BLACKCASTLE PARTNERS

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
 

• Sell-side and Buy-side representation

• Transaction valuation, negotiation, and structuring

• Letters of intent drafting and negotiation

• Due diligence assistance

• Deal closing coordination and post-closing integration planning and assistance

• Confidential and targeted process 

• Assistance and guidance through the entire transaction

CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT

• Industry and market research

• Acquisition target screening

• Deal sourcing / Connecting strategic buyers to qualified firms seeking a merger opportunity

• Marketing and business development

• Executive search

EXIT PLANNING 

• Business transition planning

• Succession strategies for management teams

• Eliminating business dependence on the owner

• Readying business for transfer

STRATEGIC PLANNING 
 

• Benchmarking Studies

• Strategic Planning for Growth

• Management Training Programs

• Pricing Analysis

JACK SIMONIAN
MBA

Managing Principal
M&A Advisory Services

Tel: (949)614-5564

jack@blackcastlepartners.com

Jack Simonian specializes in mergers and acquisitions advisory services with a primary focus on the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry. He leads Blackcastle Partners' M&A practice and has represented and advised clients in most AEC sectors. Jack manages both sell-side and buy-side engagements with end-to-end services including sourcing, engaging, developing, and executing M&A opportunities.

Prior to beginning his career in mergers and acquisitions, he worked as an architect on the design and master planning of large-scale commercial projects for one of the world’s largest retail property developers. His extensive knowledge of the AEC industry and diversified skill set serve as a strong foundation for his current role and helps him provide valuable expertise to his clients.

Jack holds a Master of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in Management and Entrepreneurship from HEC Montréal and a Bachelors Degree in Architecture from Université de Montréal. He is fluent in four languages.

ZAREH ASTOURIAN
P.E., S.E.

Principal

M&A - A&E Strategy

Tel: (626)233-2871

zareh@blackcastlepartners.com

Zareh Astourian brings to Blackcastle 30 years of executive and corporate experience in the A/E field which includes a large number of mergers and acquisitions. During those years, periodically he has also functioned as the CFO of the firms.

From 1989-1999, Zareh was the president, CEO of ASL Consulting Engineers. During those ten years, he tripled the size of the company and made it a multi-State multi-discipline firm. At the end of that term, ASL was sold to a national publically owned A/E company.

During the next 18 years, he led TTG Engineers as President and CEO from a $12M annual revenue California engineering Company to a $120M annual revenue full service engineering company with 25 offices nationwide. This growth was achieved through strategic planning and execution which included adding new engineering services, establishing offices from the ground up and making over ten acquisitions in various States.

In March of 2018, Zareh retired as Chairman of the Board of IMEG Corporation which, through his initiative, was formed by the merger of two well-established engineering companies with over 1,000 employees. Following the merger, Zareh took the lead in forming an ESOP for the corporation.

Zareh is a registered civil and structural engineer with a BS degree in Civil Engineering from the American University of Beirut and an MS degree in Structural Engineering from the University of Southern California.

STEVE McADAMS
P.E. 
Principal
Strategic Planning Advisor

Tel: (443) 865-9168

steve@blackcastlepartners.com

Steve McAdams has over 30 years of consulting experience in the Architectural Engineering and Construction (AEC) services industry.  His focus is on assisting professional services firms create strategic plans for sustainable growth and success.  Steve leverages his past experience as a strategic planner, board member and CFO to help clients create a custom plan to achieve their short and long term goals.    

Steve began his career with RMF Engineering creating utility master plans for large scale university systems.  He served as a member of the board of directors for 20 years and a corporate officer for 15 years.  During his tenure as a board member RMF Engineering grew from $13 million in revenue to over $60 million and added 12 offices.  He also established multiple internal leadership and management training programs.    

Steve received his BSME from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and has been a licensed engineer since 1995. 

MAYNARD YOUNG
MBA LLB

Principal

M&A - Mfg./Distr.

Tel: (416)988-4585

maynard@blackcastlepartners.com

Maynard Young brings 30 years of financial, operations and M&A experience as an advisor to Blackcastle. Prior to joining the firm, Maynard was CFO of a large private company specializing in manufacturing, construction, distribution and foundries. During his tenure he was instrumental in growing company sales from $50 to $900 million. Most of this growth was attributable to a strategy of acquiring mid-size North American companies, including several public companies. Maynard successfully led the acquisition, divesture and privatization of over 50 companies with overall responsibility for negotiation, due diligence, legal, closing and post-closing matters. Post-acquisition, he was responsible for the financial integration of acquired companies to realize synergies and maximize shareholder value. This extensive experience, combined with his knowledge of operations, makes him uniquely qualified when dealing with buyers and sellers of companies.

Maynard holds MBA and LLB degrees from Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia.

CHRIS KASSARDJIAN
MBA

Principal

M&A - Industrial/Mfg.

Tel: (604) 652-1189

chris@blackcastlepartners.com

Chris Kassardjian brings to Blackcastle over 30 years of international business experience as the founder and president of several industrial services companies located in West Africa and a boutique M&A firm in British Columbia. Chris has 15 years of experience in the industrial recycling of waste hydrocarbons. He is a graduate of physics and math, and holds an MBA and BSc in Marketing from California State University of Hayward.