Personal goodwill represents an often overlooked consideration in middle market transactions. Unlike larger enterprises with diversified ownership, middle market businesses are disproportionately held by individual owners whose personal relationships drive business value. This concentrated ownership structure creates a tax planning…

Todd Cassidy engaged with aftermarket corporates, investors and advisory professionals at AAPEX[1] and SEMA[2] in Las Vegas in November. Several critical themes emerged Market leaders continue to demonstrate resilience through demand volatility, supply chain disruption and shifting consumer patterns Enthusiast…

Middle Market Momentum and Strategic Imperatives for 2026 and Beyond 2025 was a challenging year for the packaging sector as market participants navigated a range of pressures influencing both operating performance and deal activity, including Persistent inflation affected labor, raw…

How middle market companies can leverage volatility to create competitive advantage Direct material costs continue to rise, and middle market companies across industries are feeling the pressure. Ongoing uncertainty due to US tariff policy, the aftermath of COVID-19 and the…

Originally published by Mergermarket | November 19, 2025  Portage Point Partners, a business advisory, interim management, and investment banking firm focused on the middle market, is evaluating M&A for the first time, said CEO and founder Matthew Ray. The Chicago-based…

Portage Point Partners recently welcomed Michael Watt as Managing Director in the Transaction Advisory Services Practice. Below, Michael shares some of his background and experience and explores his perspective on the current mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market. TELL US ABOUT…

Paresh Khatwani, Director at Portage Point Partners, recently shared pricing strategy insights with Inc. Magazine. Paresh outlines several key considerations including customer segmentation, competition, differentiation, product mix, sales channels and cost structure. He also emphasizes that perceived product value should…

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Following tariff-driven disruptions in Q2 2025, credit market activity rebounded in Q3 2025 with primary syndicated loan activity reaching $404 billion – the highest quarterly total on record. Opportunistic refinancing, repricings and dividend recapitalizations continue to dominate issuance…

REALITY FOR MIDDLE MARKET CFOs The current macroeconomic and financial environment is reshaping how middle market CFOs plan and operate. Inflation uncertainty, supply chain disruptions, elevated cost structures, tight capital markets and increasing transparency demands from sponsors and lenders are…

The consumer M&A market is showing signs of cautious optimism in 2025. Strategic buyers and private equity (PE) firms are actively searching for investment opportunities, taking a disciplined approach during potential target evaluation. This optimism is underpinned by continued consumer…