42 Acquisition International - Issue 1 2018 Blaige & Company sets the industry standard in plastics, packaging, and chemicals investment banking. As we go behind the scenes to explore the secrets of its success, we profile the company and invite Thomas Blaige to tell us more about the exciting and ambitious firm. stablished in 2003, Blaige & Company is exclusively dedicated to the packaging, plastics, and chemicals industries. This singular focus has allowed the firm to acquire deeper knowledge and insights that bring premier value to its clients. Whether considering a merger, sale, or equity financing for an acquisition, the Blaige team will bring significant negotiating and value-enhancing power to clients as an industry dedicated advisor with unmatched experience in strategy and operations. Furthermore, Blaige & Company’s senior advisory professionals have personally managed, owned or visited over 600 plastics operations in 40 countries and completed over 200 value- enhancing transactions in packaging, plastics, and chemicals. Blaige & Company was recently named by Acquisition International as “Sector Focused Investment Banking Firm of the Year 2017,” its third time since 2013. Thomas starts off by providing us with an overview of the services that the company offers, the solutions it comes up with, and what clients the firm typically deal with. He refers us to the high-profile clients that his team works with as a sign of the company’s ultimate success. “First, here at Blaige, we engage in the exclusive representation of clients in sell side, buy side, funding, and related transactions, including private equity portfolio divestitures, strategic acquisitions, corporate divestitures, private placements of equity, MBO, debt placements, private company sales, and valuation opinions.” “Second, we are highly selective and we do not compete primarily on price. For example, we have had engagements with Mitsubishi International and Constantia Flexibles AG, and sales to global consolidators such as Sigma Plastics, Inteplast Group, Coveris, and Klockner Pentaplast. These assignments involve corporate divestiture, strategic sale/recapitalisation, and strategic acquisition advisory services. We travel and participate in key industry events worldwide, and estimate that 40% of our assignments will involve work on behalf of Company: Blaige & Company Contact: Thomas Blaige Contact Email:
[email protected] Address: One Magnificent Mile, Suite 1080, (980 North Michigan Avenue), Chicago, Illinois, 60611, USA Phone: 00312 337 5200 Website: www.blaige.com Pure Focus. PremierValue. E 1801AI02 international clients. Regarding work for sponsors, our professionals have completed transactions with or on behalf of over 80 private equity sponsors.” Having alluded to the success of the firm by discussing the well-renowned clientele of Blaige & Company, Thomas tells us how it feels for this success to be recognised by Acquisition International, and what the firm plans to do to capitalise on this acknowledgement. “Growing over the last fifteen years to build a reputation as a global industry expert has been a truly rewarding experience. It is a credit to our team, whose dedication has driven us to consistently exceed the expectations of our clients.” “Winning this award is very important to our firm. It substantiates our decision to have an industry focus, which is our secret ingredient, and indicates that our value has been recognized. This singular focus has allowed us to acquire deeper knowledge and insights that bring premier value to every transaction.” Describing the feeling of being selected for this award leads Thomas to discuss his overall mission for the firm and what steps they plan to take to achieve this. Moreover, Thomas explains how Blaige & Company integrate innovation into every aspect of their work, as being creative enables them to complete their mission. “More than just a transaction advisor, Blaige & Company is an experienced partner for our clients, bringing a strategic and operational approach that assists them in formulating and achieving goals. What distinguishes Blaige & Company’s bankers is not only their experience as investment banking intermediaries, but also direct experience as company owners and CEOs, operating management with direct experience in the markets, and private equity investors.” “Additionally, we are a foot wide but a mile deep into international investment banking for plastics, packaging, and chemicals industry transactions. Our rapid growth since inception in 2003, has led