in Asia for 10+ years. University of Arkansas (finance degree), University of Colorado (banking school).
Charlene Flick – Healthcare Specialist: RN, MS, CPHQ. 25+ years healthcare management and leadership. Directed quality management, performance improvement, case management, and medical staff services. Led Joint Commission accreditation preparation. BSN and MS from University of Oklahoma, NAHQ professional healthcare quality certification. Currently Healthcare Improvement Coordinator for Baylor Heart Hospital Dallas.
Renee Wasula – Director of Internet Marketing: Marketing and communications leadership.
Advisory Board
The firm benefits from an industry advisory board of accomplished practitioners:
- Gary Darley (Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing, LifePort founder/CEO)
- Gary & Michael Clayman (Ferrous/Non-ferrous Scrap Metal Recycling, Niles Iron & Metal)
- Dean Finnegan (Consumer Electronics, Pandigital founder, board member)
These advisors contribute industry knowledge, buyer network introductions, and project-specific expertise.
Location & Contact
Headquarters: 100 Crescent Court, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75201 Phone: 214-459-8191 Toll-Free Fax: 866-435-4094 Website: https://ifgroup.us.com
The firm maintains a Dallas headquarters with team members distributed across the US (Allen Frederic based in New Orleans).
Summary
Infinity Financial Group is a highly specialized, founder-led boutique investment bank serving the lower-middle-market ($25M-$250M revenue). With more than 200 years of combined senior team experience, documented deal volume in the hundreds of millions, and deep expertise in manufacturing, healthcare, business services, construction, and metals/recycling, the firm delivers institutional-quality M&A advisory to family-owned and closely-held businesses seeking to maximize value while maintaining confidentiality and focus. The firm's differentiation is built on founder leadership, exclusive senior-level professional staffing, genuine industry specialization, and unwavering commitment to achieving owner objectives through closing and beyond.