Silverwood Partners Research
Advisory Approach
Silverwood Partners is a specialized boutique investment bank headquartered in Sherborn, Massachusetts, specializing in mergers & acquisitions advisory, private placements, and transaction execution for middle-market companies. The firm's philosophy centers on deep industry expertise combined with extensive personal relationships within target sectors. Their managing partners bring institutional investment banking experience and maintain hands-on involvement in every engagement. Silverwood's thesis is that the best outcomes for clients come from combining industry-specific knowledge with structured transaction processes and broad buyer networks across their three core verticals.
Sector Focus
Silverwood Partners maintains concentrated expertise in three major industry verticals: Technology, Consumer Products & Services, and Healthcare. Within Technology, the firm focuses on software (SaaS, enterprise IT services, industrial software), media technology, consumer technology, and data infrastructure. The consumer practice covers food and beverage (CPG, food processing, restaurant technology), direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands, wellness and lifestyle products, and specialty retail. The healthcare practice addresses healthcare IT and services, medical device technology, healthcare services, outsourced medical services, and life sciences tools.
The firm's industry advisors represent a diverse network of executives, operators, and business development professionals with substantial experience in their respective sectors. This network of 100+ industry advisors broadens Silverwood's access to strategic decision makers, provides real-time insights into market trends, and enables the firm to identify qualified buyers and financing sources for client transactions.
Process & Fee Structure
Silverwood Partners runs structured, professional M&A processes. The firm engages in sell-side advisory (company sales), buy-side advisory (acquisitions), and private placement financing. They are FINRA and SIPC registered, enabling them to execute transactions with institutional rigor. The firm is known for comprehensive process management, including buyer identification, process facilitation, management presentation support, and deal negotiation. While specific fee structures are not publicly disclosed, typical middle-market practice suggests modified Lehman formulas or success-based fees, with retainers credited against success fees.
Deal Track Record & Recent Transactions
Silverwood Partners has advised on numerous transactions across its three core verticals. Recent notable deals include:
Consumer Sector:
- Full Glass Wine Co. acquisitions (2024): Served as buy-side financial advisor for multiple acquisitions including Bright Cellars, Splash Wines, Scout & Cellar, Wine Access, and Cameron Hughes Wine. Full Glass Wine projects over $200 million in revenue for 2025 following this acquisition strategy.
- Geologie to Megalabs USA (2025): Served as exclusive sell-side financial advisor on the sale of the men's skincare DTC brand to supplement and pharmaceutical company Megalabs. Silverwood facilitated this strategic outcome for founders Nick Allen and Dave Skaff.
- Purple Carrot to Oisix ra daichi (2019): Advised on the sale of the plant-based meal kit company to Japan's largest meal kit service for $12.8 million upfront plus $17 million in potential earn-outs through 2021.
- Brands Within Reach divestiture (2020): Advised on the sale of NewAge's Brands Within Reach subsidiary to Zachert Private Equity GmbH, a German PE firm.
Technology Sector:
- Caringo to DataCore Software (2021): Facilitated the sale of object storage pioneer Caringo to DataCore, creating a comprehensive software-defined storage platform. Caringo's flagship Swarm product serves customers including Disney Streaming, Department of Defense, and National Institutes of Health.
- NewTek to Vizrt (2019): Served as exclusive financial advisor on the acquisition of NewTek by Vizrt, described as one of the most disruptive moves in the video technology industry in decades.
Healthcare & Other Sectors:
- Sonic Foundry strategic alternatives evaluation (2020): Retained to evaluate strategic options for the media technology company.
- Emergent Beverages equity fundraising (2024): Advised on recent equity raise.
Silverwood's transaction history demonstrates strong execution across multiple buyer types—strategic acquirers (Megalabs, Oisix, DataCore, Vizrt), private equity firms (Zachert, Genstar), and internal acquisitions (Full Glass Wine's build-out). The firm has successfully closed deals ranging from sub-$20 million to transactions exceeding $100 million enterprise value.
Buyer Network & Strategic Relationships
Silverwood Partners has established relationships with 2,000+ active private equity firms, strategic acquirers, and financial buyers. The firm maintains particular depth in:
- PE relationships across industrials, consumer, healthcare, and technology platforms
- Strategic acquirers including Fortune 500 companies, European and international manufacturers
- Financial buyers and secondary PE firms
The breadth of Silverwood's buyer network enables the firm to identify multiple paths to exit for clients and maximize transaction alternatives.
Competitive Positioning
Silverwood differentiates through:
- Industry expertise: Senior professionals who combine investment banking experience with deep sector knowledge in technology, consumer, and healthcare
- Hands-on involvement: Managing partners maintain personal involvement in every engagement, providing continuity and decision-making authority
- Buyer access: Leverages 100+ industry advisors to maintain current market intelligence and access to both corporate and financial buyers
- Structured process: Professional transaction execution with comprehensive quality control, buyer management, and deal closure support
- Middle-market focus: Specialized expertise in $10M-$300M+ enterprise value transactions where sector knowledge creates material value
Not a Fit If
Based on transaction history and public positioning, Silverwood Partners typically declines:
- Highly distressed or troubled businesses requiring turnaround expertise
- Transactions with significant regulatory or compliance issues
- Sellers seeking limited processes or non-competitive selling
- Businesses outside their three core industry verticals
Team
Silverwood Partners' leadership team includes:
- Jonathan Hodson-Walker: Managing Partner, leads firm strategy and key client relationships. FINRA registered principal.
- Lisa M. Sacuto: Managing Director, senior investment banking professional
- Chuck Slotkin: Managing Director, technology and software expertise
- EJ Culhane: Managing Director, consumer and healthcare focus
- Harrison Parsons: Vice President, transaction execution
- Benjamin Hodson-Walker: Senior Analyst, transaction support
The firm also maintains a network of 100+ industry advisors across technology, consumer, and healthcare sectors, providing real-time market intelligence and buyer networks.
Geographic Coverage & Deal Profile
Silverwood Partners advises on transactions throughout the United States and maintains international deal capability (deals with Japanese, European, and German buyers noted). The firm operates globally but maintains principal offices in Sherborn, Massachusetts.
Typical advisory relationships involve:
- Deal size: $10M-$300M+ enterprise value
- Industry focus: Technology, Consumer Products & Services, Healthcare
- Engagement types: Sell-side M&A, buy-side M&A, strategic financing, private placements
- Client profile: Founder-owned businesses, family offices, PE-backed portfolio companies, strategic divisions
Founded & Operations
Silverwood Partners was founded in 2001 and has operated continuously since as a specialized boutique investment bank. The firm maintains FINRA (CRD #115589) and SIPC membership, enabling regulated securities transactions and underwriting activities. The firm publishes regular market intelligence and research on its three core industry verticals.