The Transaction:
Carr, Riggs & Ingram Capital Advisors (CRI Capital Advisors) assisted the owners of Community Living in Kentucky, LLC (CLiK) during the sale of their membership interest to Educational Services of America, Inc. by acting as their sole investment banking advisor.
The Company:
CLiK primary service goal is to offer diverse community support to children and adults with unique needs, including best practice interventions for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The company was first founded by Mary Kennedy and Candi Bainbridge and rapidly grew to become the premier provider of autism-related community support services in the state of Kentucky. As the company’s growth accelerated, Mary and Candi began to realize the need to align with a larger business platform in order to properly manage its rapidly expanding client base and navigate an increasingly complex business environment. Although nowhere near retirement age, they were looking to transition out of the day-to-day role in the company as it continued to.
The Objectives:
Mary and Candi were focused on more than simply a business transition and wanted a buyer that would preserve their commitment to the community they supported. Due to the nature of the services provided, their prominence within the behavioral healthcare community in Kentucky, and their commitment to the dedicated staff of CLiK, the owners sought more than the greatest financial gain and the easiest path toward an exit. While they were interested in receiving top dollar for the company, their primary focus was to find a company that wasn’t just a corporate entity that would let the values and services of CLiK suffer. CRI Capital Advisors identified a number of elements that they deemed to be essential to a successful transition of ownership.
Exceptional valuation indicative of the prominence in the industry and geographic space, as well as a reflection of the work that goes into building and maintaining the specialized services offered within the organization.
Identify an acquiring party that not only aligns with an educational services/behavior healthcare organization but also shares the owners’ commitment to delivering superior, specialized support services for families with autistic children.
Retain employees and preserve advancement opportunities for the company’s high-skilled staff, such as specialized behavioral therapists and support personnel.
Precise execution and maintenance of confidentiality throughout the transition process, as not to unnerve the clients and families who rely heavily on CLiK for essential services.
The Outcome:
CRI Capital Advisors presented the owners with a number of reasonable options for possible acquirers as they moved to transition the company. CRI Capital Advisors conducted a detailed planning and analysis to create a marketing package that would identify a number of potential acquirers who were committed to the intended strategy that Mary and Candi for the future of CLiK. Although multiple offers were submitted for possible acquisition, Educational Services of America, Inc. (now Chancelight Behavioral
Health, Therapy and Education) was ultimately selected as the ideal acquirer. CLIK was successfully integrated into Chancelight’s family of companies, providing educational and behavioral health support services, to school systems, communities, and individuals across the United States.