The DAK Group

We are excited to settle into our new home at 550 North Maple Ave in Ridgewood, NJ! Our expanded space features a modern open-air design, cutting-edge AV technology, and plenty of room for collaboration and growth. From a spacious conference room to cozy meeting spaces and a welcoming lounge, we’ve created an environment that fosters creativity and connection. If you’re in the area, stop by for a fresh cup of coffee - or tea - we’d love to show you around! In the meantime you can check it with just a click here: https://lnkd.in/ew46wp-y #NewOffice #RidgewoodNJ #Collaboration #Growth #NewJersey #investmentbank

The commercial AV industry is poised for above-average growth in 2025, driven by AI, digital transformation, and M&A activity. According to DAK’s Managing Director Ari Fuchs, decision-makers are more confident than ever, and integrators are expanding their offerings to stay ahead. With technology evolving rapidly, now is the time for AV professionals to embrace innovation and rethink their strategies. Read more on what’s shaping the industry:?https://bit.ly/4iZ9oj9 #ProAv #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #industrytrends #MandA #mergers #acquisitions #mergersandacquisitions #tech #technology #AVProfessionals #investmentbank #investmentbanker #investmentbanking

In a recent episode of the Healthcare Mid-Market Maximized Podcast, host, Melvyn Threatt-Peters II Peters sits with Tani Weiner, Co-Chair of the Behavioral Health Group for Polsinelli to discuss trends in today’s current M&A market. ? After a slowdown in recent years, M&A activity is picking up again in 2025. Investors are returning, driven by the need for scale, payer negotiation leverage, and financial sustainability. ? - Private equity remains active, expanding strong platforms and leveraging reimbursement dynamics. - Regulatory and payer challenges persist, making scale more critical than ever for providers. - M&A helps organizations survive and thrive in an increasingly complex healthcare landscape. ? As the market heats up, strategic deals will define the future of behavioral healthcare. Who’s making moves? Click here to watch the full episode:?https://bit.ly/3DuxlA6

With an audience of over 60 top executives & professionals at the The Union League of Philadelphia, DAK's Managing Director, Steve Raymond, delivered an energizing presentation on the '12 Critical Steps to Prepare Your Business for Sale.' Attendees of the Union League of Philadelphia Business Leadership Forum walked away with powerful insights, including: ?? Start Preparing Now You’ve spent years building your business—maximize its value by preparing early. ?? Buyers Look for Specific Value Drivers Whether selling to a financial or strategic buyer, management team, or transferring ownership to the next generation, focusing on key factors will materially impact your company’s value. ?? Start Early: Be Ready to Sell at All Times Waiting until you’re ready to sell to optimize efficiencies can lead to lost opportunities. Prepare your business now to increase earnings, maximize profitability, and ensure you have a strong, replaceable management team. ?? Communicate Your Vision Buyers purchase potential, not the past. Develop a compelling, defensible narrative that highlights your company’s future growth opportunities. ?? Know Your Business Value & Value Drivers Understand your business from a buyer’s perspective. Factors like synergies, specific goals, and even the reputation of your business can significantly impact perceived value. ?? Avoid Surprises with Self-Due Diligence Conduct your own due diligence before going to market. Identifying and addressing potential issues early will prevent surprises that could derail a deal. ?? Mitigate Risks: Customer, Supplier, & Employee Dependence Diversify your customer and supplier base and lock in key employees to reduce dependency risks. Contracts, agreements, & non-compete clauses can add stability. ?? Prepare Supportable Financials Reliable, accurate, & organized financial statements are critical. Strong financial controls and supportable projections will instill confidence in potential buyers. ?? Optimize Working Capital Manage your working capital effectively to avoid leaving money on the table. Lower current assets can increase your company’s value. ?? Focus on After-Tax Yield A high sale price is great but it’s what you keep that counts. Work with advisors to structure a tax-efficient deal. ?? Assemble Your A-Team of Advisors Surround yourself with experienced professionals—accounting, tax, legal, and investment banking experts—who can guide you through the sale process. ?? Address Deal-Killers Early Environmental, legal, or tax issues can derail deals—be proactive. ?? Stay Focused on Running Your Business A successful sale depends on maintaining business performance. Let your advisors handle the sale process so you can keep your business on track. The sooner you start preparing, the greater your chances of maximizing value when the time is right. Contact Steve Raymond for more information: https://bit.ly/3R1wvh6 #ExitPlanning #BusinessValuation #MergersAndAcquisitions #BusinessStrategy

