Situation

Sub $50M PE backed materials technology company. Early stage company developing novel high performance materials and unique methods of production to support advanced technologies such as fuel cells, high performance batteries and flat panel display materials. Ownership group had supported technology development and was ready to transition to new owner who could accelerate commercialization. Business was highly tied to government research programs with limited commercial relationships.

Action

Worked with company technical leadership to down select the portfolio of opportunity to those technologies most commercially viable in the near term. Assisted the team in expanding their value proposition beyond technical merit to incorporate strong commercial arguments for their technology. Focused the team on developing research support agreements with major companies in the targeted space (i.e. Dupont, Motorola, General Motors, Cabot Corporation, Reliant Energy, etc). Worked with the ownership group and outside bankers to prepare the company for sale as a research accelerator with significant valuable intellectual property in their target spaces.

Result

Profitable sale to Cabot Corp (CBT) within the target time frame.