Blue River Celebrates 2025 Accomplishments: Deals, Hires, Awards

January 29, 2025 – Blue River Financial Group announces 26 total transactions in 2025, including two of the largest buy-side deals in the history of the firm. The aggregate enterprise value of the closed deals exceeded $800 million, including multiple platform acquisitions exceeding $200 million. The firm also achieved its highest annual revenue to date.

Blue River executed deals across a diverse range of sectors such as technology, business services, manufacturing, distribution, infrastructure, accounting & auditing a.o. The company also launched 43 engagements in sectors such as industrial automation, software & technology, manufacturing, business services, and distribution.

Bryan Berent, Managing Partner & Founder, stated “2025 was an exceptional year across nearly every measure—setting records in revenue, transaction size, team growth, and the number of clients we were privileged to serve. These results are a direct reflection of the trust our clients place in us, a responsibility we take very seriously. Equally rewarding was seeing our team come together around this shared success, demonstrating the commitment and collaboration that continue to define our firm.”

To support the company’s growth, Blue River added nine new employees and promoted six in 2025. The Buy-Side Division welcomed Shane Brotherton as Director, Doug Nault as Vice President, Chance Segeth as Vice President, Adam De Lisser as Marketing / Communications Associate and Paige Mason as Administrative Assistant. Lloyd Dennis and Gavin Nafso who first joined Blue River as Investment Banking Interns, became permanent hires. The Research department added Merlin Sebastian and Kody Robinson as Research Analysts. The company promoted Michael Herrmann to Managing Director & Industrials Segment Leader, and Niall Garrahan, Noemi Kinsey, Stephanie Studt, Lewis VanLandingham, and Randy Babi, to Director.

“I am incredibly proud of what our team accomplished in 2025. Their discipline, collaboration, and commitment to excellence drove meaningful outcomes for our clients and our firm. As we look at 2026 and beyond, we’re energized by the opportunity to continue pushing innovation and delivering truly transformational growth support to the partners who trust us with their most important strategic M&A decisions,” said Sara Clevenger, Blue River Partner & Buy-Side Practice Leader.

2025 was also a year of notable recognition for Blue River. M&A Source, the leading trade association for lower middle market transaction advisors, named Blue River the Top Firm of the Year in the 10+ person firm category for the fourth year in a row, and awarded William Loftis, Blue River’s co-founder and Managing Partner, Diamond Club membership, for surpassing $100 million in transaction volume in a single year. Additionally, the Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors (AM&AA) conferred the Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor (CM&AA) designation upon three Blue River team members: Randy Babi, Jessica Trombley, and Jason Warner.

William (Bill) Loftis, Managing Partner & Founder, stated, “2025 reminded us that excellence is rarely the result of a single breakthrough—it’s the quiet accumulation of disciplined work, done faithfully over time. I’m grateful for remarkable clients who execute with excellence, and for a team that shows up with conviction, serves with integrity, and treats every mandate as a stewardship. Hard work has its rewards, but character is what makes Blue River truly exceptional.”

About Blue River

Blue River Financial Group is a middle market merger and acquisition advisory firm. We assist corporations, private equity groups and individuals in the sale and acquisition of businesses and have completed assignments in multiple business segments. With over 20 years of experience spanning across 50 global industries, Blue River provides a suite of services to middle market clients including corporate development, private equity support, valuations, and transaction consulting, placing a premium on relationship-centered transaction counsel and client focus.

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