Work Hard, Play Hard! ?? A huge congratulations to Ella and Diane Prohaska, SPHR Prohaska, DAK’s Chief People Officer, for their incredible achievement at the 149th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden! ?Around the show circuit Ella is known as GCHG Hideaway Acres Glass Slipper RN, CA and has had an incredible dog show career winning accolades in multiple countries.?? Among over 2,500 champion dogs competing across various events, Ella, a German Shorthaired Pointer with a rich lineage, proudly earned an Award of Merit in her competition. This prestigious recognition is a testament to the art and science of breeding, dedicated training, and a true passion for the sport—something Diane has embraced throughout her lifelong journey as a breeder of show dogs. This award is even more special, as Ella recently became the proud mother of 12 puppies this past fall! ???? Congratulations to Diane, Ella, and the entire team behind this amazing success! ???? #WorkHardPlayHard #WestminsterDogShow #AwardOfMerit #DAKTeam #ChampionDogs

What an incredible discussion and a fantastic turnout at the?Marketing Network for Professional Services (MNPS) event: AI for Professional Services Marketers – Advanced Session. The conversation was packed with strategic insights and actionable takeaways, helping marketers navigate the ever-evolving role of AI in marketing and business development specifically for Professional Services. The?brilliant panelists, Rosa Colón (Lowenstein Sandler LLP) and Megan Hueter (MikeWorldWide - MWW), moderated by DAK’s CMO Joan McGeough, gave the audience a masterclass in just one hour! A special thank you to?Richelle Delavan (Riker Danzig LLP) for hosting , and?special appreciation to fellow MNPS co-founders, Vivian DiStaso, (ALM) and Amanda Sexton (FocusWorks Marketing), for making it all happen! Looking forward to keeping the conversation going—stay tuned for details on our next event! #AI #Marketing #ProfessionalServices #BusinessDevelopment #Innovation

Download our?latest?Healthcare Monthly Flash Report for a quick look at the key healthcare M&A transactions shaping home-based care. Key Highlights: - M&A Market Performance with a strong finish in Q4 of last year - Growth in Home-Based Care M&A Activity - Favorable Economic Conditions - Investment Trends - Acquirer Breakdown &?Most Active - M&A Drivers for the upcoming year Click here to download: https://lnkd.in/e2VfgDgy #healthcare #healthcaretrends #healthcareindustry #homecare #homehealthcare #healthcareworkers #mergers #acquisitions #homebasedcare #Industrytrends #industryactivity

Congratulations to Ari Fuchs, Managing Director at The DAK Group, who led the transaction along with Melvyn Threatt-Peters II, Director, and Yanni Leakas, Senior Analyst. This transaction capitalizes on IMS’s leadership position in the audiovisual solutions and event staging space. Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Garnet Valley, PA, IMS Technology Services provides... Read the full press release here: https://bit.ly/4gnm8P0 #partnership #mergers #acquisitions #tech #workplacetech #investment #investmentbank #investmentbanker #buyingabusiness #sellingabusiness #technology #technologyservices #Proav #systemsintegration #industrynews #stagingsolutions #businessservices

The outlook for Middle Market M&A for 2025 is relying heavily on America’s exceptional economy. While interest rates and markets fluctuate, America has several things in our favor that set us apart from the rest of the world. With key resources and characteristics that give the US a... Read More: https://bit.ly/4hofPLZ #mergers #acquisitions #MandA #businessowner #businessowners #middlemarket #buyingabusiness #sellingabusiness #valuations #USEconomy #USdollar #industrytrends #finance #investmentbank #investmentbanking #investmentbanker #privateequity #PEFirms #stockmarket

Alan Scharfstein, DAK's CEO, shares his 2025 M&A Predictions with The Commerce and Industry Association of NJ Editor along with other CEOs. Find out his thoughts on how middle market M&A is set to build in 2025, thoughts on strategic buyers, and private equity firms. Read more:?https://lnkd.in/eNUD2tW3 #middlemarket #mergers #acquisitions #2025trends #industrytrends #strategicbuyers #privateequity #businessowners #buyingabusiness #sellingabusiness #CIANJ #mergersandacquisition #finance #investmentbank #investmentbanking #investmentbanker