Friends of Evergreen Newt Folwer and Frank Bonsal recently sat down for a conversation published in www.Citybizlist.com . Here is an excerpt of the article….

Frank Bonsal By: Newt Fowler

I enjoy talking with Frank Bonsal. He has invested in more companies and seen the launch of more technologies and new market sectors than I can fathom. And each time I see him, as much as I try to coax from him promising leads, he more subtly works me for what I know is going on. I always leave wondering who got the better end of the conversation. Spending time with Frank is like playing poker with that guy who always fumbles with his cards, keeps asking which hand trumps another, and yet ineffably either folds fast or wins a large pot… So we sat down recently over lunch to figure out how Frank succeeds in investing at the earliest and most volatile stage of business growth and what insight there might be for entrepreneurs seeking funding from such an archetypal angel investor.

[Read more…]

Mike Gill, Chairman of Evergreen Advisors sat down with Rick Kohr, Founder and CEO of Evergreen Advisors to hear Rick reflect on the 10th Anniversary.

Mike: It’s Evergreen’s 10th Anniversary, what does that mean to you?

Rick: It’s a sign of a business model that has some merit to it. We were able to stick to something that in hindsight weathered two of the worst economic cycles in our history, going back to the dot-com blow up in 2001-2002 and more recently in the last 3 years of the “great recession” , as its been coined. In 2010, we had our best year, with our best people on board. Therefore, for me it is a badge of honor, its perseverance.

Mike: When you started Evergreen, was there something that was in your mind about what it could be, where you wanted to take it?

Rick: I don’t know that it’s wildly different from where we are today. I probably would have guessed it would have been easier than it was. However, I always viewed the model to have merit to it because I have watched other boutique investment banking firms struggle during the lean times and in some cases struggle even during the better times, due to being totally transaction focused. I felt like there was a big gap in the marketplace for folks who understood the right side of the balance sheet; which is in essence what investment banking is all about. Capital raise and bank debt, evaluation, and sophisticated CFO services, all of that is also understanding the right side of the balance sheet as well as understanding the other aspects of the business.

[Read more…]

The rivers were rising, the skies were dark, and the roads a little perilous, but almost 100 people found their way to Bulle Rock in Harford County, Maryland for a dynamic, energized, breakfast forum, titled, “Leadership Super-Sized….from George Washington to Steve Jobs.”

The event held on March 10th was co-hosted by Evergreen Advisors, the law firm Duane Morris, and the Harford County Office of Economic Development. The focus of the forum was on leadership, the potential of Harford County and the importance of BRAC to the county and business community.

Frank Bramble, former Vice Chairman of MBNA and currently a member of the Board of Directors of Bank of America was the keynote speaker. His talk was focused on the key characteristics of the great leaders that he has been associated with and observed. Some of the characteristics that Frank mentioned were Mental Toughness, Vision, Honesty, and being Fearless. In commenting on the banking industry, Frank said, “We can’t forget who we really are, we’re bankers and the business we’re in is a noble business, We need to do the right things all the time.”

Brigadier General Harold Greene, Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, Commanding General, Natick Soldier Systems Center made a guest appearance to describe the BRAC initiative from a leadership and high level perspective.

The last part of the morning featured a panel of three of the most distinguished citizens of Harford County, Lyle Sheldon, CEO of Upper Chesapeake Health System, David Craig, County Executive of Harford County and John Ferriter, Senior Vice President of SAIC. Mike Gill, Chairman of Evergreen was the moderator and engaged the panel on a wide range of topics including, how they dealt with the Economic turbulence that began in 08, Harford County’s greatest challenges and the county’s potential, and a fun discussion on-if they could have one Mulligan- what would they like to do over.

It was a great morning with fabulous speakers and we thank all of our attendees for braving the monsoons to be with us.

 

Evegreen Advisors

Evergreen Advisors is a leading middle market investment bank and corporate advisory firm focused on assisting companies in the areas of corporate finance, growth and exit strategies, business valuation services and CFO advisory.

Whether preparing to raise funds or the eventual sale of your company – always be ready for the due diligence process.

Why wait for a funding event or a possible sale of your company to prepare for due diligence. The due diligence process can be time consuming. By being prepared in advance your business can be well positioned for the process. Today there are cost effective sites you can use to create a data room to house your due diligence materials.

The key documents you can gather in advance are the following:

• Key contracts
• Employment agreements
• Minutes and consents of the board of directors and
• Confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with
• Corporate charter and bylaws
• Patents, copyrights, and other intellectual property related Tax
• Financial and marketing plans

How can Evergreen CFO Services help?
We provide experienced talent to address the challenges faced by emerging businesses on an outsourced, part-time basis. Our staff typically works one or more days per week on site, which positions us to immediately address pressing financial concerns, mentor staff, and help you make critical decisions.

Mark Gretz is a Vice President with Evergreen’s CFO Advisory practice and he can be reached by calling 410-997-6000 x234 or e-mailing him at mgretz@evergreenadvisorsllc.com

There are many options available if you are looking to get your business valued. A simple online search for “business valuation Chicago” will find you a local valuation expert, but what approaches might they use? Well, there are three general approaches that are considered to determine the value of a business. The conventional approaches include the cost, income and market comparison approaches, or a combination of the three. These approaches can be summarized as follows:

In the Cost Approach, the aggregate value of the company’s assets is netted against the estimated value of all existing and potential liabilities, resulting in an indication of the value of the business enterprise. The resulting indication of value often represents a minimum, or floor value that a company may reasonably expect to realize, often through the liquidation of its assets.

