Gordon Brothers Group, a global advisory, restructuring and investment firm specializing in the industrial, consumer products and retail sectors, announced today that the firm’s valuation, retail and real estate practice groups have been selected as finalists for the 14th Annual M&A Advisor Awards in multiple categories. Gordon Brothers Group helps lenders, private equity sponsors and operating companies monitor assets and manage through strategic change by providing advisory support as well as assuming principal risk for surplus assets to support M&A activity.
In the prestigious “Firm of the Year” category, Gordon Brothers-AccuVal, the appraisal division of Gordon Brothers Group, was named as a finalist for the Valuation Firm of the Year Award. Gordon Brothers Group acquired AccuVal-LiquiTec in April and merged the group with its existing Valuation & Advisory Services Division. Gordon Brothers-AccuVal represents the largest valuation provider in the world serving the commercial finance community. The firm’s appraisals provide a critical foundation to M&A transactions by helping acquirers understand the value of assets to optimize the capital structure.
Gordon Brothers Group’s Retail Division was also named as a finalist in the Consumer & Retail Products Deal of the Year (over $500MM) category for its involvement in the Chapter 11 Sale of Assets of Coldwater Creek alongside joint venture partner, Hilco Merchant Resources. The transaction involved managing the intellectual property designation rights and disposing of inventory and furniture, fixtures and equipment across 366 stores and e-commerce channels. In addition, Gordon Brothers sourced additional merchandise to enhance the sale offerings using its own balance sheet and negotiated lease extensions through its real estate affiliate, DJM Real Estate, to maximize the results of the transaction.
Andy Couch, Managing Director of DJM Real Estate, was named as a finalist in the Service Professional of the Year category. Couch draws from over 30 years’ experience in the retail real estate; investment and operating finance; corporate acquisitions; and strategic divestitures areas. At DJM Real Estate, Couch specializes in retail real estate with an emphasis on supermarkets. He has worked with major national clients, including Delhaize America (Food Lion, Hannaford and Sweetbay), Supervalu, Fresh & Easy, JC Penney and Marsh Supermarkets. DJM Real Estate specializes in lease mitigation and occupancy savings, real estate dispositions, growth strategies and strategic advisory services.
“We are tremendously excited by this recognition of our work in these areas. The firm as a whole has undergone great growth and change this year. It’s satisfying and humbling to see those efforts materialize with this great honor,” stated Ken Frieze, Chief Executive Officer of Gordon Brothers Group. “Above all this selection represents the tremendous contributions of our valuation, retail and real estate teams and the high level of client satisfaction they deliver. We are very proud of their accomplishments,” he added.
“Since the inception of the M&A Advisor Awards in 2002, we have been recognizing the leading dealmakers, firms and transactions. Each year we celebrate the creativity, perseverance and ingenuity of our industry’s professionals,” stated David Fergusson, President and Co-CEO of The M&A Advisor. “While our industry has undergone significant transformation since our first awards were presented 13 years ago, we are convinced, more than ever before, that M&A is a driving force of the economy. It is truly an honor for our firm to be able to recognize the contribution that the 2015 award finalists have made.”
The winners for M&A Deal of the Year, Restructuring Deal of the Year, Cross-Border Deal of the Year, Corporate/Strategic Acquisition of the Year, Deal Financing of the Year, Sector Deals of the Year, Firms of the Year, M&A Product/Service of the Year and M&A Professionals of the Year categories will be announced at the 14th Annual M&A Advisor Awards Gala on Tuesday, November 17th at the New York Athletic Club.
Founded in 1903, Gordon Brothers Group is a global advisory, restructuring and investment firm specializing in the retail, consumer products, industrial and real estate sectors. Gordon Brothers Group maximizes value for both healthy and distressed companies by purchasing or selling all categories of assets, mitigating leases, appraising assets and operating businesses for extended periods. Gordon Brothers Group conducts over $70 billion worth of transactions and appraisals annually.