Capital Alliance will continue to bring global investment opportunities to the North American marketplace as the Dallas investment banking firm’s leadership transitions from the company’s founder to a three-member leadership team.
“We are tremendously grateful that we have an opportunity to build on the company’s 38-year reputation for excellence in private investment banking,” said Bryan Livingston, one of three principals who have taken over day-to-day management of the firm.
Along with Livingston, principals Paul Puri and Brad Buttermore will lead the firm. All three members of the new leadership team have been with Capital Alliance for over 10 years. Founder Ed Dawson, previously CEO and chairman, will become chairman and focus on business development.
During the transition, the new leadership plans to increase the number of industry specialties it covers and add talent to the firm.
“We are looking for seasoned investment professionals who want to be empowered to shape their future,” Livingston said. Capital Alliance will be looking for M&A dealmakers in industries such as healthcare, technology and other sectors where it forecasts significant M&A activity.
“We are on a fact-finding mission right now, surveying industry verticals where we anticipate significant opportunities and where we believe our skillset will be powerful in the hands of clients operating businesses in those verticals,” Livingston said.
Capital Alliance already has developed a number of specialties over the years, including manufacturing, oil and gas field services, technology, construction services and human resources management.
Besides adding specializations and talent, the firm plans to focus heavily on building new business from referrals.
“Over the years, we’ve built up a substantial referral network that we are formalizing into a source of business for the future,” Livingston said. “We are growing based on our name and reputation.”
The transition has kept everyone busy inside the firm, but it’s been relatively smooth and seamless.
“It isn’t really apparent to anyone outside the firm,” said Dawson, who said he plans to be a true chairman, meaning he won’t be involved in any of the nitty-gritty day-to-day operations. “My new role will be strategically developing new business, and we plan to aggressively seek it.”
As part of this role, Dawson will continue to build upon CA’s work with M&A International Inc., he said.
M&A International Inc. offers the global resources of more than 650 M&A professionals operating in every major financial center of the world. Capital Alliance has been affiliated with M&A International for over 25 years. The international alliance of M&A professionals has closed more than 1,400 transactions totaling more than $75 billion in transaction value in the past five years, which corresponds to one closing every business day.
“M&A International represents a growing share of our business and has been an effective tool for our U.S. clients who want to sell their businesses—allowing us to reach potential buyers around the world,” Dawson said.