The Income Approach considers expected returns on an investment, which are then discounted or capitalized at an appropriate rate of return to reflect the risks and potential rewards associated therewith. These valuation methods include (1) Discounted Cash Flow and (2) Capitalization of Income. These methodologies focus on the income-producing capability of the business enterprise.

Two commonly-used methodologies for business appraisals in the Market Comparison Approach are (1) the Guideline Public Company method, which focuses on comparing the subject company’s risk profile and growth prospects to select reasonably similar (or “guideline”) publicly-traded companies and (2) the Guideline Merged and Acquired Companies method, where consideration is given to pricing multiples in recent merger and acquisition transactions that have occurred in the subject company’s industry or in related industries.

There exists additional valuation methods within each of the above valuation approaches. The specific valuation techniques used in a valuation engagement depend on the facts and circumstances specific to each case, including the nature and characteristics of the business enterprise being valued, and the purpose of the business appraisal.

To discuss which approach or combination of approaches is appropriate for your business or our business valuation services, contact Greg Huff at 410-997-6000.

Evergreen Advisors CEO Rick Kohr appeared on Executive Leaders Radio on March 3, 2011.  Rick shared the founding of Evergreen Advisors and that  “it is fascinating because it’s not in many businesses that you get to sit down with someone and really know their passion, vision, dreams, concerns, financial statements…you get to work on their dream.” Executive Leaders Radio is dedicated to honoring individuals who have risen to leadership roles through hard work and dedication.

Evergreen Advisors was ranked 6^th in the Baltimore Book of Lists recently-published 2011 list of Largest Management Consulting firms. More than 50 companies were surveyed for this list and the growth Evergreen has seen helped lift the firm to the top. Evergreen assisted 75 clients in 2010 with 46 being the in Baltimore Metro Area.

“We take great pride in being ranked in the BBJ’s “Book of Lists,” remarked Rick Kohr, CEO. “Helping business owners in our community Realize their Destiny is our mission. We want to help as many area companies as we can. “

About Evergreen Advisors [Read more…]

The biggest weakness we see in entrepreneurial businesses is a lack of access to high-level financial guidance when and where it is needed. At the end of the month, quarter, or year, it is all about the numbers. Revenue, costs, cash flow – all the issues that keep an entrepreneur up at night. In any high growth business, a solid finance function is an early key to success. Yet the cost for a full-time CFO may be out of reach for many early-stage companies. For many businesses, a part-time CFO or an outsourced CFO can be that key. This is where those looking to get into the bookkeeping and accounting game may choose to start. It cannot be easy to create a virtual bookkeeping firm, but there are always businesses searching for the right firm to assist with their finances. Equally, those starting accounting firms or are already in the midst of it may require help with workflow management, as firms can get extremely busy, making it difficult to keep track of deadlines and progress. You can find out more at JetPack Workflow for accountants looking to make their day-to-day work life easier.

The leadership through an outsourced CFO solution can make a difference in your long-term financial strategy. While an office manager or bookkeeper can assist you on a day-to-day basis, this strategy does not provide you emphasis on the overall organization. The CFO service provide you a foundation for success.

The challenges we find in all emerging businesses include:

[Read more…]

 

Evergreen Advisors announces that Rick Kohr, CEO was named to the 13 member Howard County Cyber Commission. The newly formed commission will advise Howard County Executive Ken Ulman to help maximize opportunities generated by the growth of cyber activity in the Baltimore-Washington region.

 “Rick’s financial expertise is a welcome addition, and makes what was already a strong commission even stronger.  Much of the Cyber Commission’s work will focus on regional business development and job creation, so Rick’s in depth knowledge of investment banking and corporate financing will be invaluable,” said County Executive Ken Ulman.

 Kohr brings a wealth of knowledge to the commission in business development.  He serves on the board of many local technology companies and is actively involved with area business incubators and other business development initiatives.  “It’s an honor to serve on the Howard County Cyber Commission,” said Kohr.  “I look forward to working with the talented people serving on the commission and making recommendations that will maximize opportunities for Howard County in cyber security technology.”

WASHINGTON, DC/BALTIMORE, MD – Evergreen Advisors’ client Pathsensors, Inc., an environmental testing company that manufactures pathogen identification systems is positioning itself for future growth. Recently spun-off from Rockville based Innovative Biosensors Inc. (IBI), Pathsensors is a leading edge biotech company focused on the food testing and biosecurity market. The company recently was awarded a $5 million contract from the Department of Defense.

Pathsensors will be relocating to the UMB Biopark, in Baltimore Md., and will utilize a recently completed equity offering for expansion of sales and marketing, automation of quality systems and new product development.

Pathsensors received an investment from the Chesapeake Emerging Opportunities Club, LLC, which is an early-stage private equity investment fund focused on promising emerging growth companies in the mid-Atlantic region.

“When Pathsensors looked for a financial advisor we turned to Evergreen Advisors. With LeadJig, financial advisors can use omnichannel marketing so the chances are you will have contact with a lot of different companies. We selected Evergreen for their strength in Biotechnology and their ability to understand our needs. With Evergreen we know that not only would they guide us through the process but also develop a lasting relationship with us.” _________________________________________________________